Whenever I am working on The Prince Project (my database of people of color who were in Maine prior to 1800), I encounter many heart-wrenching stories. The accounts of abuse and the fights for freedom leave me breathless. So many preferred to face death rather than to remain enslaved. Others inspire me with their courage … Continue reading Patience Boston 1726-1735
The Cesar Family
As I referenced in an earlier post, I am piloting a class on slavery in Connecticut/New England. It is going to be entirely project-based learning. My only required text is Anne Farrow, Joel Lang, and Jenifer Frank’s spectacular Complicity: How the North Promoted, Prolonged, and Profited from Slavery. At this inflection point, I feel fortunate … Continue reading The Cesar Family
A Public Archaeology: The Archaeology of Malaga Island
My field notes on display at the Maine State Museum Research centered on Malaga Island, in coastal Maine, in order to better understand the regional potential for assessment of the African-American experience in this portion of Casco Bay and Southwestern Maine. Given the shallow soils, dominant softwood forest and irregular rocky topography, much of the … Continue reading A Public Archaeology: The Archaeology of Malaga Island
Not finding what you’re looking for
This summer, all four of Penobscot Marine Museum’s remote interns conducted research related to ships participating in the slave trade or early Maine African American residents. The process tended to be challenging and they didn’t always find what they were looking for. High school intern Audrey described her experience looking for African American residents in … Continue reading Not finding what you’re looking for
The Prince Project
\Prince. His name was Prince. Later in his life, he was often known to some as Prince McLellan, but his last moniker came later. For most of his life, and in death, he was just Prince. He had his singular name because he was a slave, and that was the way it was with slaves. … Continue reading The Prince Project
