Events

University of Delaware Special Collections Event

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When: Monday, June 15, 5:30 - 7:00pm

Where: Room 114, Morris Library, University of Delaware

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As we approach the 250th anniversary of American independence, join the Newark Historical Society, in partnership with University of Delaware Special Collections, for an exclusive Curator’s Tour of two current exhibitions celebrating Delaware history! NHS members get first access to this free, limited-space, exclusive event!

 

Special Collections staff will give a brief introduction to the exhibitions and the curatorial process before leading a tour and conversation about the materials on display. Light refreshments will be served. 

 

Lifting As We Climb: Churches, Schools and the Formation of Delaware’s Free Black Communities:

Recognizing that 1776 is the beginning, not the end, of our American story, this exhibition chronicles how churches and schools fueled the formation and development of Delaware’s Free Black communities in the years leading up to and following the American Civil War. Through photographs, books, pamphlets and event programs, visitors will explore the rich and dynamic history of the Black church as a foundational educational institution, as well as the remarkable influence and activism of Black women working to expand educational opportunities, often in partnership with the independent Black church.

 

Haunted & Hidden: Folklore, Memory and Delaware's Unfinished Past: 

This exhibition asks a simple but essential question: whose histories endure, and whose linger at the margins—remembered not in official records, but in story, rumor, warning, and legend? Folklore, especially ghost stories and tales of haunting, is often dismissed as entertainment or superstition. Yet across cultures and generations, folklore has served as a vital archive of lived experience, preserving histories that formal institutions overlooked, silenced, or could not fully name. From the indigenous creation stories of the Moors and Nanticokes to lurid tales of local places – the forts, rivers, roads, taverns, and homes around us – this exhibition brings together forgotten peoples, haunted places, and infamous figures to reveal how folklore records Delaware’s unfinished history.

 

Space is limited to 30 guests. Registration is required. Parking details and other logistical information will be provided prior to the event.