About this Event

What did Black entrepreneurship in Wilmington look like, as slavery died and emancipation took root? Black entrepreneurs during the Civil War era in Wilmington worked as shoemakers, grocers, schoolteachers, laundresses, and more. As more and more enslaved people were freed, these entrepreneurs also built up Black community in Wilmington and fought for civil rights, in addition to conducting their businesses.  

Using historic Wilmington City Directories and datasets held by the University of Delaware Library, supplemented by Census and land records, researchers have created a StoryMap and public dataset focused on Black entrepreneurship in Wilmington between 1857 and 1866. At this event, the project team will provide background on the project, highlight the materials used in research, and provide early findings for this short-term project. Special guests Dr. Bonnie Lewis, UD History Education Program, and Hannah Grantham, Jane and Littleton Mitchell Center for African American Heritage, will reflect on how the dataset and map can be integrated into K-12 education and public history initiatives in Delaware. The session will conclude with a request for feedback and suggestions from attendees to further advance the project.

Mapping Black Entrepreneurship in Civil War Wilmington has been made possible in part by Delaware Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.

This virtual event is free and open to the public. This event will be recorded.

Registration is required. Once registered, you will receive an email with details on how to join the event via Zoom.