About this Event

Join us for an exhibition tour and panel discussion in celebration of the new exhibition Lifting As We Climb: Churches, Schools and the Formation of Delaware’s Free Black Communities, on view in the Morris Library Information Room from February 2 through August 7, 2026.

Organized in celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence, Lifting As We Climb draws from the University of Delaware’s Special Collections to chronicle the resilience of Black communities during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Against a backdrop of limited rights and opportunities for Black Americans, this exhibition examines 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.

Exhibition co-curator Kallie Comardelle, doctoral student from the Department of English, and Hillary Kativa, associate librarian and department head, Special Collections, will lead a tour of the materials on view. Prior to the tour, Comardelle and Kativa will participate in a panel discussion with community members Anthony Johnson and Sandra Wright, who advised on the creation of the exhibition and will reflect on their experiences researching and promoting Black Delaware history.

This in-person event is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged, as seating is limited. Light refreshments will be served. This event is supported by a grant from Delaware 250.