DOVER, Del. - This month, communities throughout the Eastern Shore are celebrating the life of the Underground Railroad conductor.
In Delaware, officials announced that March 10th will be known as "Harriet Tubman Day." The First State will be celebrating 10 days of activities, leading up to the 100th anniversary of the passing of Tubman.
See below for the list of events.
Harriet Tubman
Commemorative Events, March 1 – March 10, 2013
March 1:
DOVER: Governor's Proclamation for Harriet Tubman Day
for March 10. At the Division of
Historical and Cultural Affairs (DHCA), Old State House, The Green, 11
a.m. Contact Beverly Laing bev.laing@state.de.us;
302-736-7437. Includes Kent County unveiling of the Harriet Tubman Underground
Railroad Byway Corridor Management Plan (DelDOT Byways Office) Ann.Gravatt@state.de.us;
302-760-2254.
March 2:
DOVER: Dramatic play at the Old State House, The
Green, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., "Better Angels: Signs of the Times," about the 1848
Thomas Garrett trial in New Castle.
Event is free but reservations are recommended as space is limited.
Contact Nena Todd, 302-744-5055 nena.todd@state.de.us
WILMINGTON: Guided Tour of Old Town Hall, 512 Market
Street, Wilmington (Delaware Historical Society) 11 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1 p.m.-2 p.m.
Tour emphasizes the history of the 1798 building and its role in
abolitionism. Display will include collections related to Underground
Railroad Stationmaster and Wilmington resident Thomas Garrett. Contact
Antoinette Maccari at 302-295-3284; amaccari@dehistory.org
March 3:
NEW CASTLE: Dramatic play at New Castle Court House
Museum, 211 Delaware Street, "Better Angels: Signs of the Times" about the 1848
Thomas Garrett trial in New Castle. (Provided by the Division of Historical and
Cultural Affairs, and the Delaware Humanities Forum). 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Free, but reservations are recommended as space is limited. Contact
Cynthia Snyder, 302-323-4453; Cynthia.snyder@state.de.us
March 4:
DOVER: Tribute to Harriet Tubman: "Women of Color in
Early Recorded Music," Johnson Victrola Museum, 375 S. New Street, 10 a.m., 12
p.m. and 2 p.m. Contact Nena Todd, 302-744-5054 or nena.todd@state.de.us
March 5:
DOVER: Program and tour: Stories of the Underground
Railroad, featuring the lives of Vincent Summers (theatrical portrayal) and
Samuel Burris; brief walking tour of the Green, featuring the story of the
"Dover Eight." 10 a.m., 12 p.m., and 2 p.m. at the Old State House, The Green (Division of Historical and Cultural
Affairs/ First State Heritage Park). Contact Nena Todd, 302-744-5054 nena.todd@state.de.us
March 6:
DOVER: Public program, "Free and Enslaved Women on
the John Dickinson Plantation," John Dickinson Plantation, 340 Kitts Hummock
Road, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs).
Contact Gloria Henry 302-739-3277; Gloria.henry@state.de.us
DELAWARE CITY: Delaware City Library, Fifth and
Bayard Streets: Opening of Harriet Tubman Book Discussion Series for adults,
teens and children, 7 p.m. (sponsored by the Delaware City Library and the Underground
Railroad Coalition of Delaware. First discussion group for adults and
teens, on biography by Kate Clifford Larson, "Bound for the Promised Land:
Harriet Tubman: Portrait of an American Hero" (2004, Ballantine Books). NOTE: Additional
programs: March 13, 7 p.m.: "Harriet Tubman: Secret Agent" by Thomas B.
Allen (Scholastic)(pre-teens and teens); March 23, 11 a.m.: "Aunt
Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky" by Faith Ringgold, and "Moses: When
Harriet Tubman Led Her People To Freedom" by Carole Boston Weatherford
(children). Contact Sheila Mikkelson, 302-834-4148; smikkelson@nccde.org
March 7:
WILMINGTON: Program of
spirituals in honor of Harriet Tubman Centennial, Center City Chorale, First
and Central Presbyterian Church, 11th and Market Streets,
Wilmington. 12:30 p.m.-1 p.m., free and open. Contact David Schelat, schelat@fandc.org, www.marketstreetmusicde.org (Market Street
Music).
March 8:
WILMINGTON: 7:30 p.m.- Opening Reception for Symposium –
18th Century Abolitionists, Hale Byrnes House, 606
Stanton-Christiana Road, Newark. Contact Kim Burdick for complete details
of reception and to register at 302-543-5723, kimburdick@aol.com.
DOVER: 6 p.m.
- Lecture by Don Blakey on the research that influenced his theatrical play,
"It Happened in Des Moines," a work about African American Women in WWII, at the
Old State House, The Green (DONDEL Productions & DHCA). Contact
Beverly Laing, 302-736-7437 Bev.Laing@state.de.us
NOTE: The play
will be performed at Delaware State University, Humanities Theatre, on March
23, 7 p.m., and on March 24, 4 p.m. Admission is free.
March 9:
CAMDEN: Ceremony and walking tours featuring the Tubman
and Underground Railroad story. Ceremony honoring United States Colored
Troops at Zion AME Church and Cemetery, 20 Center Street, 11 a.m., with guided
walking tours to follow (Friends of Historic Camden). Contact Donna Reed
302-697-1099, dreed000@yahoo.com, www.historiccamdende.org
WILMINGTON: Symposium – 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. "Let This
Voice Be Heard: 18th Century Abolitionists" – Full day of lectures
and discussions, Wilmington Friends Meeting, 4th and West Streets,
Wilmington. Featured speaker is Dr. Maurice Jackson, Georgetown University,
author of a biography of Anthony Benezet, known as the Father of American
Abolitionism. Sponsors include the Delaware Teachers' Center, Quaker Hill
Historic Preservation Foundation, The Delaware Society for Preservation of
Antiquities – Hale Byrnes House, and the Delaware Humanities Forum. This
symposium offers teacher's continuing education credits. Contact Kim
Burdick for complete details of symposium, registration and fee at
302-543-5723, kimburdick@aol.com
March 10 (Harriet Tubman Day):
SANDTOWN/CAMDEN/WILMINGTON: "Harriet Tubman Journey,"
two separate relays/walks in Camden (starts 8:30 a.m.), at the
Wilmington Christina Riverwalk (8:30 a.m.), (Harriet Tubman Underground
Railroad Byway and the Harriet Tubman Journey team). Check the Facebook/HarrietTubmanJourney"
and www.harriettubmanjourney.org
or contact Penny Marshall at 302-283-0521, harriettubman2013pfm@gmail.com
DOVER/NEW CASTLE: New Castle Court House Museum and
the Old State House Museum will be open from 1:30 p.m.- 4:30 p.m. and featuring
special topical programs, interpretations, Harriet Tubman Day celebrations
(DHCA). Contact Beverly Laing, 302-736-7437 Bev.Laing@state.de.us
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