

News & Events

THE STARR CENTER
A Century of Black Film with Wil Haygood
Wed., March 8, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. et - Litrenta LECTURE HALL
THE STARR CENTER
A Century of Black Film with Wil Haygood
Wed., March 8, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. et - Litrenta LECTURE HALL
March 8, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. ET - Acclaimed journalist, bestselling author, and former Starr Center Fellow Wil Haygood will return to Washington College for this public program co-sponsored by the Starr Center and the Rose O'Neill Literary House. Haygood will discuss his recent book Colorization: 100 Years of Black Films in a White World, which examines the struggles and triumphs of Black actors. . ."

THE STARR CENTER
Eastern Shore Opinion Poll Presentation
Wed., November 30, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. et - Litrenta LECTURE HALL
THE STARR CENTER
Eastern Shore Opinion Poll Presentation
Wed., November 30, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. et - Litrenta LECTURE HALL
November 30, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. ET - The midterm elections might be over, but but there’s much more to learn from the results of Washington College’s inaugural Eastern Shore Opinion Poll. Miller Director Dr. Patrick Nugent, and Dr. Flavio Hickel and Dr. Christine Wade from Washington College’s Department of Political Science, will describe the poll’s launch and present key findings about the policy and civic engagement. . ."

THE STARR CENTER
Five Score Later: Civil Rights & Historical Memory in Gettysburg
thurs., march 24, 2022 at 5 p.m. et - via zoom
THE STARR CENTER
Five Score Later: Civil Rights & Historical Memory in Gettysburg
thurs., march 24, 2022 at 5 p.m. et - via zoom
March 24, 2022 at 5 p.m. ET - The role Gettysburg played in the American Civil War has been studied at length. But what about the role the town played in the American Civil Rights movement, 100 years later? And how did the town's historical memory impact the present? Join Starr Center Director Adam Goodheart for a Zoom conversation with Author and Historian Jill Ogline Titus as they discuss her new book. . . "

THE STARR CENTER
Premiere of "Rooted Wisdom: Nature's Role in the Underground Railroad"
FRI., march 11, 2022 at 7 p.m. est - virtual event
THE STARR CENTER
Premiere of "Rooted Wisdom: Nature's Role in the Underground Railroad"
FRI., march 11, 2022 at 7 p.m. est - virtual event
March 11, 2022 at 7 p.m. EST - Join Starr Center Director Adam Goodheart for the virtual premiere of "Rooted Wisdom: Nature's Role in the Underground Railroad," a guided experience and short documentary film created by Adkins Arboretum and the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park. Goodheart will be moderating a panel discussion with historians and the filmmakers, following the premiere.

THE STARR CENTER
The Heart of the Eastern Shore (a feature on Chesapeake Heartland Project)
JANUARY/FEBRUARY ISSUE FEBRUARY ISSUE
THE STARR CENTER
The Heart of the Eastern Shore (a feature on Chesapeake Heartland Project)
JANUARY/FEBRUARY ISSUE FEBRUARY ISSUE
From Chesapeake Bay Magazine - Kim Briscoe Moody carries a map in her memory. “I was born and grew up on Prospect Street, in Chestertown. My mom grew up, was born on Calvert Street, and my father was also born on Prospect Street. I grew up in the Bethel AME Church [on the block in between], and I can remember playing on the back lot. It brings me joy, when I go home, to see. . ."

THE STARR CENTER
Sophie Kerr Series Presents Sufiya Abdur-Rahman Presents Presents
WED., november 17 at 5:00 PM EsT via Zoom
THE STARR CENTER
Sophie Kerr Series Presents Sufiya Abdur-Rahman Presents Presents
WED., november 17 at 5:00 PM EsT via Zoom
November 17 at 5:00 p.m. EST - A non-fiction reading by Prof. Sufiya Abdur-Rahman, co-sponsored by the Rose O'Neill Literary House and the Starr Center for the Study of American History. Sufiya Abdur-Rahman’s writing investigates questions of family, identity, race, and religion and, often, how they intersect. Her essays, articles, and criticism have appeared in publications including...

THE STARR CENTER
Virtual preview for "ISAAC: A Musical Journey," a play by Marlon Saunders
sat., november 6 at 7:30 PM EsT via Zoom
THE STARR CENTER
Virtual preview for "ISAAC: A Musical Journey," a play by Marlon Saunders
sat., november 6 at 7:30 PM EsT via Zoom
November 6 at 7:30 p.m. EST - Written and composed by Marlon Saunders, "ISAAC" was commissioned by the Kent Cultural Alliance and the Chesapeake Heartland Project and is based on the memoirs of Isaac Mason, a formerly enslaved person, born in Kent County, Md., who escaped to freedom. This free preview will feature songs from the show and a conversation with Starr Center Director Adam Goodheart and Saunders.

THE STARR CENTER
Thomas Jefferson and Race - A Zoom Conversation with Author & Scholar Mia Bay
Tues., October 12 at 5:00 PM EsT via Zoom
THE STARR CENTER
Thomas Jefferson and Race - A Zoom Conversation with Author & Scholar Mia Bay
Tues., October 12 at 5:00 PM EsT via Zoom
October 12 at 5 p.m. EST - Much has been written about Thomas Jefferson and his impact, but what did African Americans think about this founding father? Join us for a thought-provoking Zoom conversation with Mia Bay—leading scholar of African American history—about her current book project on Jefferson. This event occurred in the past, but you can still see the conversation here.

THE STARR CENTER
Newark resident completes internship with the Smithsonian
THURS., SEPTember 9, 2021 SEPTember 9, 2021
THE STARR CENTER
Newark resident completes internship with the Smithsonian
THURS., SEPTember 9, 2021 SEPTember 9, 2021
From the Newark Post - Newark resident Ama Amponsah recently completed an internship with the National Museum of African American History and Culture, where she promoted the Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap with a series of blog posts. 'My favorite thing about my internship was learning about the origins of hip-hop music and how it’s more than a music genre, it’s a culture that’s. . .

THE STARR CENTER
An inside look at recently discovered two-hundred year old documents
TUES., AUGUST 31, 2021
THE STARR CENTER
An inside look at recently discovered two-hundred year old documents
TUES., AUGUST 31, 2021
From WBOC's Delmarvalife Program - Watch this seven-minute segment about The Commodore Collection, a unqiue archive of local African American history recently discovered in a house in Chestertown. These historic papers were saved from the auction house by historians from the Starr Center and the Chesapeake Heartland Project and local activists and are archived at Washington College's Miller Library.
THE STARR CENTER
Hip Hop Time Capsule: a summer program focusing on diversity
MON., AUGUST 23, 2021

THE STARR CENTER
Hip Hop Time Capsule: a summer program focusing on diversity
MON., AUGUST 23, 2021
From WBAL Radio - Hip Hop Time Capsule is a new collaboration between high school and college students in Kent County, Maryland, and musicians, college professors and museum professionals. As part of the program, a diverse group of 14 local teenagers, most with deep roots in the community, chronicled a musical heritage that stretches from work songs sung by the enslaved, through. . .

THE STARR CENTER
A Starr in the East (a feature article on The Starr Center at Washington College)
AUGUST 2021 Issue
THE STARR CENTER
A Starr in the East (a feature article on The Starr Center at Washington College)
AUGUST 2021 Issue
From the August 2021 issue of "What's Up Eastern Shore" - After more than two decades since its inception, the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience at Washington College has put Chestertown on the academic-history map. Political forces in the United States , especially over the past year, are being compelled to reckon with the way. . .

THE STARR CENTER
Hogan Announces Funding for New Endowment Honoring Late Senator President Mike Miller
THURS., JULY 15, 2021
THE STARR CENTER
Hogan Announces Funding for New Endowment Honoring Late Senator President Mike Miller
THURS., JULY 15, 2021
From the Office of Governor Larry Hogan - Governor Larry Hogan today announced that he will be providing $1 million to Washington College in his forthcoming Fiscal Year 2023 budget proposal to fund a new directorship within the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience to honor the historic legacy of longtime Maryland Senate President. . .

THE STARR CENTER
Thousands of pages documenting slavery found in attic of Eastern Shore house
FRI., JULY 2, 2021
THE STARR CENTER
Thousands of pages documenting slavery found in attic of Eastern Shore house
FRI., JULY 2, 2021
From The Hill - Thousands of papers, some documenting the auction and sale of enslaved Black Americans, were headed for the auction block themselves before Black historians and community members stepped in to reclaim ownership over their past. 'It was important to the community because this will connect the dots for people and the younger generation, to let them. . .

THE STARR CENTER
Maryland attic hid a priceless trove of Black history. Historians and activists saved
it from auction.
MON., JUne 28, 2021
THE STARR CENTER
Maryland attic hid a priceless trove of Black history. Historians and activists saved it from auction.
MON., JUne 28, 2021
From The Washington Post - The 200-year-old document was torn and wrinkled. It had stains here and there. And it was sitting on a plastic table in the storeroom of an auction house near the Chester River hamlet of Crumpton, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Historian Adam Goodheart had seen it before, but only in a blurry website photo. Now, here it was in a simple framed box. . .