Morgan State University
The impact of the built environment on human emotion.
This past winter, the Water’s Edge Museum welcomed design students from Morgan State University, an HBCU in Baltimore. The students are all enrolled in the “Design and Human Behavior” course of the brilliant Dr. Samia Rab Kirchner, a tenured professor at Morgan State who has received numerous accolades for her seminal work in the architectural and design fields.
As part of a study analyzing the impact of the built environment on human emotion, Kirchner’s students chose between visiting the Water’s Edge Museum and the Plantation Park Heights Urban Farm in Baltimore. Students then responded to a number of questions regarding their own psychological experience while engaging with the sites and their content. The project was not only a way for the students to consider broader ideas of architecture and social psychology but also provided an assessment of the Water’s Edge Museum’s presentation of Black history on the Eastern Shore.
The interviews (which were also conducted with non-student visitors) evoked discussion on a broad range of topics regarding the museum, with students taking into consideration the way that the artistic collection of Ruth Starr Rose is arranged throughout the museum space, and the different ways in which information is conveyed to the visitor. Survey participants came from a variety of geographic and personal backgrounds, and the breadth of diversity in their identities only enhanced the project’s efficacy.
Travelers who came to the museum without prior knowledge of the Eastern Shore were grateful for new exposure to the cultural heritage of a community they had never engaged with before. Maya Toland, a design student at Morgan State, explained that “Usually you just know about Harriet Ross Tubman, Frederick Douglass, those types of figures, but learning about that family [the Moaney family] was really nice.”
For those who had already spent time studying the history of the region or had personally experienced the social dynamics presented in Rose’s artwork, the Water’s Edge collection augmented what they already knew. Tameka Taylor, a doctoral candidate at Morgan State, noted the effect that the museum’s location had on her, saying that “Being on that water…made me want to take a sample of the water. It’s this connectedness to my past, even if it’s not my direct past, it’s a past that is collectively ours as African Americans.”
Rose’s White identity in particular added new texture to visitors’ understanding of Maryland history. On the topic of Rose, Thaddius Hodges, a student at Morgan State’s School of Architecture and Planning, remarked that “I was surprised to know that she was a White woman, but then it just led me to more questions…how did she gain [her subject’s] trust? Were they intimidated, did they feel like they had to do it? It just left me wondering.”
While there was no uniform response to the museum and its artwork by survey participants, there was a recurring theme in the responses that highlighted the thought-provoking nature of Rose’s artwork, and the power that can be gained by hearing the stories of underrepresented communities.
RUTH STARR ROSE (1887–1965):
THERE IS A CITY CALLED HEAVEN
TWO JUNETEENTH EVENTS CELEBRATING BLACK LIFE ON
MARYLAND’S EASTERN SHORE
The Water’s Edge and Bellevue Passage Museums fittingly commemorated Juneteenth this year with a book talk and concert meant to honor the legacy and lived experience of Black Marylanders on the Eastern Shore.
On June 3, the Talbot County Free Library in Easton hosted the book talk for There is a City Called Heaven by Water’s Edge Museum founder Dr. Barabara Paca. This book focuses on the work of the consequential artist Ruth Starr Rose (1887-1965), who spent the majority of her adult life living in Talbot County. Rose came from a wealthy family of abolitionists and activists, who despite their affluence and the protective blanket of their White skin, fought racial chauvinism while living integrated lives on the Eastern Shore. As an artist, Rose sought to portray her Black peers in all of their dignity and pride at a time when most depictions of Black Americans consisted of racist caricatures. Rose wholeheartedly dispensed with crude and derogatory imagery, and instead undertook the radical project of humanizing the descendants of America’s founding Black families. These powerful images and their accompanying information are currently on display at the Water’s Edge Museum.
On June 17 at the Avalon Theatre, the Maryland Spiritual Initiative, an Eastern Shore choir formed largely from the ranks of the Union Baptist Church and Tidewater Singers group, both based in Easton, performed a number of the spirituals portrayed in the prints of Rose and explained in the words of Richard Potter, Program Coordinator of Maryland Spirituals Initiative. Spiritual songs are the offspring of biblical narratives, African cultural practices, and the African diasporic experience. Since at least the 17th century, both enslaved and free Black people in the United States have used spirituals to yearn for freedom, commiserate in their sorrow, celebrate their triumphs, and to generally form community solidarity.
The performance of spirituals is particularly prescient during the weekend of Juneteenth, newly-designated a federal holiday, which marks the anniversary of the day in 1865 when Union troops, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, announced to the 250,000 enslaved people of Texas that they were free. Though the material conditions of many newly freed Black people remained unchanged in the aftermath of the decree, the day has been celebrated by Black communities across the nation since 1866 to recall past trauma and rejoice in their own resilience. Rose’s work emulates this tradition by not only combatting the destructive narratives that her Black compatriots were subjected to, but also by accentuating the ways that they maintained their spirit and self-respect.
Maryland Preservation Award for Outstanding Leadership at the
Local Level
In a May 16 ceremony in Oxford, the Water’s Edge and Bellevue Passage museums, along with the Middle Passage Port Marker, were recognized for their work with awards from the Maryland Historic Trust (MHT). The MHT oversees the administration and preservation of historic sites across the state, educating the public on Maryland history and ensuring the survival of cultural identities. Trust Director Elizabeth Hughes acknowledged the museums and their staff, including Water’s Edge Founder Dr. Barbara Paca, Bellevue Passage Founder Dr. Dennis De Shields, and Water’s Edge and Bellevue Passage Director Monica T. Davis, for doing just that, saying “Congratulations and thank you for all that you’ve done to tell the stories of founding Black families in Maryland.”
The awards presentation made particular note of the Water’s Edge Museum’s use of art, literature, and music to preserve the cultural heritage of Black watermen and the descendants of enslaved communities on the Eastern Shore. The awards also commended the physical preservation of historical markers and infrastructure undertaken at the Bellevue Passage Museum and Middle Passage Marker. These efforts allow people to see firsthand the places where history has occurred, while live performances of spirituals and other initiatives at the Water’s Edge actively engage the local community, prompting people to discover their own familial and collective histories.
The three organizations were also presented with awards by the Maryland State Senate, with State Senator Johnny Mautz (who represents a district encompassing the museums) delivering remarks during the ceremony. Mautz not only applauded the entities for acting as “an anchor on the Mid-Shore for preserving Black history,” but also stated the most recent legislative session had secured nearly a million dollars in funding for the operation of the Water’s Edge Museum and the continued development of the Bellevue Passage Project.
The ceremony was made even more memorable with the presence of genealogist Paulette Arbury, whose aunt was Bellevue Founder Francis Curtis. Arbury, who is battling dementia, was recognized for her contributions to the museums and to preserving Black history more generally, including her personal accomplishment of tracing her family’s heritage to Harriet Tubman. The efforts of Arbury and others like her are enshrined in the museums, which, in the words of Bellevue’s Dr. Dennis De Shields, are “a celebration of the legacy, of the richness and the heritage of African-Americans on the Eastern Shore that really is underestimated.”
Good News from the Water’s Edge
Happy to report good things from The Water’s Edge:
August 2021
The Last Days of Summer at The Water’s Edge
Announcing The Water’s Edge Museum’s First Director, Mrs. Candace Henry!
1, August
The Water’s Edge is pleased to announce that Candace Henry is our first Director! A member of our Advisory Committee, Candace embodies the kind of well spoken, clear thinking leadership that will lead our small museum toward its goals. She will be working with the museum on a part-time basis, collaborating with the incredible volunteer talent. As a very busy lady, Candace is an effective person–She is also the Director of Disability Services at Salisbury University and serves on the Talbot County Board of Education! Welcome Candace!
Not Once, But TWICE THANKS to Attractions Magazine
1, August
After reading kind words in the July issue about The Water’s Edge Museum, we were humbled to find two stories about our work in the August issue of Attractions Magazine! A beautifully written and photographic account of the Middle Passage Marker ceremony with Maryland’s elegant First Lady reading her husband’s citation honoring the Founding Black Families of America with an equally lovely piece about our branchild, The Maryland Spirituals Initiative made our month. Thank you Attractions!
Calling all Singers: The Maryland Spirituals Initiative is LIVE!
4, August
Thanks to a generous grant for $44,600., our dream of working with Eastern Shore choirs to document Maryland’s rich legacy of African American spirituals in the environments in which they were created. Working with the template from Ruth Starr Rose’s unpublished manuscript on spirituals from 100 years ago, we have produced a richly illustrated book designed by Mary Shanahan and written by founder Dr. Barbara Paca with Water’s Edge advisors and editors Bruce Nelson Glover, Jaelon Moaney, and Dr. John Wesley Wright.
Our Great Senator (in Pink) Visits with Leaders from the Haitian Community
6, August
Who is the hardest working senator on Maryland’s Eastern Shore? Our lady in pink! Senator Adelaide Eckardt arrived at The Water’s Edge Museum with Habacuc and Eldrine Petion. Representing the Haitian community in Salisbury, the Petion’s are working to bring about positive change for these hard working people. Inspired by their goals, we discussed Ruth Starr Rose’s work in Haiti in 1956–and how beautiful it would be to collaborate to host an exhibition on Rose and contemporary Haitian artists.
Carpe Diem!
10, August
Busy Graham and her amazing team of educators and youth arrived at The Water’s Edge Museum by bicycle for an uplifting interaction about Eastern Shore culture, history, and the arts. Thank you Carpe Deim for coming by and sharing your insight, spirit, and contagious positive energy.
Our Gold LEED Building and Landscape captured by Internationally Acclaimed Photographer Barrett Doherty
The Water’s Edge took part in a two-day photo shoot with internationally acclaimed photographer Barrett Doherty. Noted for his work in documenting landscape photography, Barrett spent time with Preservation Green’s architect Philip Logan learning about the solar array, water harvesting program, tile stoves, geothermal system, native plantings, victory garden, and sensitive use of reclaimed materials inside and out of the Museum. Thank you Barrett for taking the time and sharing your talent with us!
Talbot County Public Schools Orientation Day for New Teachers
17, August
An astounding 48 teachers arrived at The Water’s Edge for orientation with Director Henry and Education Director Annie Miller. The many questions asked by teachers inspired meaningful conversations about how to bring our non adversarial approach to youth empowerment into the schools–Or perhaps how to bring the classroom into The Water’s Edge. Whether this happens in person or virtually, we are looking forward to hosting them in the near future with their students!
Maryland Secretary of the Environment and his Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities Lunches at The Water’s Edge with Salisbury University Professors
21, August
Maryland Secretary of the Environment, the Hon. Ben Grumbles and the Maryland Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities visited The Water’s Edge Museum with faculty from Salisbury University. After an inspiring tour of the Eastern Shore organized by Commissioner Monica Brooks, MDE staff and Commissioners from the Maryland Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities met at The Water’s Edge for a tour with Director Henry and Education Director Annie Miller. In his closing remarks, Secretary Grumbles said that he is looking forward to multidisciplinary collaboration with all in attendance.
We need you Advice!
How can we serve you better? Happy to announce that we have been awarded a Professional Development grant from the Maryland State Arts Council to assist us in preparing a long-range plan. Director Henry, Annie Miller, and Kentavius Jones are going to explore ways of growing our tiny museum, and linking our program to other academic, community, and cultural institutions.
Academy Art Museum’s Director and Curator visit us
30, August
The Water’s Edge advisors felt privileged to spend an inspiring morning visit from The Academy Art Museum’s new Director Sarah Jesse and Curator Mehves Lelic. We discussed exciting ways to collaborate as we have shared messaging. The Water’s Edge team is looking forward to a collaboration with these dynamic young women!
Is there such thing as too much good news?
Reporting on the summer so far at the Water’s Edge Museum
August 1st 2021
Visit to The Water’s Edge Museum by the Lt. Governor of Maryland, The Hon. Boyd Rutherford
Our friend and Advisory Committee Member, the Lt. Governor of Maryland graced The Water’s Edge Museum with an official visit that included a tour given by Founding Black Family Members: Mrs. Brenda Moaney-Henry led the tour along with Garnell and Candace Henry. Dr. Lydia Williams presented the generous loan of an early black-and-white photograph of Downes Curtis with the hand pummel he wore when making sails on Tilghman Street, and Waters Edward Turpin’s daughter Mrs. Rosalie Turpin-Belcher was present to add comments about her father’s work as an important early African American author.
Over a lunch of Maryland crabcakes and homegrown salads from the gardens at our Gold LEED facility, we shared the happy announcement about the DeShields Family’s new museum across the water, The Bellevue Passage, which will honor African American watermen in our region.
The morning and afternoon flew by with inspiring comments made about the Founding Black Families by the Lt. Governor. His words inspired conversation among other dignitaries and elected officials, which included Senator Adelaide Eckardt, Delegate Johnny Mautz, Oxford Commissioner Gordon Fronck, Chairman Emeritus MD Commission on African American History and Culture Theodore H. Mack, Tuskegee Airman Official Historian Colonel William DeShields, Waters Church Pastor Eric Daniels, Talbot Schools Director Dr. Kelly Griffith, and Dr. Joan Gaither.
Photography courtesy the Office of the Governor and our Advisory Committee Member and local photographer extraordinaire, Ryan Prell.
The Water’s Edge Team travels to The Rotary Clubs of Easton and also St. Michaels
27, May 2021
The Water’s Edge Team gave a glowing presentation to the Rotary Club of Easton. They presented a video which paid homage to Rotarian Dr. Kelly Griffith, Superintendent of Schools for Talbot County, acknowledging her essential role in working with underserved communities of children in the area to help them find their voice and positive ways of asserting themselves in work and society. The event was so successful that the same team was invited to give another presentation the following week to the St. Michaels Rotarians. It has been so much fun to work with other like-minded community organizations.
Photography courtesy of Toliver Thomas, Director of Cultural Communication and Philip Logan.
The Middle Passage Ceremony
The 4th of July is an important day for so many reasons, and for everyone at The Water’s Edge the Middle Passage Port Marker Ceremony was one we shall always remember and hold close to our hearts. Maryland’s First Lady, the elegant Mrs. Yumi Hogan presided over the ceremony, reading a citation written by her husband, Governor Larry Hogan honoring the enslaved captive Africans who arrived on our shores to become the Founding Black Families of America. The Maryland Secretary of State followed with a beautiful speech acknowledging the Founding Black Families as the sustainers of our early democracy.
Salisbury University’s Professor John Wesley Wright led his quartet and drummers whose music began and ended the ceremony in an uplifting manner.
Candace Henry, Brenda Moaney-Henry, and Jeffrey Moaney spoke on behalf of the Founding Black Families. Ann Cobb, who is Executive Director of the Middle Passage Ceremony and Port Marker Project explained the relevance of the marker, which has been endorsed by UNESCO in Paris. Descendant Rosalie Turpin-Belcher presented The First Lady of Maryland with the mysterious slave pass handed down to her from her father, Morgan State University professor and author Waters Edward Turpin. Maryland DNR Secretary Haddaway-Riccio spoke about the relevance of documenting port markers in times of climate change and Secretary Ben Grumbles gave a riveting speech about climate change and the importance of understanding and identifying waterside monuments such as this before they are lost to sea level rise. Dr. Jean Bailey, and Mr. Theodore H. Mack requested permission to place the sign by Nause Waiwash Band of Indians leader Chief Wolf Mother, who granted permission and made a prayer. Senator Eckardt, members of the AME churches and Holy Trinity’s Episcopal priest welcomed the sign, blessing it with their prayers.
The event coincided with the opening of our new environmental justice galleries, and the day was as beautiful as the weather.
Our friends from Mr. Softee of Salisbury made sure that everyone had plenty of water and the extra treat of their favorite ice cream treat!
Photography courtesy of Ryan Prell (Near and Far Media LLC)and Joe Andrucyk (Governor Hogan Photographer)
Opening Maryland’s First Environmental Justice Galleries
Our Environmental Justice as a Civil Right Galleries opened on the 4th of July. The first museum dedicated to environmental justice in Maryland found its home on the Eastern Shore. How is it that people who live in the most fragile beautiful places are typically among the first to sound the bell heralding the need for positive change?
School Visit by the Washington College Interns
6, July 2021
Washington College alumni and Water’s Edge leader Kentavius Jones (our Director of Outreach and Special Events) brought busloads of kids down from Chestertown to tour the museum. Super bright and equally inquisitive, the youth group spent the day touring the Founding Black Families gallery as well as the Environmental Justice as a Civil Right galleries,
Photography courtesy Philip Logan and Toliver Thomas, Director of Cultural Communications at The Water’s Edge Museum.
Special Guests travel from Baltimore to The Water’s Edge Museum on
15, July 2021
Civic leader Arthur “Squeaky” Kirk and local friend Gary Mangum visited The Water’s Edge Museum with a group of children and caregivers from Baltimore. The conversations were about African American fishing and farming on the Eastern Shore and the essential role of the Founding Black Families of America in using their genius to feed the country.
Photography courtesy Philip Logan and Toliver Thomas, Director of Cultural Communications at The Water’s Edge Museum.
Disability Pride Day at The Water’s Edge Museum
On July 19th, Disability Pride Day featured an incredible outpouring of love and respect by Comptroller Franchot represented by Dave Wooten, Senator Adelaide Eckardt, and Delegate Johnny Mautz, who came prepared with citations to honor the following members of The Water’s Edge:
Candace Henry, Water’s Edge Director of Educational Planning and Tours and Director of Disability Services at Salisbury University for a lifelong career dedicated to empowering persons with special needs
Dominique Sessa, The Water’s Edge Museum’s Director of Accessibility and Inclusion and the youngest person to serve on Governor Hogan’s Commission for Disability for her dedication to creating worthy programs at The Water’s Edge and creating bridges to other local museums on the Eastern Shore
Bruce Nelson Glover, Water’s Edge Director of Community Initiatives and Special Education and retired special educator for his dedication to working with youth who experience special needs in a multidisciplinary fashion fusing history, current events, and the arts with creativity and interest
Annie Miller, Water’s Edge Director of Education for her service to school groups in teaching art therapy and music to children with special needs
Tilghman Paca-Logan in a moving memorial tribute to a fine young man who served as Director of Remote Educational Tours and brought people together regardless of their background
Our wonderful friends and neighbors from The Highland Creamery served delicious ice cream which was a welcome retreat from the true Chesapeake summer weather.
Photography courtesy Philip Logan and Toliver Thomas, Director of Cultural Communications at The Water’s Edge Museum.
Visits by the Oxford Kids Camp
The Water’s Edge Museum has enjoyed hosting youth from the Oxford Kids Camp. It has been personally rewarding for us to work with these children, and to open their eyes to a world that integrates people with disabilities and persons from different backgrounds to create a more civilized society. We hope that they will learn by example, and share this fulfilling experience with their families and friends.
Photography courtesy Philip Logan and Toliver Thomas, Director of Cultural Communications at The Water’s Edge Museum.
Let’s Take a Stand
“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. The mediocre mind is incapable of understanding the man who refuses to bow blindly to conventional prejudices and chooses instead to express his opinions courageously and honestly.” –Albert Einstein
Everyone at The Water’s Edge Museum invites you to visit us and to team up with us in your capacity to be kind and recognize the goodness in others. Let’s use our imagination and American sense of good will to work together to build a beautiful world that celebrates art, culture, and history across a broad platform.
Newsletter: April 2021
Announcing the First Lady of Maryland’s Visit to The Water’s Edge Museum
28, April 2021
Maryland’s First Lady, the Honorable Mrs. Yumi Hogan, honored The Water’s Edge Museum with an official visit. As one of the first members of The Water’s Edge Museum’s Advisory Committee, the First Lady has been a part of the Museum since its inception. Her vision and leadership in promoting the arts has been an inspiration to all involved at The Water’s Edge Museum.
The First Lady’s visit marked the third school tour at The Water’s Edge, hosting a group of young students from the Sweetbay Magnolia Academy, located on Kent Island. The students, many of whom experience autism, gathered together at The Water’s Edge to learn about the empowering legacy of Founding Black Families and their unique history of African American farming on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Each student was provided with art materials to work on their own artistic composition inspired by the 95 paintings and prints that align the museum’s walls. They sketched, sitting cross-legged or lying down on the floor while listening to the soothing sounds of local talent Kentavius Jones and Salisbury University’s Dr. John Wesley Wright’s singing early African American spirituals that pertain to agricultural and maritime themes. Mrs. Hogan made remarks, building upon her heartfelt speech made for the virtual opening less than three months ago:
“It is an honor to be at this museum celebrating Maryland’s diversity, and the incredible family histories of our Founding Black Families. It is a beautiful thing to see how the children interact with the artistic presentation of that history.”
The Museum’s founder, Barbara Paca, welcomed everyone to the event, presenting The First Lady with an historic color lithograph, The Old Ark’s A Moverin’, which is also part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as a way of memorializing the day. Paca added that the First Lady is a woman of her word, referring to Mrs. Hogan’s eloquent remarks from the virtual opening:
“The most important audience that The Water’s Edge hopes to reach are school children whom they believe will benefit from knowing there is a museum that embraces history, culture, art, social and environmental justice, and diversity.The Museum seeks to work with Maryland’s rich pageantry of art and culture to help the young people of today to find their place in history and identify their own positive and unique voice when facing contemporary issues and challenges.”
The program of activities for the morning were two-fold, including an art class and a tour of the museum. The art class was led by The Water’s Edge Museum Director of Education Annie Miller; Director of Tours Tilghman Logan; Director of Cultural Communications Toliver Thomas, in collaboration with the Sweetbay Magnolia Academy’s Directors Amelia Foxwell and Jennifer Kelley, Director of Education Brian Tyler, and Educator Kim Paddy.
The tour, which represents a creative approach to immersive, equitable education was given by Director of Educational Planning and Tours Candace Henry with Director of Founding Black Family Genealogy and Histories Jeffrey Moaney, who shared with the students stories behind the beautiful nearly 100-year old oil portraits of many of their ancestors aligning the walls, and defined what it means to be from one of Maryland’s Founding Black Families.
Director of Religious Studies and Waters Church Liaison Brenda Moaney-Henry highlighted artworks on the walls as a visual aid to describe the profound importance of religion, and particularly African American spirituals as the bedrock foundation that provided strength to some of Maryland’s first citizens. The Museum’s Director of Accessibility, Dominique Sessa, who also serves as the youngest member of Governor Hogan’s Commission on Disability spoke to The First Lady about the beauty of inclusion, particularly in providing persons with disabilities full access to the arts.
The event was uplifting, even the weather was spectacular, and the students made a large mural in the fresh air for The First Lady thanking her for her visit. Everyone left with a feeling of happiness, as well as artistic souvenirs and a bouquet of flowers grown in the wildflower gardens surrounding the Gold LEED Museum’s fully accessible property.
Oxford Museum Tour
15, April 2021
On a beautiful spring evening, Board Members from the Oxford Museum graced The Water’s Edge with their presence. The tour was led by Mrs. Brenda Moaney-Henry, Director of Religious Studies and Waters Church Liaison, and Mrs. Candace Henry, Director of Educational Planning and Tours. A lively discussion followed with interesting observations shared among all gathered.
Maryland Secretary of State Wobensmith and Diplomats representing the Mexican Consulate and Mexican Cultural Institute
22, April 2021
A perfect spring day with fresh peonies, sweet peas, and Virginia bluebells decorated the museum and lunch table for the special tour given to the Honorable John C. Wobensmith and diplomats representing the Mexican Consulate.
As well trained government officials, the assembled dignitaries recognized the significance of the exhibition, and made lovely comments as the tour traveled through a long lunch. After lunch, they viewed the important collection of artistic works by Maryland artist Ruth Starr Rose (1887-1965) resulting from a two-year study trip to Mexico from 1946-1948. These works are the subject of an exhibition which is now in planning stages to be presented at both the Consulate and the Mexican Cultural Institute in Washington, D.C. in the spring of 2022. Amazing guests who left a positive impression on all at The Water’s Edge who were lucky enough to spend time with them.
Maryland Secretary of State Wobensmith, Camille Fesche, Esq., and Senator Will Smith Visit to The Water’s Edge
April, 26 2021
The Water’s Edge Museum was pleased to host an event for Advisory Committee Members, the Honorable John C. Wobensmith, Maryland Secretary of State; Ms. Camille Fesche, Esq.; and Montgomery County’s Senator William C. Smith, Jr. As with the Secretary, the Senator and his glamorous wife Camille were wonderful guests, and asked thought-provoking questions.
The Senator later wrote,
“The museum preserves the legacy of the first black families in Maryland and is an invaluable asset to our state. Located in Oxford, an important stop along the Middle Passage from Senegal to the West, the museum also provides us with a glimpse of the atrocities born out of the slave trade that took place here in Maryland. We are so proud to serve on the board of this gem.”
Visit by the students at the Sweetbay Magnolia Academy
29, April 2021
On Thursday, The Water’s Edge hosted the older population of students enrolled in the Sweetbay Magnolia Academy. While looking at the art on the gallery walls and listening to farming and fishing related African American folk songs sung by Kentavius Jones, the students prepared their own masterpieces. Much of their work dealt with improving race relations, and it was a beautiful thing to hear them express, in their own words, what their morning at The Water’s Edge meant to them.
NEWSLETTER: APRIL 2021
Finding Harriet’s Voice: Sometimes you only need to Listen. Water’s Edge Presentation to the National Association of Interpreters Annual East Coast Conference
10 March 2021
The Water’s Edge Museum celebrated Harriet Tubman Day on March 10th with a special presentation to the National Association of Interpreters in a segment called “Finding Harriet and her Voice.” The main message made by our team was that sometimes you have to listen to hear Harriet’s voice. This can happen through understanding the African American spirituals that gave her strength and were used as a discreet means of communicating times for escape.
The Water’s Edge Middle Passage Marker and Ceremony Initiative
We have presented the Middle Passage marker initiative and are optimistic about the presentation of a permanent marker being placed near the original point of disembarkation at the old wharf (near the current ferry boat site). Oxford, Maryland is the only documented Middle Passage stop on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. Further to the four known Middle Passage ships, there were twenty-five Intra-American slave voyages that docked in Oxford.
A Kid-Friendly Tour of the Museum
We are so pleased to share a kid-friendly tour at The Water’s Edge!
This virtual experience was designed for children ages to six to fifteen. Easy to understand and navigate, this is an opportunity for childrens to explore The Water’s Edge from the safety of their home. The tour poses questions that aim to help them identify their voice when facing contemporary challenges.
Now Available: Virtual Tour of The Water’s Edge
We are pleased to announce the release of our virtual tour!
This virtual experience gives explanation to every piece of work in the museum, including its manuscripts and literature. We welcome and encourage everyone to explore this section of the website. When it is safe, we hope this will give those who are interested a chance to visit The Water’s Edge with a strong foundation of understanding and insight.
Governor Larry Hogan’s Black History Month Service and Volunteerism Award
The team at The Water’s Edge is humbled and happy to be awarded with the black history month leadership and service award from the Maryland governor's office on service and volunteerism. This honor further emphasizes the museum's commitment and dedication to volunteer services in the spirit of black history and culture.
Official U.S. Congressional citation from Senator Chris Van Hollen
One of the pleasant surprises just prior to our (virtual) opening ceremony was this lovely U.S. Congressional Citation from Senator Chris Van Hollen acknowledging the work of many in creating The Water’s Edge Museum.
Announcing the launch of the Maryland Spirituals Initiative
Under the umbrella of The Water’s Edge Museum, The Maryland Spirituals Initiative brings an empowering history to life, through art, literature, and song. Sung by a diverse group from Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the project seeks to preserve this important art form which was noted by W.E.B. DuBois in 1903 as music that “stirred him strangely” The Czech composer Dvorak came to America 130 years ago, and was so struck by African American spirituals that he incorporated them into his famous New World Symphony in 1893.
What is unique about the Maryland Spirituals Initiative is the amazing vocalists, with an added layer of scholarship that links the lyrics and notes to specific locations on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The songs are presented in the Museum and also through videos taken in historic churches, thereby adding another dimension of meaning and beauty to the monuments that comprise Maryland’s Underground Railroad. It is our dream that one day the entire Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay will be recognized for its natural beauty and its complex history of finding freedom via the Underground Railroad as a World Heritage Site.
Consecrating the Museum with Music at the Opening
6 March 2021
Dr. John Wesley Wright, Danielle Cumming, and three star soloists from Salisbury University came to The Water’s Edge to celebrate the non-virtual opening of the Museum. As Professor Wright put it, they came to consecrate the space–they all made a beautiful joyous sound,and much to our surprise the acoustics were magic! In a special ceremony, members of the Maryland’s Founding Black Families were honored with Maryland citations by Senator Adelaide Eckardt, and included the Curtis, Henry, and Moaney families. Guests included Dr. Kelly Griffith of Talbot County Public Schools, Maryland’s Secretary of Higher Education James Fielder, Maryland’s Secretary of Environment Ben Grumbles, Maryland’s Secretary of State John C. Wobensmith, and many other friends and Advisory Committee members from across the State.
Guest Speakers at the Virtual Opening
1 February 2021
Black History Month was off to a fine start, with our virtual opening beginning just around the time that the sun went down. Speakers included the Honorable Yumi Hogan, First Lady of Maryland; Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford, Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot, Secretary of State John C. Wobensmith, Maryland State Senator Will Smith and Camille Fesche, Esq., and most importantly, members of the Founding Black Families of Maryland.
