A Small Place Holding a Big History: "Tolson's Chapel and African Americans' Pursuit of Freedom and Equality After the Civil War"

What was life like for free and previously enslaved African Americans after the Civil War ended?  How did they adapt to an entirely new world order and how did they take control of their lives and their education?  

Please join us to learn how African Americans’ experiences in Sharpsburg and the modest but powerful institutions they built resonate in the history of our nation. The National Park Service, the Organization of American Historians, and the Friends of Tolson’s Chapel invite you to a tour followed by an evening presentation by the author of the recently completed National Historic Landmark nomination study for Tolson’s Chapel and School in Sharpsburg, Maryland.  Tolson’s is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a Reconstruction-era African American church, cemetery, and school from the Reconstruction era. The study details the physical characteristics as well as the historical context of Tolson’s Chapel and demonstrates the national significance of the place.

First, Edie Wallace, President of Friends of Tolson’s Chapel, will offer a special opportunity to see inside the historic church, school, and cemetery and experience its sense of place. On this one hour tour, she will provide highlights of its history and the Friends’ years of work to preserve it.

Date:               Monday, April 8, 2019

Time:              5:00-6:00 PM

Place:             Tolson’s Chapel and School, 111 E High St, Sharpsburg, MD 21782

Contact:         Edie Wallace, tolsons.chapel@gmail.com

Second, Historian and author, Evelyn D. Causey, Ph.D. will present an illustrated history of Tolson’s Chapel & School and tie it to important trends happening across the southern and border states following the Civil War.  She will explain why Tolson’s is an outstanding example of the widespread and nationally significant movement within African American communities to build their own churches, schools, and cemeteries during Reconstruction. Institutions such as Tolson's Chapel and School formed the backbone of African American life throughout much of the 19th and 20th centuries and sparked a revolution in public education in the South.

Date                Monday, April 8, 2019

Time:              7:00 pm

Fees

This event is free to attend.

Schedule

Contact Information

Olivia Black
3014325124
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Event Type

• Guided Tour
• Partner Program
• Talk