The 1856 Project to host inaugural symposium

The Feb 1 event will highlight research about the legacy of slavery at the university

January 20, 2023
Calvert Hall under construction with two black men pictured.

Join the 1856 Project on February 1 for its inaugural symposium in the STAMP Student Union featuring keynote speaker Mary N. Elliott, Curator of American Slavery at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. The symposium will include the following sessions:

  • Session 1: The 1856 Project in Context
  • Session 2: Researching Slavery and the University
  • Session 3: Slavery, its Legacies, and Public History
  • Session 4: Universities Studying Slavery at Maryland Colleges and Universities

The 1856 Project investigates the University of Maryland's connections to slavery in order to provide a blueprint for a richer understanding of generations of racialized trauma rooted in the university. The 1856 Project is part of the Universities Studying Slavery consortium, a multi-institutional collaboration focused on sharing best practices and guiding principles for embarking on truth-telling projects that address human bondage and racism in institutional histories.

Full event details and descriptions are available on the event website. The event is free and open to the public; registration through the registration form is encouraged.

ASL interpreter services will be available at the symposium. In all situations, a good faith effort (up until the time of the event) will be made to provide ADA accommodations. Please direct any questions to 1856umdproject@umd.edu.

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