The beautiful waterfront, the historic buildings and monuments, and the friendly people. These are just a few of Mia Bay’s favorite things about Chestertown, her home away from home until May 2022. As the 2021-22 Patrick Henry History Fellow at Washington College’s Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, she is spending the academic year in residence while working on her newest book project—African American ideas about Thomas Jefferson from the American Revolution through the post-emancipation era. In her work, Bay hopes to use African American discussions of Jefferson to present connections between early Black struggles for freedom and civil rights and African American claims on American nationalism and citizenship.

This fall, during a virtual event that featured an in-depth conversation about her work, Bay shared how she arrived at the idea for her latest book about Jefferson.

“I’ve been interested in African American ideas about Thomas Jefferson since I wrote my doctoral dissertation, which became my first book on African American ideas about white people,” she said. “And in researching that book, I was surprised by how often they [African Americans] were talking about someone like Jefferson.”

Bay also reflected on how residing in Chestertown—and inside an 18th century house—is affecting her work while in residence for the year. “When I was working on this project before, I lived briefly on the borders of Monticello in a very old house, near the Jefferson Library, and I felt like I was in the middle of it. And now, once again, I feel that I’m back in that world, and I think it’s useful,” she said. “Chestertown’s evidence of history is fascinating. The monument to white Confederate and Union soldiers and then a second monument to Black soldiers that fought for the Union—all these different, competing histories. I think it will influence me. I think it will be a really good place to be.”

Bay currently holds the Roy F. and Jeannette P. Nichols Chair in American History at the University of Pennsylvania and was previously professor of history at Rutgers University. She has been the author or editor of seven books, most recently Traveling Black: A Story of Race and Resistance, which was published earlier this year by Harvard University Press. In the book, Bay explores when, how, and why racial transportation restrictions took shape and depicts what it was like for so many to live within those restrictions. A review in the New York Times called it “superb history” and praised the author for her elegant storytelling and seamless narration, while Henry Louis Gates, Jr., wrote that it was certain to become the new standard work on an important but often forgotten chapter of American history.

This spring, Bay will bring her professorial talents to the Starr Center as she leads and mentors a team of Washington College student interns.

“Mia Bay is one of the nation’s most important contemporary voices on African American history and culture,” said Adam Goodheart, the Starr Center’s Hodson Trust-Griswold Director. “Her work speaks to our nation’s present as well as its past. We’re honored to support her, and particularly excited that Washington College’s students have the opportunity to learn from such an accomplished scholar, writer, and teacher.”

The Patrick Henry History Fellowship is cosponsored by Washington College’s Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience and the Rose O’Neill Literary House. A full-time, residential fellowship, it supports outstanding work on American history by both scholars and non-academics with an emphasis on America’s founding era and/or the nation’s founding ideas. The fellowship was established and permanently endowed in 2008 with a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, as well as support from the Nuttle family, descendants of the Revolutionary patriot Patrick Henry. For a list of past recipients, visit: starrcenter.washcoll.edu.

About the Starr Center

Washington College’s Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience explores the American experience in all its diversity and complexity, seeks creative approaches to illuminating the past, and inspires thoughtful conversation informed by history. Through educational programs, scholarship and public outreach, the Starr Center bridges the divide between the academic realm and the broader world, while offering dynamic hands-on opportunities to Washington College undergraduates from a wide range of majors. More information can be found at starrcenter.washcoll.edu.

About Washington College

Founded in 1782, Washington College is the tenth-oldest college in the nation and the first one chartered after American independence. It enrolls approximately 1,250 undergraduates from more than 35 states and a dozen nations. With an emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning in the arts and sciences, and more than 40 multidisciplinary areas of study, the College is home to nationally recognized academic centers in the environment, history, and writing. Learn more at washcoll.edu.

Washington College has been awarded $1.25 Million in matching funds through the Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative (MIE), matched by private donors, for a $2.5 million endowment supporting a Chair for the Natural & Cultural Resource Initiatives under the college’s Center for Environment & Society. This professorship is part of the college’s new Past is Present initiative, which focuses on environmental archaeology, cultural resource management and the linkages between heritage and natural resources.

“This is an important step forward in protecting and managing the remarkable natural and cultural resources with which our region is so blessed,” said Jon Seidel, the director of Washington College’s Center for Environment & Society. “There is a logical, but often unrecognized, alliance between those of us who work in these fields, and this position will build ties and strengthen our collective efforts.”

The Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative (MEI) is a state program created to spur basic and applied research in scientific and technical fields at colleges and universities. The funds awarded through MEI are a match to private funds raised by the institutions themselves.

A total of $21.2 million was awarded to eight colleges and universities throughout Maryland including Washington College, Johns Hopkins, Morgan State, Goucher, Hood, University of Maryland, College Park; and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

The Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative was created by the General Assembly during the 2014 legislative session and has provided $64.9 million in funding to leverage $71.2 million in private donations. The funding can be used to pay salaries of newly endowed department chairs, staff, and support personnel in designated scientific and technical fields of study; fund related research fellowships for graduate and undergraduate students; and purchase lab equipment and other basic infrastructure and equipment.

“Ecotourism and heritage tourism in particular are powerful economic engines for the Eastern Shore, and we look forward to enhancing the opportunities for communities to benefit from this potential,” Seidel said.

In what continues to be a record-setting season, the Washington College Men’s Soccer team (15-4-1, Centennial Conference Champions) advanced to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Division III tournament and will face Tufts (#7) at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 20 on Bello Field in Medford, Mass. This marks the first meeting for these two teams. The complete bracket can be found here.

The team will depart from in front of Cain Athletic Center at approximately 9:00 a.m. on Friday 11/19, after a brief send-off from the campus community. Coaches and players will be available for media interviews from 8:30 – 9:00 a.m.

Historic Season

The Shoremen are making just their second NCAA Tournament appearance, and the first since 1973. Washington, who has won seven straight matches, are in the Sweet 16 for the first time ever. The two tournament victories last weekend – defeating St. Lawrence 2-0 in the opening round, followed by another 2-0 win over Montclair State — were the first NCAA Tournament victories in the program’s history, which dates back to 1946.

Washington College is part of the Centennial Conference, and also claimed the school’s first-ever conference championship earlier this month by defeating Gettysburg College. The Centennial Conference champion earns an automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.

The Shoremen have not lost since a 1-0 result at Johns Hopkins on October 9th. The team is unbeaten over its last eight outings and the 15 victories are another program high. In addition, Washington is 5-3 when facing a top-20 team this season.

With only 16 teams remaining, Washington College is the only Centennial Conference school and the only Maryland school still in the hunt. The team has adopted “Why Not Us” as their motto.

About Head Coach Roy Dunshee 

Roy Dunshee was named the 11th head coach in Washington College men’s soccer history in April 2012 and has a ten-year career-record of 73-73-10. In Dunshee’s first season as the Shoremen’s head coach, he guided them to their best overall record since 2007 and best conference record since 2008. In his second season, the Shoremen went 8-8-1, their best mark since 2003. Dunshee’s fourth season, 2015, saw the Shoremen post their best record in 12 years. Year five of the Dunshee era was a breakthrough as the Shoremen qualified for the Centennial Conference Tournament for the first time, winning the first-round game, and posting a 10-7-2 record, their best in 16 years. The program is in the midst of their finest season ever with 15 victories, their first Centennial title, and first two NCAA victories.

The JHC Foundation has awarded a $5 million grant to Washington College, one of the largest gifts in the institution’s 239-year history. School officials said the gift will enhance the overall student experience while accelerating the pursuit of accreditation for its Business Management department, a longtime goal.

President Michael J. Sosulski said the gift will provide direct investment to move the College’s business management program toward accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), positioning the program for long-term sustainability and impact.

“AACSB accreditation is widely recognized as the most respected credential for business and accounting programs around the world,” said Sosulski. “State university programs and business-focused private schools often are accredited, but only a handful of liberal arts colleges earn the distinction. Since achieving AACSB accreditation typically takes five to seven years, this is a truly transformational gift.”

Sosulski said the new grant meets half of a $10 million initiative that will also allow the College to endow key faculty positions in business management and provide upgrades to Daly Hall, the department’s home on campus. The proposed renovation will provide gathering spaces for students and faculty; modernized classrooms, including an expanded Brown Advisory Investing Room with Bloomberg terminals; and offices and conference areas.

Today’s historic donation is in addition to $500,000 the JHC Foundation — a Warehime family foundation — granted to the Business Management Department in 2020, as well as a $1 million gift that was awarded by the Foundation in 2019, establishing The Warehime Fund for Student Excellence in Business.  The Warehime Fund supports activities and opportunities for students enrolled in a business management program, including advanced research techniques, both on and off campus. Warehime Fellows work closely with faculty mentors to produce high-quality academic research, with the aim of submitting their final products for publication in peer-reviewed journals and participation in academic and practitioner conferences, as well as case competitions. Elizabeth Warehime joined the Washington College Board of Visitors and Governors in 2020.

“We are so fortunate to count the JHC Foundation among the leaders of the Washington College community,” said Sosulski, who joined the school in September. “Their work to further the strategic vision of the Business Management Department creates a remarkable legacy and affects our students, faculty, and staff right now, while also helping us to attract new students to our community each day.”

The business management major at Washington College will celebrate its 40th year next fall. The comprehensive program covers accounting, marketing, finance, organizational behavior, information systems, strategy, global business, corporate social responsibility, and nonprofit management. The portfolio of the department’s Brown Advisory Student-Managed Investment Fund has won first place in the value portfolio category at the renowned Quinnipiac Global Asset Management Education Forum for the past two years.

“The business program has proven over the last several years that we are able to recruit highly talented faculty by searching for colleagues who share our love of teaching, who desire rewarding interaction with students, and who are able to pursue successful scholarly projects with available resources,” said Susan Vowels, the Constance F. & Carl W. Ferris Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Business Management at Washington College.

“AACSB accreditation will be a further proof point of Washington College’s excellence to our greater community, our faculty and staff, and our students of today and tomorrow,” Sosulski said.

About Washington College

Founded in 1782, Washington College is the tenth oldest college in the nation and the first chartered under the new Republic. It enrolls approximately 1,100 undergraduates from more than 35 states and a dozen nations. With an emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning in the arts and sciences, and more than 40 multidisciplinary areas of study, the College is home to nationally recognized academic centers in the environment, history, and writing. Learn more at washcoll.edu.

Thanks to the Kent County Public Library and Washington College’s Clifton Miller Library, Chesapeake Heartland — a public history project at the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience — recently completed an initiative to digitize, archive, and share more than 330 items from the Historical Society of Kent County. The collection chronicles the local African American community across more than a century. Visitors to Chesapeake Heartland’s online archive can now see documents and images related to public health, education, agriculture, aquaculture, business, industry, and much more.

Photo: 1960 image from inside Chestertown’s “Uptown Club” https://archive.chesapeakeheartland.org/index.php/Detail/objects/2076

“We are thrilled to partner with the Kent County Public Library and Miller Library on this project,” said Adam Goodheart, the Starr Center’s Hodson Trust-Griswold Director. “Both libraries are playing essential roles in making our area’s fascinating and diverse history more accessible. We are also grateful to the Historical Society for generously permitting access to its collections even amid Covid-related challenges. Scholars, students, teachers, genealogists, and members of the broader public — both locally and far afield — will benefit from the new online resources.”

Mary Alice Ball is the Clifton M. Miller Dean of Library and Academic Technology at Washington College’s Miller Library and said that the Historical Society of Kent County is contributing a truly unique and valuable collection of images to Chesapeake Heartland. “Miller Library was delighted to work with the Historical Society of Kent County, the Kent County Public Library, and the Starr Center in expanding digital resources that add to our understanding of the region’s history and culture.”

Photo: 1935 image of a woman receiving a vaccine https://archive.chesapeakeheartland.org/index.php/Detail/objects/2066

The Chesapeake region’s history dates back an astonishing four centuries. The Chesapeake Heartland Project webpage states that the project’s name derives from the area’s identity as the heartland of African American history and culture since the arrival of the first Africans at Jamestown in 1619. It goes on to say that “Kent County is in many ways a microcosm of that history, with its own rich and diverse African American heritage.”

Darius Johnson, a member of the board of directors for the Historical Society of Kent County, said that community collaborations like this are vital to public history and the local Black community.

“This history is so important to our current and future generations, and more specifically, the sustainability of the Black community here in Kent County, which is shrinking,” he said. “When you look at the pictures that have been digitized, it’s inspiring to see people living, working, and prospering here, together, just a generation or two away.”

Johnson, who is also a 2021-22 fellow for the Chesapeake Heartland project and the executive director of local non-profit Kent Attainable Housing, added that this community collaboration shows Kent County residents that there is a history to be proud of and built upon, if they are willing to connect to it in a tangible way. “This goes beyond walk-through galleries and talks,” he said. “Public history is at work — and at its best — when it inspires actions that improve our community across education, healthcare, workforce, and beyond.”

Arnessa Dowell, executive director of the Kent County Public Library, said the Chesapeake Heartland project exemplifies the way that libraries and archives are thriving in the digital landscape.

“As libraries have expanded their collections beyond books, they’ve been able to increase their ability to provide equitable access to everyone, no matter where they may live.  Not only is Kent County Public library highly relevant in the digital age, but it is honored to be able to partner in creating the digital platforms that deliver public history for everyday use and knowledge.”

Photo: Circa 1880 portrait of a woman in gloves and a formal dress https://archive.chesapeakeheartland.org/index.php/Detail/objects/2098

With support from the Kent County Public Library, digitization was conducted by Lindsay Sheldon, director of archives and technical services at Washington College’s Miller Library. Sheldon, who worked over the course of several months to digitize, upload, catalog, and post the items, said that although it’s hard to choose a favorite, there are a couple standouts to her.

“There are so many wonderful images spanning the decades—from the somber to the joyful. As a fellow black cat owner, I love the image of Charley Hines’ two cats from the Pennington scrapbook. I’m also a fan of New Deal projects, so the images of the public health clinics of the 1930s are interesting and a little sobering to see.”

Chesapeake Heartland: An African American Humanities Project — a collaboration between the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and Washington College’s Starr Center— is a multi-year, grassroots initiative to preserve and share four centuries of Black history. The project, which highlights the Chesapeake Bay region as a major heartland of Black heritage, is beginning with an intensive effort in Kent County, which serves as a microcosm of the larger story.

To see all the newly digitized items, visit archive.chesapeakeheartland.org and enter “Historical Society of Kent County” into the search box at the top of the webpage.

The 2021 George Washington Prize has been awarded to Dr. Mary Beth Norton for her book 1774: The Long Year of Revolution. One of the nation’s largest and most prestigious literary awards, the George Washington Prize honors its namesake by recognizing the year’s best new books on the nation’s founding era, especially those that engage a broad public audience. Conferred by George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, and Washington College, the award will be presented to Norton in May 2022 at Mount Vernon.

Norton’s 1774 (Knopf/Vintage) covers the sixteen months stretching from the destruction of East India Company tea in Boston Harbor to the marching of troops to Lexington and Concord. Readers experience the uncertainty and unpredictability of this prelude to revolution. “I have long thought that historians have unfortunately overlooked crucial developments in that year just prior to the outbreak of war,” wrote Norton after learning she had won the George Washington Prize. “It was in fact then — and not before — when many Americans decided that seeking independence would be desirable. Tracing precisely how that happened proved enlightening to me and I hope it will be the same for readers of the book.”

“This vividly narrated history brings to light a moment when America’s future — and in a sense, also the world’s — hung in the balance,” said Adam Goodheart, director of Washington College’s Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, which cosponsors the Washington Prize. “At a time when questions about America’s past are so central to understanding democracy’s present-day challenges, Mary Beth Norton’s book is essential reading.”

The other finalists for the 2021 George Washington Prize include (in alphabetical order):

• Mark Boonshoft, Aristocratic Education and the Making of the American Republic (University of North Carolina Press)
• Vincent Brown, Tacky’s Revolt: The Story of an Atlantic Slave War (Harvard University Press)
• Peter Cozzens, Tecumseh and the Prophet: The Shawnee Brothers Who Defied a Nation (Alfred A. Knopf)
• Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, The Age of Phillis (Wesleyan University Press)
• Michael W. McConnell, The President Who Would Not Be King: Executive Power under the Constitution (Princeton University Press)
• William G. Thomas III, A Question of Freedom: The Families Who Challenged Slavery from the Nation’s Founding to the Civil War (Yale University Press)

Created in 2005 by George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, and Washington College, the $50,000 George Washington Prize is one of the nation’s largest and most notable literary awards. Previous winners Prize include Ron Chernow, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Nathaniel Philbrick, Annette Gordon-Reed, and Rick Atkinson.

ABOUT THE SPONSORS OF THE GEORGE WASHINGTON PRIZE

Washington College

Founded in 1782, Washington College is the tenth-oldest college in the nation and the first one chartered after American independence. It enrolls approximately 1,250 undergraduates from more than 35 states and a dozen nations. With an emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning in the arts and sciences, and more than 40 multidisciplinary areas of study, the College is home to nationally recognized academic centers in the environment, history, and writing. Learn more at washcoll.edu.

Washington College’s Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience explores the American experience in all its diversity and complexity, seeks creative approaches to illuminating the past, and inspires thoughtful conversation informed by history. Through educational programs, scholarship and public outreach, the Starr Center bridges the divide between the academic realm and the broader world, while offering dynamic hands-on opportunities to Washington College undergraduates from a wide range of majors. More information can be found at starrcenter.washcoll.edu.

George Washington’s Mount Vernon

Since 1860, more than 85 million visitors have made George Washington’s Mount Vernon the most popular historic home in America. Through thought-provoking tours, entertaining events, and stimulating educational programs on the estate and in classrooms across the nation, Mount Vernon strives to preserve George Washington’s place in history as “First in War, First in Peace, and First in the Hearts of His Countrymen.” Mount Vernon is owned and operated by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, America’s oldest national preservation organization, founded in 1853. In 2013, Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association opened the Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington, which safeguards original books and manuscripts and serves as a center for research, scholarship, and leadership development. Learn more at mountvernon.org.

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History was founded in 1994 by Richard Gilder and Lewis E. Lehrman, visionaries and lifelong supporters of American history education. The Institute is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to K–12 history education while also serving the general public. Its mission is to promote the knowledge and understanding of American history through educational programs and resources. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity, the Gilder Lehrman Institute is supported through the generosity of individuals, corporations, and foundations. The Institute’s programs have been recognized by awards from the White House, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Organization of American Historians, and the Council of Independent Colleges. Learn more at gilderlehrman.org.

The Apollo Theater, Smithsonian American Art Museum, National Portrait Gallery, the National Constitution Center, the Human Rights Campaign, and Library of Congress—these are just a few of the institutions where Washington College students are interning this summer through the College’s Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience. The Starr Center has placed 27 students with internships as part of its Explore America internship program. Representing thirteen majors and all four class years, students are gaining valuable experience while earning stipends in the process.

“This program is truly unique, offering Washington College undergraduates opportunities unmatched at other small liberal arts schools,” said Adam Goodheart, the Starr Center’s Hodson Trust-Griswold Director. “Working with the leadership at major national nonprofits, we arrange for them to set aside positions each summer specifically for our students. Faculty members who know the applicants well carefully match them with the opportunities that will benefit them the most. Finally, we pay the students stipends of up to $5,000 for their summer work.”

Kyle Roberts, Associate Director of Library & Museum Programming at Philadelphia’s American Philosophical Society, has been hosting Explore America summer interns for several years.

“The American Philosophical Society greatly values its partnership with the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience. Each summer we look forward to inviting bright Washington College undergraduates into ongoing archival and digital projects at the nation’s oldest learned society,” he said. “From historic immigration records to a revision of the guide to our African American history collections, the paid interns from the Starr Center work alongside our professional staff to unlock new knowledge that is changing how we understand the past.”

Although most of the internships are indeed virtual this summer, due to COVID precautions, several are not. The National Aquarium in Baltimore is providing soon-to-be senior and chemistry major Hannah Flayhart with a hands-on experience in conservation education.

“Working with guests and children at the National Aquarium this summer has given me a better understanding of what I want to do in the future. I want to continue to engage with people, not only to inform them about animals or science, but also to get across conservation tactics that can help protect our planet,” said Flayhart.

Since the program’s inception at Washington College a decade ago, it has offered over $700,000 in funding to more than 160 students. Financial support comes from an array of private donors and institutional grants.

“By paying the recipients enough to support summer living expenses, the Explore America program levels the socioeconomic playing field and brings more diverse young people into the world of nonprofit leadership,” said Goodheart.

“The work that our students do — from helping plan Smithsonian exhibitions to doing research for forthcoming books — gives them valuable experience and introduces them to mentors who sometimes change the course of their lives.”

It’s also an impressive line for students’ resumes when they enter the work world, and in some cases, the realization of a childhood dream.

“The Explore America internship program is one of the reasons I chose to attend Washington College,” said 2021 Washington College graduate Katy Shenk. “I’m so grateful to the Starr Center for making these experiences possible. Both of my internship positions have allowed me to explore the field of public history through hands-on work and truly rewarding projects.”

Shenk said that her 2019 Explore America internship with the prestigious Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History in New York City inspired her to later design and lead an independent World War II curriculum project when she returned to the Starr Center the following year. This summer, Shenk is interning through Explore America with the Smithsonian American Art Museum, as a curatorial research assistant.

“I’m doing the work of a historian—locating, interpreting, and critically evaluating primary and secondary source materials—a process I refined through many engaging, well-taught history seminars at Washington College. I’m confident these experiences not only helped me secure a place in American University’s graduate public history program but have provided me with the skills and knowledge of the field necessary to thrive there as well.”

About the Starr Center

Washington College’s Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience explores the American experience in all its diversity and complexity, seeks creative approaches to illuminating the past, and inspires thoughtful conversation informed by history. Through educational programs, scholarship and public outreach, the Starr Center bridges the divide between the academic realm and the broader world, while offering dynamic hands-on opportunities to Washington College undergraduates from a wide range of majors. More information can be found at starrcenter.washcoll.edu.

About Washington College

Founded in 1782, Washington College is the tenth-oldest college in the nation and the first one chartered after American independence. It enrolls approximately 1,250 undergraduates from more than 35 states and a dozen nations. With an emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning in the arts and sciences, and more than 40 multidisciplinary areas of study, the College is home to nationally recognized academic centers in the environment, history, and writing. Learn more at washcoll.edu.