Category: War of 1812

Interview For College of Southern Maryland Radio Show Examined Newspapers and Communications During War of 1812

I did a radio interview with Dr. Bradley Gottfried the President of the College of Southern Maryland today on his Sunday morning radio show, “Southern Maryland Perspectives.”  Dr. Gottfried interviews scholars and newsmakers about local perspectives for several Southern Maryland radio station, which air his weekly show.

I will be at the College on November 17, 2013, participating in a series, “the War of 1812:  A Legacy of Division.”  My talk examines newspapers, mail, and communications during the War of 1812 and the President and I discussed how news could only move as fast as someone could physically carry the message.  When the war came to our shores, the sharing of news and information was critical and so we also examined how newspapers gathered and distributed urgent news content, during the half-hour show.

Click here to hear the radio broadcast.

War of 1812 Soldier.
A War of 1812 reenactor at a program in Havre de Grace, MD.

Preparing Interpretive Plan Exploring the Havre de Grace Storylines During the War of 1812

havre de grace interpretive plan
The Havre de Grace Interpretive Plan.

I have been working as a consulting public historian since 2011 on a project to document the story of Havre de Grace around the time the British burned the town in May 1813.

This work was part of the development of the Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail.  As one of two project historians, my assignment was to design and direct research focused on the community narrative.  Another historian worked on the military aspect.

My final assignment involved preparation of an interpretative plan for the heritage museums of Havre de Grace.  The document focused on helping those stakeholders deliver their unique storyline to the public during the Bicentennial.

It was an exciting project, as I worked with a great group of volunteers, local historians, museums and community subject matter experts to piece together the forgotten parts of the town’s past and develop the Havre de Grace Interpretive Plan.

Facilitating NPS Workshop Examining How to Uncover the Untold Stories of the War of 1812

“Humanizing the War of 1812:  Telling the Untold Stories along the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail” is the theme of a National Park Service workshop taking place at Harford Community College on April 8th

Dr. Allen Taylor, a national author and university professor, will open the day long workshop with remarks about his recent research into the role of African-Americans during the War of 1812.  The morning session includes a living history performance, as participants engage in a discussion about using costumed interpretations to express the perspective of African-American women.  In the afternoon, break-out sessions include using research to uncover the untold stories of the war, making your interpretive program engaging and developing relevant programs for youth.

I will facilitate the panel on researching untold stories.  That break-out includes Dr. Taylor, a State Archives representative, and other practitioners.   The subject of telling what it was like for everyday people and underrepresented groups when the war came to the shores of the Chesapeake, is something  I have focused my research on for a few years so I am looking forward to that discussion.  I find that there is a growing interest in the stories of these groups and the narratives of everyday people, the accounts that did not usually make the newspaper or the history books.

The afternoon concludes with a session that concentrates on using the trail network to promote the untold stories at your site.  Click here for more details.  Joining the National Park Service in sponsoring this program are the Maryland Historical Trust and Harford Community College.

The War of 1812 in Delaware: A Helpful Digital Resource from the State Archives.

In commemoration of the First State’s role in the War of 1812 the Delaware Public Archives has launched an online digital repository of primary documents that researchers and those seeking to gain more understanding about the period will find valuable.  This web portal contains many insightful e-resources such as books, military reports, documents, prints, and correspondence.   The always open library includes military journals, papers of the legislature and executive, muster rolls, river pilot logs, judicial documents, guard reports, and war claims.  The e-books are the biography of Captain Thomas Macdonough and two volumes of the military records of the Delaware Archives.

The Archives has been taking a lead in going digital, making records that have historical and research value available online.  This is the latest example of the excellent, ongoing advancements being made by the archivist in Dover.  It’s a valuable, attractive resource with great primary source content that chronicles what happened during that dangerous period when the British were in the Delaware Bay.  This online collection, while preserving original manuscripts, makes these rare resources easily available to the public.  Thank You Delaware Public Archives.

Here is the link.   

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