Celebrate Women’s History Month with the Delaware Historical Society’s Mitchell Center for African American Heritage! James E. Johnson, PhD. leads a talk shedding light on the remarkable, three decades long journey of Maggie Elias, the first Delaware-born faculty member of color at the Howard School. Born in Wilmington in 1853, Elias was also the choir director at Shiloh Baptist Church for many years. Her family background reflects the deep history of Black Delawareans seeking freedom from enslavement.

From 1876 to the early 20th century, Elias established a documented record of commitment to her students in Howard’s elementary school, its adult night school, and in vocational schools. Maggie Elias passed away in 1907 and her work has been forgotten. In reviving her contributions to the African American quest for education in Wilmington, Dr. Johnson reestablishes an inspirational link to our forgotten past.

Dr. James Elton Johnson is a veteran social justice activist and historian of the Black experience on the Upper Mid-Atlantic Coast. As a social activist in Camden City during the 1970s, Dr. Johnson was founding president of both the innovative Camden County Tenants United Front and Concerned Citizens of Delsea Estates (CCDE) in the borough of Clayton.

Dr. Johnson obtained his masters and doctoral degrees in history at the University of Pennsylvania and has published several journal essays. His current research includes the history of race and education in southern New Jersey since 1900.

Free event. Registration required: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E104173&id=212