In this episode of Public History with Justin, Jake, and Molly, Jake and Molly are joined by public historian Rich Condon to explore the Port Royal Experiment - an early, improvised effort to build freedom during the Civil War. Long before Reconstruction formally began, formerly enslaved people tested land ownership, education, and self-governance in coastal South Carolina. Listen to the episode.
Uncover the remarkable story of Jonathan J. Wright, Pennsylvania’s first African American lawyer and a South Carolina Supreme Court judge. His 1870 Wilkes-Barre speech championed equality and civil rights during Reconstruction, leaving an enduring legacy of justice and progress. Read the full story.
Celebrate Black History Month with stories of African American pioneers in Pennsylvania’s Coal Region—from Civil War bravery to crucial roles in 20th-century progress. Discover heroes like Nicholas Biddle and Charles H. King, Jr., and learn how they shaped our communities. Join us in honoring this remarkable legacy. Read the full story.
On November 14, 1865, Black Civil War veterans marched through Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in their own “Grand Review” after being largely absent from the official event in Washington, DC earlier that year. These soldiers, who played a crucial role in securing Union victory, were honored by local leaders and called for the right to vote. Read the full story.
In July 1865, the Pottsville Miners' Journal published a letter from a vehement support of Black voting rights.
Learn more about the Coal Region's response to the Confederate invasion of Pennsylvania in the summer of 1863.
Walkersville Branch Library is hosting a presentation about Frederick County, Maryland's role in the Civil War and Reconstruction.
Guest host Rich Condon and I discuss the final episodes of Manhunt and NPR's investigation into American historical markers.
In two detailed letters, the teachers at the Pottsville Freedmen's School highlighted their educational efforts in Tennessee.
Fannie A. Couch wrote to Schuylkill County from Tennessee to provide updates about the Freedmen's School she was managing.