Over the past two summers, I have worked at Historic St. Mary’s City, focusing on their 19th century slave plantation data. This data will be used over the coming years as the basis of my dissertation work. Historic St. Mary’s is an archaeological and living history museum, which focuses on the 17th century era. It was here that Maryland’s first capital, St. Mary’s City, was founded. The city fell into disuse after the capital was moved to Annapolis, a product of the Protestant Revolution, and archaeology has been the primary source of rediscovery of this unique landscape.
I have worked with the Research Department, and will be returning in the fall of 2010 to begin and complete my dissertation, under the guidance of Dr. Henry Miller, the director of research. Dr. Miller has overseen the dramatic emergence of St. Mary’s City to the landscape. Through an annual field school and tireless work by his fellow researchers and numerous craftsman, they have reconstructed the town center, a 17th century brick chapel, ordinary, and one of the most remarkable archaeology museums ever made at the St. John’s site.
Historic St. Mary’s City sits across the road from the St. Mary’s College of Maryland, a public honors college, and has partnered with them for each field school, various courses, and student internships. I hope to become a more integral part of that relationship as I make myself a more permanent fixture in St. Mary’s City.
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