African American History in Talbot County
There are many fascinating stories to be learned from the prominent African American figures of Talbot County history. Click on a profile below to learn more.
With Valor and Honor: Talbot County’s United States Colored Troops During the Civil War was our Spotlight Exhibit through the Spring of 2026.
Further Reading
Check out these websites, books, and other resources for more information about Black history in Talbot County.
Books
A History of African Americans of Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore edited by Carol Marks. (The Delaware Heritage Commission: 1996). You can read it online here.
Praise the Bridge That Carries You Over: The Life of Joseph Sutton by Shepard Krech, III. (Schenkman Publishing Co.: 1981.)
Web Resources
African-American History Resources- University of Maryland Libraries – This guide published by the UMD libraries includes information on slavery, the Civil War, the Civil Rights movement, genealogy, and more in Maryland.
Legacy of Slavery Project- Maryland State Archives – The Maryland State Archives has been working to preserve the history of those who were enslaved in Maryland. This site includes case studies on individuals, interactive maps of properties, a searchable document database, and more.
Places to Visit
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor’s Center – While Tubman lived in Dorchester County, she is certainly an important local figure. The Visitor Center is located in Church Creek, and is managed by the Maryland Park Service and National Park Service.
In conjunction with the Talbot County Office of Tourism, the Talbot Historical Society produced a driving tour guide of sites in Talbot County associated with Frederick Douglass.
The Hill Community Project has created a self-guided walking tour of The Hill neighborhood where you can learn the history of one of the oldest free African American neighborhoods in the United States.
Visit the Water’s Edge Musuem in Oxford, MD. The Museum presents a collection of literature, paintings, lithographs, frescoes, and drawings of African American life created over 100 years ago.
Take a virtual tour of the Bellevue Passage Museum.The proximity of the Bellevue Passage Museum to the historic Oxford-Bellevue Ferry, Bellevue Landing Park, the Port of Oxford, a UNESCO Slave Route Site of Remembrance, and partnership with the Water’s Edge Museum, will present an immersive experience in heritage tourism and place-based education. The Museum’s construction will begin in late 2025.