Utilizing primary and secondary sources alongside raw data from databases covering
slave ships, slave sales, and demographic information, this research paper alongside its
accompanying Omeka exhibit tells the stories of African American communities in small towns
situated throughout the Eastern Seaboard and their contribution to their respective societies
through economic and settlement development along with cultural contributions. These
contributions include but are not limited to the creation of businesses, participation in social
organizations, the servicing of their local communities, participation in social justice movements,
Accompanying the thesis is an Omeka exhibit providing photographs to provide visualization.
The intention of the Omeka exhibit is to provide a visual representation of the research paper.
The Omeka exhibit also holds images relating to individuals that are mentioned within the
research portion of the paper.
The scope covers states along the "Eastern Seaboard" which would include the following
states: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, North & South Carolina, Georgia, &
Florida. The scale of the project included researching families in towns and cities, conducting
genealogical research to confirm familial relationships, and using census records, newspaper
clippings, and books written on local history to better understand their contributions to their
communities and their roles in the history of said communities.
