As a result of spending years navigating courthouse record rooms across the mid-Atlantic, I have developed a keen interest in the evolving recordkeeping practices of the Clerk of the Court. Some of this comes from observing the pre-computer age methods the recording officials used to create, index, and preserve legal documents while providing public access…
Temperanceville: The Legacy of a Dry Village
While giving a talk in Ocean City last week on America’s complex history with alcohol, an audience member asked about Temperanceville, a small village on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Although I had driven past it for years, I had never taken the turn off Route 13 to explore the place. However, prompted by the…
St. Augustine Church Added to the National Park Service Network to Freedom
I’m pleased to share that St. Augustine Church has officially been added to the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom, a program dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of the Underground Railroad. I had the privilege of researching and writing the nomination, a process that involved extensive archival research, thorough analysis, and collaboration with…
Two Pioneering Women: Railroad Tower Operators
In the late 19th century, employment opportunities for women were largely confined to roles such as domestic work, teaching, and a few other low-paying, socially acceptable occupations. Yet, trailblazers emerged, carving out spaces for themselves in traditionally male-dominated fields. Among these were two remarkable, pioneering women who worked as railroad tower operators. Until the…