Knoblock on African-American Cemeteries, 7 May

Tonight the Newport Historical Society hosts Glenn Knoblock speaking on the topic of “Hidden Presence: God’s Little Acre and Beyond,” about the historic African-American burial grounds of New England. (This talk is rescheduled from 8 March.)

The event description says:

Evidence of the history of African Americans in New England from the 18th and 19th centuries is found in many historic burial grounds and cemeteries in the region, with the most significant and extensive of these sites being God’s Little Acre in Newport.

Through these oft-times forgotten or neglected sites and the gravestones found within, important clues which help to document the lives of African Americans in the region are revealed. Such burial sites and gravestones are often the only physical evidence of an African American presence and the existence of slavery in a given locale, making them historically important beyond their original function and purpose. The presentation will be richly illustrated with photographs of many important gravestones found in Newport and beyond.

Knoblock is the author of African American Historic Burial Grounds and Gravesites of New England, published in 2016. He has lectured throughout New Hampshire via the state’s Humanities To Go program and written many entries for Harvard’s African American National Biography Project.

This talk takes place at the historical society’s Resource Center, 82 Touro Street in Newport. Admission is $5, or $1 for members and active and retired military with identification. Reserve a space online at NewportHistory.org or call 401-841-8770.