The Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs announced that it has been awarded a grant to facilitate the division’s work with descendant communities at the John Dickinson Plantation.
The award comes from the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Henry A. Jordan, M.D., Preservation Excellence Fund. The endowed fund, established in honor of Dr. Jordan’s service to the National Trust, supports organizations committed to preserving the natural and cultural resources of the Mid-Atlantic region. The division was awarded $5,000, the largest grant amount possible through the fund.
The division will use the grant money to train staff to work with the descendant community at the John Dickinson Plantation. The money will also support an initial public meeting with the descendant community. As a part of its planning process, the division has adopted the Engaging Descendant Communities in the Interpretation of Slavery at Museums and Historic Sites rubric of best practices. This rubric includes a more expansive definition of descendant community that includes people whose ancestors were enslaved in the surrounding region; and “those who feel connected to the work the institution is doing, whether or not they know of a genealogical connection;” along with those whose ancestors were enslaved at the John Dickinson Plantation.