Join the Cape Ann Museum for a conversation with Ila Prouty about her mother, Doris Elizabeth Prouty (1947-2020). Prouty was a resident of Gloucester for nearly 50 years, a self-taught African American quilter, a beloved community member, a teacher and a mother. Her quilts explore many traditions of American quilting, from familiar patterning to elaborate appliqué. Together they narrate the stories of her life, her imagination, and her community here on Cape Ann.

Untold Stories: A History of Black People in Lynn is a collaborative exhibit between the Lynn Museum and members of Lynn’s Black community. This exhibit explores the history of Black people of Lynn from the colonial period to present day. Focusing on individuals, events, and thematic areas the exhibit covers a wide variety of topics, including culture and identity, the lives of free and enslaved people, and the significant leadership roles Black Lynners have played in the community.

Frederick Douglass had strong ties to the North Shore, living with his family in Lynn from 1841 to 1847 and traveling to Cape Ann on at least one occasion to speak about the abolitionist movement. And yet, Douglass’ connection to this area is not widely known, nor is the extent to which the abolitionist movement was active in this region during the 19th century. 

Dr. Baumgartner, Associate Professor of American Studies, Faculty Fellow for Equity and Inclusion at the University of New Hampshire and Dr. Duclos-Orsello, Chair and Professor, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies & Coordinator of American Studies at Salem State University have spent the past two years visiting historic repositories throughout Essex County, including the Cape Ann Museum, to collect, compile, and catalog the rich history of African Americans in this area.

The corresponding report to the video lecture "African Americans in Essex County", led by Dr. Kabria Baumgartner and Dr. Elizabeth Duclos-Orsello in 2022 and funded by the National Park Service.

This program is the third in a series offered in conjunction with the special exhibition Our Souls are by Nature Equal to Yours: The Legacy of Judith Sargent Murray. The special exhibition invited us to take a closer look at life in 18th century America by exploring aspects that are often overlooked in history including women's role in society; educational and economic opportunities for women during the same period; and issues related to gender and race inequality, past and present.

This issue of CAM Connects combines emerging scholarship, examples from art history, and archival photographs to help tell the story of Black History on Cape Ann. Since the arrival of white European settlers in 1623, the majority of written documentation from the area has focused on their experiences while omitting those of others. However, verified records of Black people in this area date to as early as 1685. These pieces of history, so often left untold, are key to understanding the full narrative of the region.

Little record of the lives and experiences of enslaved people remains, though ample evidence exists that enslaved and freed African Americans lived here from at least the eighteenth century onward. Prior to Massachusetts’ abolition of slavery in 1783, newspaper advertisements were among the few printed records of enslavement on the North Shore. Also in this exhibit are tax records, account books, procurement orders, deeds, and crew lists which serve as evidence that enslaved and freed African Americans lived and worked in the Cape Ann area prior to the 1850's.