As part of the Central Pennsylvania African American Museum?s fifteenth anniversary celebration on Saturday, October 26, 2013, Penn State Berks students will present research that they conducted on local African American history as part of their English coursework. The celebration will take place from 1-4 p.m., and the students will present their research from approximately 3-3:40 pm.
Students and their research presentations are as follows:
?1944 Mortgage Burning Photograph?
Researched and written by Michael Keller, Dharmendra Patel, and Drew Weinhold. The students researched individuals in the photograph on display at CPAAM of the 1944 Mortgage Burning of the Bethel A.M.E. Church Service.
?Chloe Walker?
Researched and written by Chelsea Eyer, Chastity Paredes-Rodriguez, and Katie Legenski. ?Chloe Walker was born a slave on November 8, 1802, on a farm near Winchester, Virginia ? Edward and Chloe Walker had ten children together, five girls and five boys, all of whom were already grown by the time the family came to Reading.?
?George Marshall and his Family?
Researched and written by William Keller. ?George Marshall, a World War I veteran, was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania to William H. and Mollie (Bush) Marshall on June 29, 1886. This essay traces his life and family.?
?Samuel B. Becker?
Researched and written by Madison Bolam and Jennifer Smith. Samuel B. Becker, according to the New York Times, was the last surviving Civil War veteran in the United States. The late Frank L. Gilyard, founder of the CPAAM, had reason to believe that Captain Becker was of mixed race and ?passed? as white during his lifetime. The students tried to find evidence for this claim.
In addition, there will be a dedication ceremony to the late founder of CPAAM, Frank L. Gilyard, from approximately 2:30-3 pm. Gilyard had a special relationship with Penn State Berks students, partnering with them since approximately 2005 on their research and the writing they contributed to CPAAM and to expanding the historical narratives in Berks County.
