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New Beginnings: Let's Research the Historical Puzzle Pieces of the JDP

 

Photo of Log’d Dwelling Replica at the JDP: https://history.delaware.gov/john-dickinson-plantation/

Hours: 41              

                               In a few days, I will have been a member of HCA for two weeks. I am still in the beginning stages of my position, and as of right now, I am working on buffing my knowledge of the history of the JDP, John Dickinson, and the enslaved, indentured, and free people who lived and labored there. Last Wednesday, Annie Fenimore and Gloria Henry, two Historic Site Interpreters of HCA, graciously took time to meet with me at the JDP to fill me in on portions of my future endeavors as an Inclusive History Researcher of this organization. Also, I received a thorough tour from Annie through the mansion of the JDP and discovered a lot more about the JDP then I believe I could have just from reading secondary documents available on scholarly websites and databases.

                               One of the biggest things that stuck with me about this tour is that due to information that remains unknown about JDP history (which we aim to uncover), there are narratives about the enslaved people who dwelled at the JDP that may cause visitors to wonder about other segments of their life. For instance, as Annie and I discussed, why might a certain account found about an enslaved person’s recollection of a life event that occurred at the JDP include primarily positive thoughts about this event? Could this person have held back from saying certain things, knowing well about the power imbalance between her and those who owned her as she tried to evade punishment or another form of negative treatment from her enslavers? These are all important thoughts to have and reflect on, and one of the things that can help a historian think critically about the information presented in historical documents and sources. As the saying goes, there is always two sides to a coin, and having said that, there are often many sides to a historical narrative that we must be attentive of!

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