Oberlin Village is one of Raleigh’s few remaining historic African American communities. Founded in the mid-19th century by free Black families, the village grew quickly in size after the end of the Civil War to include hundreds of families who built homes, churches, and a public school. Descendants of the founding families created the Friends of Oberlin Village (FOV) non-profit to preserve the remaining history of the village and honor its legacies. In this presentation, Dr. McGill will discuss research by archaeologists and historians as part of an interdisciplinary network of scholars who collaborate with FOV. The presentation will focus on the interpretation of the community’s history through changes in the neighborhood over time represented in aerial imagery and in the interpretation of archaeological artifacts.

Registration deadline: April 16