Reunion Project
CONNECTIONS THROUGH COLLECTIONS
The Reunion Project is the "R" in HEARTS and provides an important genealogical component with the mission to connect descendants of this land. This land was once home to indigenous people, European colonists, enslaved people, and tenants. Through the Reunion Project, we seek stories and connections with all those who once called this place home, bridging connections and building community.
Many descendants of enslaved people seek connections to their heritage, which is often difficult due to a lack of documentation. The Reunion Project has documented direct connections to this land's history with the surrounding historic African American communities of Long Creek, Miranda, Pottstown, and Smithville, building collections specific to these communities and historic African American sites in this region.
In addition, the project seeks connections to the Native American heritage of this site as well. Home to Paleo Indians and the tribes of their descendants for thousands of years, the Reunion Project is also researching, collecting, and documenting this important history of the land.
Stories learned from these connections and collections are shared at HEARTS events throughout the year, with an annual celebration of the Reunion Project each year at the HEARTS Junion event, which began in 2022.
At HEARTS Junion ‘24, we presented a compiled list of 143 people once enslaved at the site, painstakingly researched and assembled by Andre’ Kearns. One of the sources Kearns drew upon was a notebook kept by James G. Torrance called “Ages of Negroes.” This list is now permanently displayed in the Center Hall Gallery of Cedar Grove. HEARTS is honored for these names to be included in the 10 Million Names Project, a collaborative effort dedicated to recovering the names of the estimated 10 million men, women, and children of African descent who were enslaved in pre- and post-colonial America between the 1500s and 1865.
If you are interested in participating in the Reunion Project, please complete this brief survey:
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