Fall Events Round-up

This past fall and early winter, Washington’s campus was a hub of intellectual vitality, hosting major academic conferences, welcoming a nationally acclaimed writer as its newest history fellow, and spearheading critical community conversations on equity and history. 

Global Scholars Gather for 18th-Century Studies 

Over fall break in October, Washington College hosted the East-Central regional conference of the American Society for 18th-Century Studies (ASECS), marking the largest gathering of outside academics and 18th-century scholars on campus to date. Over 80 attendees, representing more than 60 institutions including Yale and Harvard, ventured to Chestertown for the three-day event. 

A joint effort between faculty and the centers of excellence, the conference was organized by Victoria Barnett-Woods, associate director of experiential learning and programs at the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience; Elena Deanda-Camacho, professor of Spanish and Black studies; Karen Manna, assistant professor of French; and Katherine Charles, associate professor of English. Deanda-Camacho was voted President of the East Central branch of ASECS at the conference, and also currently serves as Vice President of the ASECS.  

The event proved a triumph for Washington College's commitment to experiential learning, with undergraduate students playing a key role. Students showcased original research stemming from Starr Center internships and a summer program at Kiplin Hall in Yorkshire, England, presenting alongside seasoned scholars. Topics ranged from the analysis of material objects like "gouty chairs" to anti-colonial rhetorics and the use of digital tools to preserve local Black history through the Chesapeake Heartland Project. 

The event's centerpiece was a keynote address by Paola Bertucci, Professor of History at Yale University, who presented "Navigating Origin Stories: 18th-Century Invention Narratives and the Compass." The conference also featured a public plenary discussion by alumnus Darius Johnson '15, Director of the Chesapeake Heartland Project, titled "Memories and Meaning: Making History Accessible in the Digital Age," which focused on tracing ancestral roots through archival records. 

Patrick Henry Fellowship Welcomes Southern Gothic Master 

The Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience also announced the arrival of the 2025-2026 Patrick Henry History Fellow, acclaimed southern gothic author Wiley Cash. The prestigious fellowship supports outstanding writing on American history and culture. 

Cash, a New York Times bestselling novelist known for blending family drama with complex historical themes, will be in residence for the academic year, teaching an English class and working on his sixth novel, a retelling of the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island. The College community had an early opportunity to meet the new fellow on Tuesday, September 23, when Cash gave a public reading from his novel, The Last Ballad, at the Rose O’Neill Literary House. His work, praised for its elegant storytelling and nuanced engagement with American identity, promises to enrich the College's literary and historical discourse throughout his tenure. 

Critical Dialogue on Redlining and Community Healing 

Further showcasing its role as a regional anchor for civic discussion, the College hosted a major community conversation in early December focused on the lasting impact of historic housing policies. 

The event, titled “115 Years since Ordinance 610: The Origins of Redlining, Maryland’s Historic Reversal and America’s Path Toward Healing,” was hosted by the Starr Center and marked the anniversary of Baltimore’s 1910 Ordinance 610, which pioneered the discriminatory practice of redlining in the U.S. 

The program featured a reading from Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World by author Sara C. Bronin, architect, attorney, and founder of the National Zoning Atlas. Bronin then joined a dialogue with Cat Goughnour, Assistant Secretary of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Moderated by Patrick Nugent, Thomas V. Miller Jr. Director of Civic Engagement, the conversation centered on Maryland's innovative, first-in-the-nation policies aimed at reversing the effects of exclusionary housing and fostering more equitable communities. The event brought together campus and community members to explore practical pathways toward healing historical divides. 

— Dominique Ellis Falcon