Historical society hosts speaker from Salisbury University

The public is invited to join members of the Rehoboth Beach Historical Society for its annual Fall Luncheon, Saturday, Nov. 13. The luncheon will feature a guest speaker and the presentation of the Preservation Award. This year, the guest speaker is Dr. Clara Small, professor of history at Salisbury University, who will speak on the history of African-Americans on the Delmarva Peninsula.

This lecture is sponsored, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Humanities Forum and by generous matching donations from Burt Dukes, Hal Dukes Jr. and Butch Emmert. The lecture is being given in conjunction with the exhibit “Captain John and Sarah Avery, a 17th Century Family on Delaware’s Frontier,” currently on display at the Rehoboth Beach Museum.

The annual Preservation Award will be given to the City of Rehoboth Beach for the preservation of the historic Boardwalk.

The luncheon will be held at Kings Creek Country Club, Rehoboth Beach. Cash bar will be available at 11 a.m. Lunch will be served at noon. The cost of the luncheon is $25 for members and $30 for non-members.

This is a great way to learn about society programs, meet new people, and have fun while learning something new. Call 227-7310 to register by phone with a credit card and to make a meal selection, or stop by the Rehoboth Beach Museum at 511 Rehoboth Ave. to fill out a reservation form.

Luncheon selections are seared chicken piccata, baked salmon with shrimp sauce, and grilled pork chop with mushroom and basil sauce.

All meals include tomato and basil bisque, sautéed vegetables and roasted redskin potatoes, a dessert of raspberry sherbet with berry topping, and coffee, tea, or soft drink.

Small received her bachelor’s degree and first master’s degree in history from North Carolina Central University, and her second master’s degree in liberal arts from St. John’s College, Santa Fe, N.M. She started her doctorate at the University of Missouri, but she began working at Salisbury University in 1977, so she completed her doctorate in history at the University of Delaware.

She teaches about racism and discrimination; civil rights in American society; minority groups; African-American history; readings in African-American history; American Colonial history; United States history; oral history; and world civilizations. Her article, “Abolitionists, Free Blacks, and Runaway Slaves,” was included in the book, “A History of African-Americans on Maryland’s and Delaware’s Eastern Shore.”

She authored a book titled “Reality Check: Brief Biographies of African-Americans on Delmarva,” which was published by the Salisbury [State] University Press and placed in all of the schools and libraries in the surrounding counties. She also co-authored with the Rev. David Briddell “Men of Color, To Arms! Manumitted Slaves and Free Blacks from the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland Who Served in the Civil War.” She is presently researching the history of African-Americans on the Eastern Shore utilizing oral history, official documents, and other sources and is currently serving on the Governor’s Task Force on Slavery.

Small has been the recipient of numerous awards including the University System of Maryland Regents’ Award for Public Service, the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore’s Frank H. Morris Humanitarian Award, and the Faithful Service Award from Pi Gamma Mu, the International Honor Society for the Social Sciences.