Negro Travelers’ Green Book program at the New Castle Court House Museum on March 16, 2019
On Saturday, March 16, 2019 at 1 p.m., the New Castle Court House Museum, located at 211 Delaware St. in New Castle, Del., will present “Preserving African-American History in Delaware: Highlighting Vibrant Communities Through Research and the ‘Green Book,’ ” a presentation by historian Carlton Hall of the Delaware State Historic Preservation Office on the “Green Book,” a travel and vacation guidebook for people of color during the segregation era. The program will also explore the stories of African-Americans and their challenges living through the Jim Crow laws in Delaware from the 1920s to the 1960s. Admission is free and open to the public. For additional information, call 302-323-4453.
Carlton Hall grew up in New Castle and is a graduate of William Penn High School. He now lives in Bear with his wife and three children. He earned a master’s degree in historic preservation from Delaware State University in 2013 and began his tenure at the State Historic Preservation Office in 2015. In 2018, he was named to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “40 Under 40” list for his research and presentations about Delaware listings in the Green Book. “40 Under 40: People Saving Places” honors individuals under the age of 40 across the United States who are working to support the mission of historic preservation through fields such as architecture, community activism and business.
Constructed in 1732, the New Castle Court House is one of the oldest active court buildings in the United States and was Delaware’s first state capitol. Here, the Colonial Assembly passed the 1776 Separation Resolution creating the Delaware State. During its nearly 300 years of history, this National Historic Landmark has played pivotal roles in the political, social and commercial life of both New Castle and Delaware. The museum is administered by the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs and is a partner site in the First State National Historical Park.
