Special Event – The Emerging History of American Contrabands: A Symposium at Fort Monroe
SAVE THE DATE May 22nd and 23rd, 2026 at Fort Monroe.
Across two days, sessions will integrate descendant knowledge, public history practice, and emerging scholarship to illuminate the names, lives, communities, and military service of hundreds of thousands of self-emancipated people.
This FREE event will also feature authors’ readings, the stories of Contrabands who became U.S.C.T. soldiers, and the launch of the Contraband Digital Archive, culminating in the Annual Commemoration of the 1861 Contraband Decision.
Friday May 22nd sessions start at 10:00am and ends with Authors Roundtable from 6:30pm – 9:00pm
Saturday May 23rd sessions start at 9:00am and ends with annual Commemoration Event from 7:00pm – 9:00pm
BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR:
Wednesday, February 25th – Full Program Schedule and Highlights of Panelists and Keynote Speaker Posted on Eventbrite
Wednesday, April 1st – Symposium Registration Open on Eventbrite