Maryland Emancipation Day & One Maryland One Book

MARYLAND EMANCIPATION DAY & ONE MARYLAND, ONE BOOK

Saturday, November 1, 2025

9:00 am to 5:00 pm

This event is free and open to the public. Registration is REQUIRED! Seats are limited.

In honor of Maryland Emancipation Day on November 1st, Historic Sotterley is partnering with Maryland Humanities and their One Maryland One Book initiative to host a full day of programming that celebrates ancestry, literature, and the power of storytelling. The event will highlight the impact of descendant voices in preserving, sharing, and interpreting ancestral histories, while inspiring others to embark on their own genealogical journeys.

One Maryland One Book brings our community together across the state through the shared experience of reading the same book. This year’s book, Kin: Rooted in Hope by Carole Boston Weatherford with art by Jeffery Boston Weatherford, is a work of art, history, and personal genealogy. It is the authors’ search into their family history and led them to ancestors who were some of the founders of Maryland.

Kin: Rooted in Hope can be purchased in Historic Sotterley’s Visitor Center/Museum Shop or online!

Since this event also falls on Maryland Emancipation Day, we’re making a whole day of exploring ancestry, history, literature, and performance. Activities will include:

• A Keynote from Olivia Smith of St. Mary’s Public Library
• A Sotterley Descendant Discussion Panel with Gwen Bankins, Dante Eubanks, Kelsey Bush, Tre Lancaster-Smith, and Nocola Williams, Facilitated by Merideth Taylor
• Creative Writing Workshops with author Caitlyn Hunter
• Living History Performances by Ms. Story
• A presentation and Q&A from Dave Brown, author of The Barber Family and his newest book on Agnes Kane Callum
• An Open Mic for presenting poetry and creative writing

We will have a full day ahead of us, please be sure to nourish your body as well as your soul. Food will be available for purchase from Aunt Titty’s Food Truck during the event. Don't stand in line at the lunch time rush, you can pre-order a boxed lunch from Aunt Titty’s Food Truck Pre-order Your Lunch! until October 30th.

See the full schedule below.

This is a free event. Registration is REQUIRED! Seats are limited.

Schedule of Events

9:00 – Doors Open

9:30 – Program Start, Welcome from Nancy Easterling

9:40 – Keynote from Olivia Smith of St. Mary’s Public Library

9:50 – Living History Chapter 1 with Ms. History

10:20 – Sotterley Descendant Panel with Gwen Bankins, Dante Eubanks, Kelsey Bush, Tre Lancaster-Smith, and Nocola Williams, Facilitated by Merideth Taylor

11:30 – Creative Writing Workshop 1 with Caitlyn Hunter

12:00 – Lunch/Free Time, Manor House Tours and Exhibits Open

1:15 – Living History Chapter 2 with Ms. History

1:45 – Creative Writing Workshop 2 with Caitlyn Hunter

2:15 – Open Mic

2:45 – Presentation by Dave Brown

3:15 – Living History Chapter 3 with Ms. History

3:45 – Final remarks, opportunity to purchase books and book signings