Seneca Village and Central Park, Unearthing a Forgotten African-American Community with Cynthia Copeland, New York University

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Seneca Village and Central Park, Unearthing a Forgotten African-American Community with Cynthia Copeland, New York University Wednesday, July 29, 2015 // 6:00 p.m. The Arsenal Gallery, Central Park 830 Fifth Avenue at 64th Street Seneca Village was Manhattan’s first significant community of African-American property owners, once located on acreage in today’s Central Park. The Whiteheads, nineteenth century landowners, subdivided their land into subplots for sale. These land transactions laid the foundation for the development of this substantial community that contained three churches, several cemeteries, a school, and home structures for nearly 300 residents. The community was in existence from 1825 through 1856, when it was razed to make way for the Park. In the late 1990s through 2011, contemporary scholars, archaeologists, preservationists, civic activists, and community board members became interested in its history, and sought evidence to uphold the new narrative. In this talk, come hear about the process and progress of the recent public history efforts to help New Yorkers, and history buffs far and wide, gain a broader understanding of this important New York City story. Cynthia R. Copeland is an adjunct and supervising instructor in the department of Teaching and Learning at the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development at New York University. As an educator and public historian, Ms. Copeland’s interest and work in the politics and impact of race and racism in the United States, is multi- modal, extending her experiences as a culturally responsive and social justice educator, progressive education advocate, museum consultant, education curator, and interpretive specialist to diverse cultural and educational institutions and organizations across the United States. Her study of Seneca Village stems from past affiliations with the African Burial Ground Project and The New-York Historical Society. As a volunteer member of the non-profit organization, The Institute for the Exploration of Seneca Village, Ms. Copeland and colleagues, Diana diZerega Wall, Nan Rothschild and Herbert Seignoret, co-directed an archaeological excavation of the same site in the summer of 2011. Admission is free but space is limited. To RSVP, email [email protected]. In conjunction with an exhibition, Living Landmarks, in the Arsenal Gallery through August 28, 2015 Photo: Seneca Village Archaeological Excavation in Central Park, 2011; Collection of The Institute for the Exploration of Seneca Village History.

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