Organized in celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence, Lifting As We Climb draws from the University of Delaware’s Special Collections to chronicle the resilience of Black communities during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Against a backdrop of limited rights and opportunities for Black Americans, this exhibition examines how churches and schools fueled the formation and development of Delaware’s free Black communities in the years leading up to and following the American Civil War.  

Through photographs, books, pamphlets and event programs, visitors will explore the rich and dynamic history of the Black church as a foundational educational institution, as well as the remarkable influence and activism of Black women working to expand educational opportunities, often in partnership with the independent Black church. Recognizing that 1776 is the beginning, not the end, of our American story, we invite you to discover how African Americans in Delaware built community, promoted education and thrived at the turn of the century in their ongoing pursuit of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 

Lifting As We Climb is on view from February 2 through August 7, 2026, in the Morris Library Information Room. The exhibition is free and open to the public during the Library’s regular hours.  

Credits: This exhibition is curated by Kallie Comardelle, doctoral student from the Department of English, and Dhazhea Freeman, graduate student from the Department of Africana Studies, with support from Hillary Kativa, associate librarian and department head, Special Collections. Comardelle and Freeman’s curatorial work was supported by a grant from Delaware 250.