The following announcement is for the first in a series of three conferences to explore issues of historical significance for the creation of a regional center for the humanities. The effort is being pursued under a planning grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Howard Gillette
Department of History
Rutgers Univesity/Camden

Strengthening the Humanities in the Mid Atlantic States:
Building A Center that Meets Regional Needs
Saturday, October 7, 2000
Thumel Business Center, University of Baltimore, Mt Royal Avenue at North Charles Street

This meeting is the first of three scheduled under the sponsorship of the Temple-Rutgers/Camden regional center for the humanities and the state humanities councils of the Mid-Atlantic area. The goals are to introduce the concept of a regional center; to showcase new approaches to humanities research, interpretation, and programming; and to encourage networking among those active in the humanities throughout the Mid-Atlantic. This occasion will also offer the opportunity to introduce the new regional center forming at the University of Baltimore. Other organizations are encouraged to provide information about their new and ongoing activities at the same meeting. To arrange for space at the conference, call Jessica Elfenbein at the University of Baltimore (410) 837-5340.

9:00  Registration and coffee

9:30 Welcome and introductions
         	Barbara Sarudy, Maryland Humanities Council
         	E. Ethelbert Miller, D.C. Community Humanities Council
         	Jessica Elfenbein, University of Baltimore
          	Howard Gillette, Rutgers University/Camden

10:00-12:00  Panel: Grounding Freedom: New Approaches to African-American
Experience 		and Heritage
	 Dwight Pitcaithey, National Park Service, Interpreting Civil War sites
             Tracey Weis, Millersville University, Funmi Kennedy,
President, Fuinde, Documenting and interpreting the underground railroad
	 Philip Merrill, Nanny Jack & Co, Addressing Baltimore's rich
African-American heritage
            Kym Rice, George Washington University, Forming a collaborative
exhibit on the abolition of slavery

12:00-1:30    Lunch and breakout sessions with participating organizations

1:30-2:15    James Oliver Horton, George Washington University, "Addressing
Difficult 	Historical Issues Involving Race"

2:15-4:00     Panel: Rethinking Chesapeake Studies
                    Melissa McLoud, Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
	         Cary Carson, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
	         Paula Johnson, Smithsonian Institution
	         Martin Sullivan, St. Mary's Historical Commission
	         Roger Davidson, Coppin State University

4:00             Wrap-up: Next Steps for Forming A Regional Humanities Center
	         Joseph Kelly, Pennsylvania Humanities Council
                     Morris Vogel, Temple University

Sponsored by: the state humanities councils for the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, in cooperation with the Virginia Institute for the Humanities, the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums, the Enoch Pratt Free Library, and the Maryland Historical Society.

The conference is free, but those wishing to reserve a buffet lunch, should send a check for $10 made out to Rutgers University to: Regional Center, Department of History, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ 08102. For more information and electronic registration, see our web page at www.march.rutgers.edu.

Directions to the University of Baltimore. From the Northeast, take I-95 to exit 64, I-695 (Beltway) towards Towson, to exit 23, I-83 (Baltimore), to exit 5 (Maryland Avenue). At the end of the ramp, go straight , through the traffic light to the University of Baltimore's Bolton Yard parking lot, on the right. From the West, take I-70 to I-695 (Beltway), follow directions above. From the Southwest, take I-95 into Baltimore to exit 53, I-395 (Downtown Baltimore). Bear left for the Inner Harbor. Turn right onto Pratt Street and left onto Charles. Take Charles to Mount Royal, turn left. At the second light, turn right onto Oliver Street. The Bolton Yard parking lot will be on your left. The University is one block south of Baltimore's Pennsylvania rail station. The Thumel Business Center is four blocks from the Baltimore Metro stop at the Maryland State Office Building stop.