I am pleased to announce that Delaware Humanities has selected my newest presentation, On the Road to the Poorhouse: Poverty and Public Care on the Delmarva Peninsula, for inclusion in its Speakers Bureau catalog. Each year, scholars submit programs for review, and a panel evaluates them for historical rigor, public value, and overall quality. This talk grows out of several years of research into the Mid-Atlantic’s poorhouses, including work with county records, institutional ledgers, photographs, and long-overlooked newspaper accounts.
Exploring an Overlooked Chapter of Local History
Long before modern social safety nets existed, almshouses—often called poorhouses—served as the primary public institutions for caring for the poor, elderly, infirm, and others living on society’s margins. Although these facilities were once central to local government, their history is rarely discussed today.
This program draws on original archival research to reconstruct the little-known story of poorhouses on the Delmarva Peninsula, placing them within the broader national history of public care. By examining institutional records, county documents, and period reporting, the presentation looks closely at who lived in these institutions, how they operated, and what they reveal about enduring questions of poverty, charity, and community responsibility.
Available Through Delaware Humanities
On the Road to the Poorhouse will be available for booking through Delaware Humanities beginning November 1, 2026. Libraries, museums, historical societies, civic organizations, and community groups interested in hosting the program can schedule it directly through the Speakers Bureau
I look forward to sharing this research with audiences across the state and to continuing conversations about how communities—past and present—care for their most vulnerable members.