Author: Charlotte Goodman

Me explaining the Dred Scott wayside marker (Carlisle Sentinel)

On April 7, I was involved in the launch of the House Divided Project’s new Dickinson & Slavery Historic Walking Tour, a tour designed to be a self-guided learning excursion highlighting people and places that are of historical significance to the college. This launch event was the first formal in-person ceremony that the college had hosted since the beginning of the pandemic, and attendance revealed that. Members of the community, faculty, students and even prospective students turned out. The event began with a speech from former President Margee Ensign who spoke briefly about the House Divided Project, specifically its Dickinson & Slavery initiative. She discussed how its work is helping to create a more equitable and just society, ending with “the time is always right to do right.” Then we began the tour, which consisted of six different stops. The wayside markers at each stop explain some aspect of how slavery is rooted in the college’s history. There are markers explaining the contradictory views of college founders Benjamin Rush and John Dickinson and the involvement of local slaves in constructing campus buildings. One marker highlights the ties both supporters and opponents of the controversial Dred Scott decision had to Dickinson, and others discuss popular 19th century black figures who worked on campus as food-sellers, janitors, policemen, etc. that have not been previously recognized. Also included in the tour is a stop at the House Divided Studio and soon-to-be Spradley-Young Hall, named after Henry W. Spradley and Robert C. Young who were two of those popular figures. Their names will be replacing Cooper Hall whose namesake, Thomas Cooper, only worked at Dickinson for a few years and after went on to be a pro-slavery idealogue in South Carolina. 

Jordyn Ney reading the Slavery & Dickinson’s Founding wayside marker (Charlotte Goodman)

The tour highlights the importance of historical research in challenging traditional narratives. In this case, it led to a necessary broadening of the way we think about our college’s history. However, some have questioned this approach. Arguments have surfaced about how the college should not be erasing history in the process of conducting more research. I would argue that that the approach is a good one, as this should not be considered a matter of erasure but rather historical revision, which is a necessary component of the historical process. It is important that the college recognizes people of all races who have made an impact. In making these revisions, Dickinson is showing that it is willing to take a critical look at all aspects of its past and make the necessary changes in honoring it. It also exemplifies some of its values as an institution, like working for the common good in society as well as inclusivity. Part of both of these means acknowledging and understanding our past.

Waidner-Spahr Library (Charlotte Goodman)

My housing record may indicate that I lived in Adams and Witwer Halls, but I would argue that the library has been my real place of residence at Dickinson, except for sleeping and bathing. I have really left my mark on the place, too- not just because I am there every waking minute of the day when I’m not in class, but also because I have spilled almost every cup of coffee I’ve brought in there. The most frequent victim of my clumsiness and also my favorite spot, is on the ground floor in the quiet section tucked in the very back left corner behind all of the book aisles. I can sit there for hours doing work. It is a pretty convenient spot, too, because I find myself learning and doing a lot of projects on genocides, especially the Rwandan genocide, and a lot of those books are found in the aisle right behind me. I take occasional snack breaks which were always made especially easy because the Biblio café is located on the same floor. These breaks were problematic for me because they always turned into hour long conversations with Carrie, my favorite barista, about school and her kids. Clearly, I’m easily distracted and obviously more productive when I’m not near other people, so that is why I am always sitting in the corner of the quiet section. But, there are other great places in the library to do work or hangout. I remember for my International Relations class, some of the students and I would have regular study sessions in the upstairs “fish bowl”- the protruding room with all of the windows. There are also individual study rooms located on that floor as well as in the basement that are always being used- during the year in order to secure one, students normally have to rent them out beforehand. The East Asian Studies room is also popular among students because it was designed according to East Asian culture and it has its own library of Chinese and Japanese literature.

East Asian Studies room (Dickinson Archives)

I love the library for academic and social purposes, but sometimes I forget to take a step back and enjoy how beautiful and historically rich it is. By this, I don’t just mean it has a lot of books, I’m referring more specifically to things like the college archives and its special collections. Located in the basement, the archives contain primary documents related to Carlisle’s past such as collections on the Carlisle Indian School and the Civil War. In my first year seminar, Education (In)Justice, I was able to look at letters written by Richard Henry Pratt, founder of the Carlisle Indian School, and some of the Native American students. In addition to the archives, even a walk around the building can reveal relevant historical information, such as paintings of people who were important to the college, like former President James Buchanan. I highly recommend checking it out!