Charlie Dory and kitchen staff, Maryland Agricultural College, c. 1912, Maryland Agricultural College collection, Accession #72-219, Box 3, https://hdl.handle.net/1903.1/5878 // (left to right: Bill Dory; Ferdinand Hughes; Spencer Dory; Charlie Dory). Learn more about the Dory Family here.
The 1856 Project
Universities Studying Slavery at the University of Maryland
The history of slavery is inextricably linked to the story of America and to the history of the University of Maryland. The 1856 Project aims to investigate UMD's connections to slavery in order to provide a blueprint for a richer understanding of generations of racialized trauma rooted in the university.
The 1856 Project is part of the Universities Studying Slavery consortium, a multi-institutional collaboration focused on sharing best practices and guiding principles for embarking on truth-telling projects that address human bondage and racism in institutional histories.
As an important part of the University of Maryland's strategic commitments, The 1856 Project provides a narrative of the university's history that embraces its past, stands firm in the challenges and achievements of its present, and lays the groundwork for a more equitable future.
Updates & Events
250 Years of Freedom and Unfreedom: Truth, Liberty, and Justice for All
The conference will highlight the long and interconnected histories of American slavery and freedom. UMD’s unique location in Maryland near the seat of our government in Washington D.C. but also the historic home of freedom seekers like Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass invites us to think creatively about the relationship between notions of freedom and unfreedom. We also want to think deeply about themes key to America’s founding values: truth, liberty, and justice.
The 1856 Project Receives $4k MD 250 Grant
The grant will support our efforts to host the international Universities Studying Slavery conference at UMD, which attracts around 400 participants including academics, historians, students, and local community members. The 1856 Project will use this grant to cover the cost of design and print of materials that will be provided at the conference, a report on all project activities, which will be part of our growing collection of publications. Please use image below
Inaugural Visiting Assistant Research Scholar on the 1856 Project
Maya Brooks received her PhD in history from the University of Georgia in spring 2025. She researches the intersections of race, class, gender, and economics in the 20th and 21st century U.S. South, particularly Georgia. Specializing in modern African American history, she also explores U.S. fair housing practices. She received an M.A. in public history from the University of West Georgia in 2020 and a B.A. in history from Agnes Scott College in 2017.
Get involved with The 1856 Project by becoming a member of one of our various committees, including Communications, Memorialization, Research Investigation, and others. Join The 1856 Project to help us move fearlessly forward in telling the complete story of the University of Maryland.
You can also support our efforts by donating to The 1856 Project Fund, which provides support to the mission of The 1856 Project, UMD's chapter of Universities Studying Slavery, to build an inclusive university community by enhancing the collective understanding of the Black experience at the university and surrounding communities.