Black History Month Celebration

The Smithfield Branch of Blackwater Regional Library is excited to announce the 2017 Black History Month celebration at Smithfield Center will continue on Sunday, February 28th  at 3:00 p.m., with the return of Ms. Sheila Arnold’s “History’s Alive!” presentations with the story of Oney Judge.

​Oney Judge was the personal maidservant to Martha Washington from the time George Washington was elected to attend the Continental Congress until the end of his 2nd term of presidency.  Oney has the infamous reputation of being one of the ones that "ran away" from Philadelphia, PA right before the end of Pres. Washington's term as President.  During this presentation, we will meet Oney in the latter parts of her life where she talks about her life with the Washingtons, her home life and upbringing, her run for freedom, her attempt to negotiate with the first President of the United States and her new life as a Free Negro.