Monthly Meeting

Dr. James Delle will lead a discussion on significant findings from his archaeological excavation of a Lancaster County property once owned by Lydia Hamilton Smith, a free African American woman best known as the longtime housekeeper and close confidante of Thaddeus Stevens. The presentation explores material evidence connected to Smith’s life and legacy, offering new insights into African American property ownership, abolitionist networks, and daily life during the Civil War and Reconstruction eras.

Bio: James A. Delle, PhD, is a Senior Archaeologist at Chronicle Heritage, the country’s largest cultural resources consulting firm. Prior to retiring from higher education, he was the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Associate Provost for Academic Administration at Millersville University. Dr. Delle was awarded the BA in History from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, the MA in Anthropology from the College of William and Mary, and the PhD in Anthropology from…