Casey Farm Today
By Jane Hennedy, Site Manager for Historic New England at Casey Farm, and Hannah Francis, PhD candidate in history at Rice University
Casey Farm’s Rhode Island Slave History Medallion, dedicated on June 19th, 2022, is part of a tapestry of angels that mark those historic sites connected to the history of slavery in Rhode Island. This medallion is dedicated to Ezekiel, Walter, Moses, Phillis, Peter, Betty, and Jeffrey who were bonded to the Morey/Coggeshall/Casey family, along with numerous unnamed and unrecorded people who worked these lands. We still benefit from this history of cultivation tied to oppression even as we strive to enlighten ourselves and our visitors about it, and as we work toward inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility through our organization. Partnering with Black, Indigenous, and people of color via organizations and individuals, we have made strides toward decolonizing our museum gallery and outdoor spaces. We are dedicated to keep researching and bringing facts to light about all the people whose lives contributed to the survival and success of this place. For more information, and to plan to visit Casey Farm, please visit our virtual tour experience at Casey.Farm and our website at HistoricNewEngland.org.
RISHM Installation at Casey Farm
Lorén Spears (left), Executive Director of Tomaquag Museum, and Charles Roberts (right) of RISHM were featured speakers at the dedication of the medallion at Casey Farm on Juneteenth of 2022. Lorén Spears (left), Executive Director of Tomaquag Museum, and Charles Roberts (right) of RISHM were featured speakers at the dedication of the medallion at Casey Farm on Juneteenth of 2022.
The crowd participated in the djembe drumming performance by Sidy Maiga and family at the June 19 dedication event. Rhode Island Black Storytellers, Africa Sanké, and Nettukkusqk Singers all performed on the farm. Historic New England partnered with RISHM and the Narrow River Preservation Association to make this project happen.
