Celebrating Our Heritage
Join us as we honor the vibrant history and cultural richness of the Black community. Our upcoming events are designed to inspire, educate, and celebrate the contributions that shape our heritage. Be part of the journey as we uplift our stories and share our legacy.
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Upcoming Events
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The Lawnside Historical Society invites the public to a landmark year-long exhibit at the Camden County Historical Society, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Borough of Lawnside’s incorporation.
Lawnside, originally known as Free Haven and later Snow Hill, emerged in the early 19th century as a vital stop on the Underground Railroad. It was developed around 1840 by Quaker abolitionists who sold affordable land to African Americans seeking freedom and opportunity. The community, home to figures like abolitionist preacher Peter Mott whose circa-1845 house now serves as an Underground Railroad museum operated by the Historical Society, grew into a self-sustaining haven. On March 24, 1926, New Jersey Governor A. Harry Moore signed legislation incorporating Lawnside as a borough—making it the first independent, self-governing African American municipality north of the Mason-Dixon Line—following a special election in April.
Curated by Shamele Jordon, a noted genealogist, historian, and former president of the African American Genealogy Group of Philadelphia who grew up in the area, the exhibit showcases a rich collection of historical documents, photographs, videos, family histories, and artifacts spanning the past century. Organized around the core themes of government, faith, education, and culture, it highlights Lawnside’s enduring legacy of resilience, community leadership, and cultural contributions as New Jersey’s only historically African American incorporated municipality. Supported in part by a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission for related research, including a documentary and website, the exhibit opened with a reception in late April 2026 and features rotating displays and interpretive materials.
Special events, including gallery tours led by Curator Jordon, presentations (such as on Green Book locations), and community programs, are scheduled on the first Sunday of each month through March 2027 at the Camden County Historical Society (1900 Park Blvd., Camden, NJ). These activities offer deeper insights into the borough’s people, events, and institutions, fostering appreciation for Lawnside’s unique place in American history. Visitors can also connect with ongoing centennial celebrations across the borough, including festivals and educational initiatives that honor its legacy of strength and self-determination. For details and registration, check the Peter Mott House website or Lawnside Historical Society channels.
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Past Events
The Black Heritage Trail hosted three community meetings, one of which was virtual, and two in-person. The first was held at the Newark Museum of Art (Newark) on June 3, 2023, and the second one was held at Thomas Edison State University (Trenton) on June 22, 2023, with a total of 221 participants.
The Commission also conducted a survey total of 244 responses were received from residents throughout New Jersey. The application guidelines were published in January 2024 and publicized by direct email to attendees of the community meetings and persons of interest, the Commission newsletter, social media, by press release, and then distributed to the bill’s sponsors.
The staff also hosted one live virtual webinar on February 1, 2024, and presented a recorded virtual webinar (504 views) to review the application process with interested parties.