MCGS Fireside Roots presents Dr. Laura Masur
The Society of Jesus was one of the most prominent investors in the Maryland Colony. They brought with them a vision for a Catholic Maryland, a goal that they ultimately planned to fund through the cultivation of tobacco. Hundreds of enslaved men, women, and children labored at the Jesuits' dozen plantations in the mid-Atlantic region between the early eighteenth century and emancipation. The talk will discuss the process of doing archaeology at former Jesuit plantation sites, in collaboration with descendants of those enslaved by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). The talk will cover the discovery of a chapel, home sites, and burial areas, and how their discovery helps us better understand the lives of enslaved and free persons.
Laura Masur is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Catholic University, specializing in historical archaeology. Dr. Masur’s research focuses on the built environment of Mid-Atlantic plantations, encompassing artifacts, architecture, and landscapes. Since 2014, she has studied the system of plantations that supported the Jesuits’ Maryland mission. This process has involved research in archives and archaeological collections, as well as ongoing fieldwork at four of the former plantation sites.