Oxford’s Water’s Edge Museum unveils powerful stories of the founding black families of America
Written by Joe Willey
Photography by Jill Jasuta
In the small port town of Oxford, MD, a beautifully crafted museum houses a collection of visual arts, music and written words that dynamically convey the role of the Black community on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in the early 20th century. The compelling works document the humanity, spiritual beliefs and unsuppressed dignity of an often-overlooked community. Although it opened in February of 2021, the Water’s Edge Museum is rooted in stories that began before the founding of the Nation.
The museum space is limited, but the works displayed explode with visual interest, almost jumping from the walls. Instead of separating the artwork with blank lengths of wall, the Water’s Edge Museum hangs the art in a close-knit group—spirited and moving like the community it represents.
The artworks serve as a visual record of their historical subject. Museum Assistant Director Kay L. Brown, a passionate proponent of the museum’s stories, says that Water’s Edge “is about letting people know of a phenomenal, resilient people.”
“The museum is about letting people know of a phenomenal, resilient people. There is so much more to everyone’s story if you just take the time to listen and learn.” — Kay L. Brown
There are no stereotypes or caricatures, only the recorded and appreciated self-respect inherent in the subjects. Represented are the founding Black families of America. These men and women, brought from Africa and enslaved, cultivated millions of acres and, despite the desperate situation, passed their pride on to their descendants.
The memorable works of Ruth Starr Rose make up the majority of the art presented at the Water’s Edge. The artist, born in Eau Claire, WI, was from an affluent family who moved to the Eastern Shore. Despite the social norms of the time, she and her mother attended DeShields United Methodist Church, a church in the African American community. There she developed a love for the spirituals, the music and the deep faith that anchored the people around her. Her work focuses on the lives of the vibrant society she respected.
While the visual works profoundly connect viewers with the power of this community’s history, the museum’s depth extends to musical history as well. Spirituals, one of the earliest and most globally influential art forms to emerge from America, was born within the Black community. Created and sung in fields, homes and churches, spirituals developed as a fusion of Bible verses, African rhythms and codes that told unique stories or shared important messages.
This museum is far from a fleeting glimpse of a small group destined to be forgotten. Its thoughtful design, rich history and ongoing initiatives resonate long after your visit. The Water’s Edge Museum invites you to explore the richness of history and those who shaped it. In the enthusiastic words of Kay Brown: “There is so much more to everyone’s story if you just take the time to listen and learn.”
The memorable works of Ruth Starr Rose make up the majority of the art presented at the Water’s Edge. The artist, born in Eau Claire, WI, was from an affluent family who moved to the Eastern Shore. Despite the social norms of the time, she and her mother attended DeShields United Methodist Church, a church in the African American community. There she developed a love for the spirituals, the music and the deep faith that anchored the people around her. Her work focuses on the lives of the vibrant society she respected.
While the visual works profoundly connect viewers with the power of this community’s history, the museum’s depth extends to musical history as well. Spirituals, one of the earliest and most globally influential art forms to emerge from America, was born within the Black community. Created and sung in fields, homes and churches, spirituals developed as a fusion of Bible verses, African rhythms and codes that told unique stories or shared important messages.
This museum is far from a fleeting glimpse of a small group destined to be forgotten. Its thoughtful design, rich history and ongoing initiatives resonate long after your visit. The Water’s Edge Museum invites you to explore the richness of history and those who shaped it. In the enthusiastic words of Kay Brown: “There is so much more to everyone’s story if you just take the time to listen and learn.”
The memorable works of Ruth Starr Rose make up the majority of the art presented at the Water’s Edge. The artist, born in Eau Claire, WI, was from an affluent family who moved to the Eastern Shore. Despite the social norms of the time, she and her mother attended DeShields United Methodist Church, a church in the African American community. There she developed a love for the spirituals, the music and the deep faith that anchored the people around her. Her work focuses on the lives of the vibrant society she respected.
While the visual works profoundly connect viewers with the power of this community’s history, the museum’s depth extends to musical history as well. Spirituals, one of the earliest and most globally influential art forms to emerge from America, was born within the Black community. Created and sung in fields, homes and churches, spirituals developed as a fusion of Bible verses, African rhythms and codes that told unique stories or shared important messages.
This museum is far from a fleeting glimpse of a small group destined to be forgotten. Its thoughtful design, rich history and ongoing initiatives resonate long after your visit. The Water’s Edge Museum invites you to explore the richness of history and those who shaped it. In the enthusiastic words of Kay Brown: “There is so much more to everyone’s story if you just take the time to listen and learn.”
The memorable works of Ruth Starr Rose make up the majority of the art presented at the Water’s Edge. The artist, born in Eau Claire, WI, was from an affluent family who moved to the Eastern Shore. Despite the social norms of the time, she and her mother attended DeShields United Methodist Church, a church in the African American community. There she developed a love for the spirituals, the music and the deep faith that anchored the people around her. Her work focuses on the lives of the vibrant society she respected.
While the visual works profoundly connect viewers with the power of this community’s history, the museum’s depth extends to musical history as well. Spirituals, one of the earliest and most globally influential art forms to emerge from America, was born within the Black community. Created and sung in fields, homes and churches, spirituals developed as a fusion of Bible verses, African rhythms and codes that told unique stories or shared important messages.
This museum is far from a fleeting glimpse of a small group destined to be forgotten. Its thoughtful design, rich history and ongoing initiatives resonate long after your visit. The Water’s Edge Museum invites you to explore the richness of history and those who shaped it. In the enthusiastic words of Kay Brown: “There is so much more to everyone’s story if you just take the time to listen and learn.”
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