Alphabet Plate

Description

This alphabet plate was found at "Sukeek's Cabin," the first home of an African-American family as free people who had previously been enslaved on the grounds of Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum (JPPM) in Calvert County, southern Maryland. Alphabet wares like this include the alphabet as part of their decoration and were used as educational tools. Slate fragments and slate pencils also found at the site suggest an emphasis on learning at a time when Calvert County did not provide public education for African-American children. Today this plate is on display at JPPM, where it was photographed *in situ* to create this model. The back is a reconstruction. A model of Sukeek's Cabin as it is found today is also available on SketchFab. More information about this plate and other alphabet wares can be found [in this educational interactive](https://view.genial.ly/623390d3ac58ea0013858a09/interactive-content-abc-plates-and-alphabet-wares).