Presented by Patricia Wilson Pheanious
Sunday, February 23, 2 p.m.
Catharine B. Mitchell Museum
967 Academy Hill
Limited space.
Pre-registration encouraged.
$5 suggested donation.
Light refreshments to follow.
Patricia Wilson Pheanious, JD, MSW from the Witness Stones Project will discuss the transformative work of uncovering and honoring the histories of enslaved individuals through the installation of commemorative Witness Stones.
The Witness Stones Project is a non-profit initiative that aims to research and commemorate the lives of enslaved people in the northern states by placing small bronze plaques, called “Witness Stones,” at sites where these individuals lived and worked, essentially restoring their history and honoring their humanity within the communities they helped build; it focuses on uncovering the stories of often forgotten individuals who contributed to the development of towns across the region.
Key points about the Witness Stones Project:
Focus on Northern Slavery:
Unlike many historical narratives, this project specifically highlights the experiences of enslaved people in the northern states, where slavery was less widely discussed.
Plaque Installation:
The “Witness Stones” are small bronze plaques placed at relevant locations, often including the names of the enslaved individuals and details about their lives.
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Community Engagement:
The project encourages community involvement through research, education, and public ceremonies to share the stories of these individuals.
Educational Impact:
By bringing these stories to light, the Witness Stones Project aims to educate people about the widespread presence of slavery in the North and challenge historical narratives that may have overlooked these experiences.
Patricia Wilson Pheanious is a native of eastern Connecticut, she attended E.O. Smith High School before earning undergraduate and graduate degrees in law and social work at the University of Connecticut. An attorney and social work educator at West Hartford’s St. Joseph College in her early career, she founded the school’s Center for Child Welfare Studies before leaving academia to begin public service with the Department of Children and Youth Services in 1988.
Pheanious served in a variety of managerial and executive positions there and at the Department of Social Services before being appointed DSS Commissioner from 1999 until 2007. She headed Human Services in Denver, Colorado from 2008-2011. In November 2018, she was elected to Connecticut’s General Assembly representing the 53rd House District (Ashford, Tolland and Willington). There, she co-chaired the legislature’s Human Services Committee and served on the Labor and Children’s Committees until 2021.
She learned of her ancestors’ history in colonial Guilford through the groundbreaking work of the Witness Stones Project (WSP) in the summer of 2017. She joined the WSP Board of Directors when the program incorporated, became its Chair in 2020 and its Executive Director in 2024. The program has reached more than 11,000 students across six New England states. At WSP program installations and civic events, Pat shares the profound impact of discovering her family’s role in eleven generations of American history.
