A New Name, A New Chapter
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Keckly Burwell Site Director
Aug 28, 2026, 12:40:28 PM (5 days ago) Aug 28
to Burwell School Site Coordinator, Kat Kirschner, Matt Hughes
August 28, 2026
Dear Friends and Community Partners,
We are excited to share an important new chapter in the life of our historic site.
The Historic Hillsborough Commission has adopted The Elizabeth Keckly Center at the
Burwell School as our new working, public-facing name.
The Burwell School remains the historic place—its buildings, grounds, and nearly two
centuries of history remain at the heart of our work. The Elizabeth Keckly Center gives a
named home within that place to the nationally significant story of Elizabeth Hobbs Keckly,
who was enslaved here as a young woman and went on to purchase freedom for herself and
her son, became a celebrated dressmaker and confidante to First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln,
organized relief for formerly enslaved people, and published her remarkable memoir, Behind the
Scenes.
Our new name reflects an approach that has been evolving here for several years: bringing
the histories of this place together and telling them more fully. The Burwell School's history
of women's education, the students who learned here, the free and enslaved people who
lived and worked here, and the many stories held in the house and grounds all remain
central to our work.
We are excited about what this new chapter makes possible—expanded programming,
research, exhibitions, educational initiatives, and partnerships that connect our site more
deeply with Hillsborough, Orange County, and beyond.
Dear Friends and Community Partners,
We are excited to share an important new chapter in the life of our historic site.
The Historic Hillsborough Commission has adopted The Elizabeth Keckly Center at the
Burwell School as our new working, public-facing name.
The Burwell School remains the historic place—its buildings, grounds, and nearly two
centuries of history remain at the heart of our work. The Elizabeth Keckly Center gives a
named home within that place to the nationally significant story of Elizabeth Hobbs Keckly,
who was enslaved here as a young woman and went on to purchase freedom for herself and
her son, became a celebrated dressmaker and confidante to First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln,
organized relief for formerly enslaved people, and published her remarkable memoir, Behind the
Scenes.
Our new name reflects an approach that has been evolving here for several years: bringing
the histories of this place together and telling them more fully. The Burwell School's history
of women's education, the students who learned here, the free and enslaved people who
lived and worked here, and the many stories held in the house and grounds all remain
central to our work.
We are excited about what this new chapter makes possible—expanded programming,
research, exhibitions, educational initiatives, and partnerships that connect our site more
deeply with Hillsborough, Orange County, and beyond.
We hope you will be part of that next chapter.
Our relationships with fellow nonprofits, cultural institutions, educators, historic sites, and
community and civic partners are essential to this work. We look forward to new
opportunities to share expertise, develop programs together, and connect the many stories
our organizations preserve and tell.
Thank you for your partnership and for the important work you do in our community. We
look forward to welcoming you to The Elizabeth Keckly Center at the Burwell School and
discovering what we can build together.
Warmly,
Elizabeth Hays
Site Director
The Elizabeth Keckly Center at the Burwell School
319 N Churton Street
Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278
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