Origins: The Lenape, William Penn, and the Colonists

Alliances and negotiations in the 1600s formed relationships between the indigenous Lenape and the Europeans who colonized what is now eastern Pennsylvania. Join us on May 8, 2025 at 7 PM in the Historic Waynesborough Carriage House for a presentation by Ellen Endslow that examines how the mutual respect for self-determination, shared land use, and freedom shifted as colonial leadership changed and settlers increased in the early 1700s. The presentation also looks at some of the decisions leading to the removal of indigenous people from Pennsylvania in order to share some insights into the Lenape today.

Ellen Endslow has been the Director of Collections/Curator at Chester County History Center for more than 25 years. She is primarily responsible for the Museum collection but also oversees the Library and Photo Archives. She is appreciative of ongoing opportunities to learn directly from the Lenape, scholars, and museum colleagues about these people and events.

Host or Publisher Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks