After Eva Muse retired from a long career in education, she started formally documenting Cecil County’s African-American History. Over several decades, Eva assisted patrons visiting the library and served as vice-president of the heritage organization.
She graduated from the “Elkton Colored School” in 1942 and went on to receive a Bachelor’s degree in teaching from Bowie State Teachers College in 1950. That year, Eva started teaching in a segregated, one-room school in Millington. Over the next 33 years, she also taught at Millsboro and Dover, Del.
Once Eva retired in 1982, she embarked on 17 years of volunteer work as a local historian, continuing her teaching in the community in a different way. It was at this time that she started researching local African-American history and got involved with the Historical Society of Cecil County. Eva was committed to the community in many ways, as a member of Wright’s AME Church, an officer in the NAACP, the Board of Social Services, the Cecil County Jail Advisory Board and lots more.
Eva continually worked to strengthen the Society, welcoming and orienting new volunteers, aiding patrons that came to the library, and conducting tours. She passed away in 1999. Her impact the organization was large, and the society voted to honor her by dedicating the library in her name.
Today it is known as the Eva Muse Research Library and many patrons fondly recall, the warm, welcoming assistance they received as they research local and family history at the Society.
See also
The Eva M. Muse Collection at the Historical Society of Cecil County. Here is the link to the online finding aid for Eva’s collection.
