Genesee Community College will host “Frederick Douglass from Slavery to Freedom: The Journey to New York City” exhibit from October 17 through November 14. During this time, the entire community is welcomed to visit GCC’s Alfred C. O’Connell Library in Batavia to view the famous traveling exhibit, learn about Douglass’s incredible contribution to American history, and enjoy the auxiliary events and opportunities that reinforce the display.
The 12 foot long exhibition explores slavery and abolition through the youth of Frederick Douglass, born a slave in Maryland in 1818, who after his escape to NY in 1838 became one of the most famous men in nineteenth-century America. Douglass fought to end slavery and championed civil rights for all Americans. His autobiography, published in 1845, was a powerful weapon in the abolitionist cause, and a bestseller in the United States.
“Frederick Douglass from Slavery to Freedom: The Journey to New York City” was developed from his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. The exhibition was curated by Susan F. Saidenberg. It has been displayed at schools, museums, libraries and historic sites across the country.
“We are pleased to have been selected as a site for this exhibition,” Cynthia Hagelberger, reference services librarian at GCC said. “The exhibit showcases digital reproductions of letters, photographs and broadsides that depict the life and legacy of Frederick Douglass. We hope this exhibition will help all who view it to gain a deeper understanding of Douglass’ quest for freedom and the difficult choices he made. It is a perfect opportunity for school age children, teenagers and adult of all ages to appreciate his living legacy.”
Further details about the exhibit, associated events and teaching and learning resources are available at GCC’s Library webpage at: https://guides.genesee.edu/douglass2018.
Kicking off the project, on Thursday, October 18 at 1 p.m., David A. Anderson, Ph.D., a visiting community scholar from Nazareth College of Rochester and member of the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission, will speak in room T102 to of the Conable Technology Building. Anderson will discuss the combination of nature and nurture that cultivated the persona that emerged as Frederick Douglass.
GCC has invited Frederick Douglass – in the form of accomplished performance poet and published author, Nathan M. Richardson – to share his story. On Wednesday, November 7, at 7 p.m., in full nineteenth-century dress, Richardson will bring his Frederick Douglass Speaking Tour to room T102 in GCC’s Conable Technology Building. This event is also free and open to the public. Seating is limited.
Funding for these events has been provided by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, the Alfred C. O’Connell Library, GCC’s student club WOKE and GCC’s history club. Details about this and other events sponsored by GCC’s Historical Horizons history club are available at https://gcchistoricalhorizons.wordpress.com/.
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