Documenting Venture Smith Conference

Home

Program

Conference
Organizers

Beecher House Center
for the Study of
Equal Rights

University of Connecticut

Wilberforce Institute for the study of Slavery and
Emancipation

BBC Audio Clips

Interview with Prof David Richardson

Paul Murphy's Audioblog

David Richardson's Diary Day One

David Richardson's Diary Day Two

BBC Video Clips

Paul Murphy Reports from Connecticut

African Blessing Ceremony

Project Progress Report

A Project Setback

Audio and Video links on this page require Realplayer

Conference Program

Friday, September 29 - Merlin D. Bishop Center, University of Connecticut
	8:00am	Conference Registration & Continental Breakfast
	9:00am	Welcome Remarks Phillip E. Austin, President, Univiversity of Connecticut
	9:15am	Greeting & Conference Overview Chandler B. Saint, Beecher House Center for the Study of Equal Rights David Richardson, Wilberforce Institute for the study of Slavery & Emancipation, University of Hull
	9:30am	Introduction of Presentations David Brion Davis, Yale University
	9:45am	Representative Man: Venture Smith, African and American Robert P. Forbes, Yale University
	10:45am	The Missing Puzzle? Venture Smith's West African Connection: An African Historian's Perspective Akosua Perbi, University of Ghana
	11:30am	Disscussion Chandler B. Saint, Beecher House Center for the Study of Equal Rights
	12:00pm	Poster Presentations & Lunch (Box lunch provided)
	2:00pm	Introduction of Afternoon Presentations James B. Stewart, Macalester College & Beecher House Society National Board
	2:15pm	Afternoon Session Moderator David Richardson, Director of WISE, University of Hull
	2:30pm	One of a Kind: Venture Smith, the Man and His Story Vincent Carretta, University of Maryland
	3:15pm	The African Background of Venture Smith - Some Thoughts and Questions Paul E. Lovejoy, York University
	4:15pm	The Archaeological and Genomics Perspectives Nicholas F. Bellantoni, Connecticut State Archaeologist, Univ. of Connecticut Linda Strausbaugh, Director, University of Connecticut Center for Applied Genetics and Technology
	5:00pm	Depart for Florence Griswold Museum
	6:30pm	An Evening at the Florence Griswold Museum: Old Lyme, Connecticut Welcome Ross MacKinnon, Dean, UConn College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Introduction Robert Tilton, University of Connecticut English Department Freedom Business Exhibit and Poetry Reading Marilyn Nelson, Connecticut Poet Laureate, Professor Emeritus, UConn Wine & Cheese Reception with Music by Kim and Reggie Harris
	8:30pm	Dinner On Your Own

Saturday, September 30 - First Church of Christ, Congregational, East Haddam
	8:00am	Conference Registration & Coffee
	9:00am	Solo Hymn Karl P. Stofko, Cemetery Association
	9:05am	Introduction Carl Westmoreland, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
	9:15am	Keynote Presentation: Venture Smith and the Struggle for American Freedom James O. Horton, Benjamin Banneker Professor of American Studies and History, George Washington University
	10:00am	Who Speaks for Venture? Anne L. Hiskes, Director, ESCRO, University of Connecticut
	10:30am	Annual Service at Grave Karl Stofko, Cemetery Association Readings of Venture Smith Robert L. Hall, Acting Chair, Department of African-American Studies, Northeastern University Venture's Tombstone Reflects Respect by Stone Carver John Isham Kevin J. Tulimieri, Connecticut Historian
	12:00pm	Box Lunch
	12:45pm	Introduction to Afternoon Session
	1:00pm	The Documents of Venture Smith: Tracing Venture Through the Connecticut Legal Records Nancy H. Steenburg, University of Connecticut
	1:30pm	Report on Cultural and Archaeological Finds Warren Perry, Director, ALAADS, Central Connecticut State University Nicholas F. Bellantoni, Connecticut State Archaeologist, Univ. of Connecticut
	2:15pm	What's in a Name? Eighteenth-Century Evidence about the Meanings of Slavery, Freedom, and Identity John Sweet, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
	2:45pm	The Family and the Story Coralynne H. Jackson & Florence P. Warmsley, Venture Smith Descendents
	4:00pm	Travel to Haddam Neck Farm Participants may also stay at the Church for Discussion and Q&A
	4:30pm	Archaeological Tour of Venture's Farm
	5:30pm	Conference Concludes