Tubman African American Museum

2008 Ellen Craft Memorial Lecture

Friday and Saturday

March 28-29, 2008

The Rise of Prominent National African American Leaders in Macon from Reconstruction to the 20^th Century

Ellen Craft William Craft Henry McNeal Turner

The Tubman Museum is partnering with Mercer University and the Georgia Humanities Council to bring to Macon five scholars from around the country who have written books or articles about five African American leaders including William and Ellen Craft, William Sanders Scarborough, Lucy Craft Laney, Jefferson Long and Henry McNeal Turner.

Jefferson Franklin Long Lucy Craft Laney William Sanders Scarborough

The intent of this program is to share and deepen our knowledge about local “historical African American heroes” who made major contributions to our nation’s culture, politics and education during the Reconstruction Period. Macon’s musical heritage is known worldwide. However, local historical African American achievements in other humanities areas are less well known. Some of these leaders have received little attention. The African American leaders we are spotlighting are inspirational role models for young people today, holding lessons of sacrifice, courage, perseverance and achievement. We hope that this program will spark an interest in further study of local history and culture and increase visits to and interest in the Tubman Museum and its collections and programs.

Program Schedule

All Program Events are Free and Open to the Public

Friday

March 28, 2008 Reception 6:30-7:00pm

March 28, 2008 Keynote Lecture 7:00-8:30pm

Presented by Dr. Michele Ronnick of Wayne State University in Detroit with a focus on William Sanders Scarborough

Saturday

March 29, 2008 Bus tour 10:00-11:300m

Special Guided Trolley Tour of Macon sites pertaining to these leaders.

Please meet at 9:30am in front of the Mercer Medical School Auditorium.

Please call the Tubman Museum 478-743-8544 for tour reservations

March 29, 2008 Lectures and Panel discussion

1:00pm-3:00pm

and 3:30-5:30pm

Lectures:

Lucy Craft Laney by Dr. Kent Anderson Leslie, retired professor from

Agnes Scott College in Decatur who is writing a biography of Laney.

Henry McNeal Turner by Dr. Stephen Ward Angell, Professor at

Earlham School of Religion in Richmond Indiana and author of the

book “Bishop Henry McNeal Turner and African-American Religion in

the South.”

William and Ellen Craft by Dr. Barbara McCaskill, an Associate

Professor of English at the University of Georgia where she teaches

Ethnic American Literature and conducts research on 19^th and early

20^th century African-American Literature. She has published a

number of essays on the Crafts and an edition of their narrative,

“Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom.”

Jefferson Long by Grace Hardwick, recipient of a Georgia Historical

Records Advisory Board Award for Excellence in Student Research

Using Historical Records, Undergraduate Level for her thesis at

Clayton State University on Jefferson Long. Now living in Texas,

Hardwick uncovered new and forgotten information about Long and

plans to pursue a Master’s Degree in Public History.

Panel Discussion:

moderated by Dr. Chester Fontenot, Jr., director of the African

American Studies Department at Mercer University

This program is sponsored by the Tubman African American Museum, Mercer University and the Georgia Humanities Council.

For more information contact the Tubman Museum at (478) 743-8544