In this talk, Dr. Edward E. Andrews of Providence College will explore the development of slavery and abolitionism in early New England. In particular, he’ll share the story of Newport Gardner, an enslaved African who eventually received his freedom and went on to become a major Black community leader in early New England. This talk will therefore shed light on the possibilities and limits of freedom during the most formative years of our nation’s history.

Registration for this program is greatly appreciated in order to help us plan.

Biography: Dr. Edward E. Andrews is Professor in The Department of History and Classics, where he has taught since 2010. A scholar of early American history broadly, his work focuses on questions of race, religion, and slavery in early America and the Atlantic World. Dr. Andrews' most recent book is Newport Gardner's Anthem: A Story of Slavery, Struggle, and Survival in Early America.

This program is cosponsored by Medfield Together and The Medfield Public Library.