Lecture Series: In Search of James L. Smith

Join Sandra Soucy of the Norwich Historical Society as she presents her public records research which supports and expands the story of James L. Smith. Smith escaped enslavement in 1838 and settled in Norwich in 1842, where he bought a home, raised his family, established a shoemaking business, and served as a minister in the Methodist Church. In 1881, Smith published a compelling Autobiography, which described his childhood enslavement, his harrowing escape, the humanity of those who assisted him, and his hopes for the future, as he created a new life in Norwich. Presentation in honor of Black History Month.