- Free and open to the public
- 77 Forest St, Hartford | Zoom
- 6:00 – 7:30 PM EST, Presentation and audience Q&A
- Riverbend Bookshop: Get a 10% discount our Stowe Prize books! Mention us at check-out or use STOWEFORCHANGE for online purchases.
- With gratitude to our funders for their support
Lincoln Hirn, PhD Candidate at the University of Connecticut, is conducting a survey of the Stowe Center’s archival holdings, examining the trans-metropolitan activist networks that connect the Hookers to Phillips, Phillips to other activists, and unpack these networks of activism, philanthropy, and literary patronage. Hirn will discuss his findings and the broader context of post-Bellum freedom narrative.
The Stowe Prize Series continues with a powerful exploration of history, storytelling, and the enduring struggle for freedom.
This year, we bring into conversation two remarkable works: the recently discovered Phillips Manuscript, which documents the extraordinary life of Dr. William H. Phillips, and Percival Everett’s award-winning novel James. The Phillips Manuscript will be on display at each gathering.
Born enslaved in Virginia in 1841, Dr. Phillips went on to become a nationally respected minister at Shiloh Baptist Church in Philadelphia. His life touches on pivotal events of 19th-century America and illuminates the resilience, courage, and intellect of Black Americans before and after emancipation. His story resonates with the themes of Everett’s James, which reframes the story of Huck Finn through the eyes of Jim.
Together, these works invite us to reflect on the essential question:
What is the role of storytelling and narrative in our understanding of history and our current culture?
