The Gilder Lehrman Institute Hosts David Blight Book Talk at Pace University

On Friday, October 19, the Gilder Lehrman Institute and Pace University hosted a book talk and signing with Professor David Blight, award-winning historian and director of the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition at Yale University.

Professor Blight discussed his new book, Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom, the definitive, dramatic biography of one of the most influential men of the nineteenth century.

In his talk Professor Blight explored how Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery in Baltimore, was mentored by William Lloyd Garrison, and ultimately rose to become the greatest orator of his day and one of the leading abolitionists and writers of the era.

Professor Blight also discussed the recently unearthed archival materials he drew from to create the first major biography of Douglass in a quarter century, including private collections and recently discovered issues of Douglass’s newspapers.

Introducing Professor Blight, Pace University president Marvin Krislov and Gilder Lehrman Institute president Jim Basker spoke of their partnership on the Pace–Gilder Lehrman American History MA Program, which launched this fall and continues enrollment for the spring semester, when Professor Blight will teach a course titled “The Life and Writings of Frederick Douglass.”

Among the 375 attendees, 178 high school students from Gilder Lehrman Affiliate Schools received free signed copies of Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom.