Christopher Densmore
UGRR news archive July 16, 2003

Events and News

9:05 9:45 Afua Cooper:  Henry and Mary Bibb Abolitionists and editors of "The Voice of the Fugitive" newspaper in Windsor in early 1850's.

Afua has completed a doctoral thesis in Canadian history at the University of Toronto. Her dissertation is a biographical study of Henry Bibb, a 19th century African American abolitionist who lived and worked in Ontario. She is the co-author of The Underground Railroad: Last Stop Toronto as well as We're Rooted Here and They Can't Pull Us Up: Essays in African Canadian Women's History which won the prestigious Joseph Brant award for history. Her scholarly endeavours have made a vast contribution to gender studies in African North American history and historiography. Afua teaches sociology at Ryerson University.

9:45 10:25 Patricia Neely- McCurdy: African Architectural Influences

Retired Professor and founder of Interior Design Program at St. Clair College, Windsor. Patricia is the author of the thesis: The Identification of Afro-American Architectural Characteristics in Housing in Raleigh Townhsip and Southwestern Ontario in the Mid-Nineteenth Century. She is author of the book: The Houses of Buxton: a legacy of African influences in Architecture.

10:25 Break

11:00 11:50 Professor James Walker: "Black Loyalists in American Revolution".

James W. St.G. Walker is Professor of History at the University of Waterloo, where he has been teaching courses in African-Canadian history, race relations and human rights since 1971. His publications include The Black Loyalists (1976, 2nd ed. 1992), A History of Blacks in Canada: A Study Guide for Teachers and Students (1980), "Race", Rights and the Law in the Supreme Court of Canada (1997), "African Canadians", in An Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples (1999) and "Canada", in Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African-American Experience (1999). He has recently been awarded the Bora Laskin National Fellowship in Human Rights Research for 2003-04.

12:00 - 1:10 Lunch

Browse vendor's tables of Historical Books, Genealogical Resources, Crafts and Art-works.

1:10 1:15 Sharing major announcements from sites

1:15 - 2:00 Tony Burroughs: Jumping the Broom: African American and African American Marriage Records

An internationally known genealogist, and author, who teaches genealogy at Chicago State University. He lectures throughout the United States and Canada on all aspects of genealogy. Author of Black Roots: A Beginners Guide to Tracing the African American Family Tree.

2:00 2:20 Break

2:20 3:30 The Underground Railroad Story: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

Donald Simpson Author of the invaluable Ph.D. thesis Negroes in Ontario; from early times to 1870. Don has lived and/or worked in 65 countries. His educational activities at all levels include involvement in the establishment of teacher training colleges, adult education institutes, the early planning for the Community College system in Ontario, initiation of one of the first offices for international programs at a Canadian University. He was one of the early members of Canadian University Services Overseas (CUSO) and their first regional director in West Africa

Orloff Miller Dr. Miller is the Director of the Freedom Stations/Research Department at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. He is a historical archaeologist, community historian, and preservation planner, and has documented literally hundreds of archaeology sites, architectural resources, and community memories in fourteen states and in Northern Ireland. Dr. Miller is currently engaged in coordinating a nationwide network of researchers working on the Underground Railroad, and linking that network via digital archival data and curriculum materials.

3:30 3:45 Thanks, Homecoming announcements and dismissal

Pre-registration is required as space is limited. Cost of Registration is $($40 Cdn or $30 US) to be determined in advance if payment is received by August 15th. After that date cost will be $ (50 Cdn or $38 U.S (includes lunch). Because of space limitations, registrations will be taken on a "first come" basis. To avoid disappointment we urge everyone to register early by mailing his or her name, address, email address (if applicable) and cheque to:
Buxton National Historic Site & Museum
North Buxton
Ontario, Canada, NOP 1Y0
phone (519) 352-4799
fax (519) 352-8561
email [email protected]
Internet web page: http://www.buxtonmuseum.com

Saturday, 9:00am to 6:00pm: "Family Feud" Baseball Tournament. 12 teams play off throughout the day. All members on a team must be descended from a single family of ancestors.

Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Sunday School E.A. Richardson B.M.E. Church 11:00a.m: Worship & Communion service speaker Rev. Douglas Birse

3:00 p.m: Musical program musical selections by "The Friends of Buxton Male Choir" and local talent. Meals served at the church hall Sunday & Monday 12pm 6pm. Meals - $12.50

6:00 p.m: Historical Re-enactment "Memories thru the Years" Travel back in time with us as you catch a glimpse of Buxton as it was from the beginnings up to the 1960's. Participate in the first Homecoming church service; meet the first woman post mistress; attend a school trustee meeting; be entertained by the talents of the local "Club Tahiti" troupe and much, much more.

Monday, 12:30 p.m: Parade

Afternoon programs include:
Black Loyalist exhibit in Museum
"Pride- in-R- Ride" car show,
"Family Feud" baseball championship games,
Magic Show
Civil War Encampment
Craft, art and souvenir tables,
Carnival rides,
Bar-b-que dinners, Pony rides, concession booths, Beer gardens and other special programs for entire family.

For further information please contact the Museum at (519) 352-4799

Contact information for
 Christopher Densmore: