Join curators and historians for an engaging series of panels offering perspectives on the current pandemic. Panelists will virtually share objects from the past as a springboard to a lively discussion of how to better understand the present. Audience questions are encouraged and will be addressed in the moderated dialogue. In 1793, a yellow fever epidemic shook Philadelphia, the new nation’s capital. Many residents, including medical practitioners, fled the city. In their absence, Richard Allen and Absalom Jones of the Free African Society marshalled their organization’s members to provide free care to the sick and dying. Panelists will explore the work of the Free African Society during the pandemic along with a discussion of the backlash that emerged against the Free African Society in the wake of the epidemic. Moderator:
Alexandra Lord, PhD, National Museum of American History Panelists:
David Barnes, PhD, University of Pennsylvania
Vanessa Northington Gamble, PhD, MD, George Washington University
Simon Finger, PhD, The College of New Jersey The National Museum of American History welcomes visitors of all ages and abilities. Real-time captioning (CART) will be provided for online programs. For other questions about accessibility, please email nmahprograms@si.edu. Two weeks’ notice is preferred. |