TRHP Lecture Series • Equal, Enslaved, Marginalized: Seeds of Emancipation and Abolition on the Thames
Thames River Heritage Park Foundation, New London County Historical Society and Lyman Allyn Art Museum are pleased to present 2025 Lecture Series – Seeds of Revolution. Come explore events that seeded discontent and sparked the American Revolution and influenced the history of the Thames and beyond.
Equal, Enslaved, Marginalized: Seeds of Emancipation & Abolition on the Thames
by Tom Schuch, Social Activist / Local History Aficionado
The Declaration of Independence famously declared that “All men are created equal.” But what did that mean for a ‘society with slaves?’ As the title paraphrasing Frederick Douglass’ most famous speech indicates, this presentation will examine the history and status of enslaved and marginalized people in the Colonies and the nascent republic, their role in the American Revolution, both Patriot and Loyalist, as well as the changes this Revolution wrought in their lives. This discussion will also examine how the ‘Seeds of Revolution’ were also the ‘Seeds of Emancipation and Abolition’, for out of this turbulence emerged —- from New London County! —-the foremost Abolitionist and Freedom Fighter in America of the 1830s! The talk will conclude with some thoughts on the legacy of the American Revolution: after two hundred and fifty years, does this republic embody that noble statement that “all men are created equal?”
Date: Wednesday, March 12
Time: 6 PM reception | 7 PM lecture
Cost: Purchase your ticket here on the Thames River Heritage Park website (see pricing structure below)
Location: Lyman Allyn Art Museum
Regular Pricing
TRHP + LAAM Members – $20
Non-members – $25
Early Bird
TRHP + LAAM Members Early Bird* – $15
Non-member Early Bird* – $20
*Early bird rate is valid through February 5, 2025.
Presenter Bio
Tom Schuch is a New London native and a graduate of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., with a longstanding interest in social justice issues. He retired after 38 years as executive director of a local residential facility for troubled adolescent males.
Tom has an avid interest in history, particularly John Brown, the Civil War, and, as a lifelong Sherlock Holmes fan, he has a special interest in unknown, forgotten, hidden or suppressed local history. This interest led to the discovery of several of the sites that are now part of the New London Black Heritage Trail. He has given over 60 presentations about his findings, authored articles that have appeared in Connecticut Explored Magazine and several local newspapers, presented numerous videos on Zoom and Youtube, and has been a featured guest on Connecticut Public Radio.
Tom’s most recent plans include working to help Freedom Fighter and local hero, David Ruggles – a Black abolitionist from Norwich – gain the recognition he deserves, which may include a number of presentations, publications and a Symposium in the near future. His article on David Ruggles has been accepted by Brown University and will be published in their upcoming book, “Reimagining New England Histories”, scheduled for release in 2025. Tom recently received and accepted an invitation from Connecticut College to be a guest speaker at its February 2025 Symposium on New England Histories.