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July 11, 2024Frederick Douglass Speaks on Democracy
Frederick Douglass interpreter Nathan M. Richardson will speak about the meaning of American Democracy in the words of the former slave turned writer, orator and abolitionist. The program will be held at the Frederick Allen Elks Lodge No 609, 69 Beekman Street in Saratoga Springs on Sunday, July 28 at 2pm and is jointly sponsored by the Lodge and the Saratoga County History Center at Brookside Museum.
Mr. Richardson is a published author, performance poet and Frederick Douglass Historian. He has been conducting living history performances on Douglass for the last 10 years after 22 years of service in the United States Army. In his talk Richardson will discuss Douglass’ relationships with abolitionists William Lloyd Garrison and Harriet Tubman, and several United States Presidents including Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses Grant. Discussion with the audience will follow his presentation.
“Frederick Douglass spoke at least twice in Saratoga County during his long career as a public speaker, first as a young man in 1849 in Schuylerville and Quaker Springs, and then as a renowned statesman in Saratoga Springs in 1870 celebrating the 15th Amendment to the Constitution that granted African American men the right to vote” said Jim Richmond, of the History Center’s Program Committee.
“We are excited to team with Brookside Museum to bring Nathan Richardson to Saratoga” said Lezley Dana, founding board member of Our Lodge Foundation, which supports the work of the Black Elks Lodge. Joy King, a daughter of the related Mary A Carter Temple #362 has also helped make this program possible. She is also a board member of the History Center, which has created Black History exhibits and programs in recent years.
Frederick Allen Lodge No. 609 was chartered in 1925 and was named in honor of Frederick Joseph Allen who worked as a Redcap at Union Station in Albany and later become Custodian of Saratoga Springs City Hall. The Saratoga County History Center, formerly known as the County’s Historical Society, has operated Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa since 1972.
Registration is available at the History Center’s website https://brooksidemuseum.org/ Donations received during registration will be shared between the Museum and the Lodge.
