Elizabeth Dowling Taylor, Ph.D. to Kick-off the 2012 Speaker Series

Elizabeth Dowling Taylor, Ph.D.
"A Slave in the White House: Paul Jennings and the Madisons"
Friday, May 4 7:00 p.m. in the Barn

Sotterley Plantation is proud to partner with The Boeing Company in presenting Elizabeth Dowling Taylor, Ph.D. in the kick-off event for the 2012 Speaker Series at Sotterley entitled, “A Slave in the White House: Paul Jennings and the Madisons.”

In her new book, A Slave in the White House: Paul Jennings and the Madisons, Dr. Taylor presents Jennings’s powerful story from slavery to freedom for the first time. She draws provocative portraits of African American life at the Madison plantation and in early Washington. As the President’s slave, he came of age in the White House, and helped save the iconic portrait of George Washington from British torches during the War of 1812. The constant servant in James Madison’s study, he learned by listening in at the feet of the master ~ the foremost political philosopher of the day ~ the theoretical underpinnings that supported his innate yearning for liberty. Through Jennings’s struggles, Taylor explores the relentless challenges of being black in 19th-century America. She also offers bold new perspectives on the characters of James and Dolley Madison by focusing on their private relationships with a courageous man of color who was “enamoured with freedom” and determined to rise.

This event is FREE to the public. Advance reservations are required due to limited seating. Call 301-373-2280 to make your reservation.

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Because of the generous grant and continued support from The Boeing Company, Sotterley Plantation is able to offer this important community outreach, fulfilling its mission of serving as an educational resource and cultural venue while it seeks to preserve, interpret and research the plantation’s diverse cultures and environments through its history.

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