Alexandria Black History Museum and Alexandria Library Host Lecture/Book-Signing

FROM THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA: 

Alexandria Black History Museum and Alexandria Library Host Lecture/Book-Signing

“Author Traces Family’s Ancestry through Two 18th Century Free Blacks”

The Alexandria Black History Museum and the Alexandria Library will jointly sponsor a lecture and book-signing featuring Robert Carter Hayden, Jr. – on Tuesday, April 10, 2012, at 7 p.m. The bookPills, Potions, Powders, and Poisons: A Pioneering African American in Pharmacy reconstructs a family’s genealogical history by looking back on the life of a successful New Bedford pharmacist. The lecture will be held at the Alexandria Library, Special Collections, 717 Queen Street. An 8 p.m. reception and book-signing will follow the lecture (immediately across the street from the library) at Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington Street. The event is free and open to the public.

Mr. Hayden will trace his family’s humble 1791 ancestral beginnings in Alexandria through the lives of two free orphaned teenaged brothers who eventually migrated to New Bedford, Massachusetts. The brothers and their wives became successful members of the community. Robert H. Carter, III (third generation) established himself as a pioneering pharmacist for over 35 years in New Bedford and Boston, Massachusetts.

Robert Hayden is an historian, author, and educator who has contributed to African-American historiography for 35 years. He has written, co-authored, and served as editor of 19 books and publications in the field. In addition to historical research, writing and teaching, he served as an assistant superintendent in the Boston Public School System and has lectured for several decades at the University of Massachusetts, Boston University, Northeastern University and Lesley University. He also wrote a weekly column on Boston's black history for the Bay State Banner newspaper in Boston.

He has served on the Oak Bluffs Historical Commission and is has served as the national secretary of the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History (ASALH). A New Bedford native, Mr. Hayden has a B.A and a Master’s in Science Education from Boston University, and post-graduate fellowships from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education and from MIT.

Due to space limitations, reservations are requested but not required to attend the event. Call703.746.4356 to reserve a seat. The Alexandria Black History Museum is located at 902 Wythe Street in the heart of Alexandria’s historic Parker-Gray District, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, please call 703.838.4356 or visitwww.alexblackhistory.org.