Things to do, places to eat, shows to see, places to stay in Madison County, NY      

Fred Morsell, actor and historian who portrays Frederick Douglass, will deliver the keynote address Frederick Douglass on Race: A Soul’s Evolution at the annual dinner of the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum Saturday, 5:30 pm, October 23, 2009, in the Hall of Presidents, James C. Colgate Hall at Colgate University in Hamilton NY. This presentation is compiled from Douglass’ most important speeches and writings on the issue of race. Morsell takes the audience through relevant periods in Douglass’ life and reveals the development of his thought, illustrates the stages of his personal transformation in the understanding of race, and culminates in his illumination about the way to experience our common humanity beyond categories of division.

When the Smithfield Community Association, Peterboro NY, and the Upstate Institute at Colgate University in Hamilton NY launched the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum (NAHOF) in October 2004, a portion of the proposal for the new organization was based upon the words of Douglass: “Liberty came to the freedmen of the United States, not in mercy, but in wrath, not by moral choice, but by military necessity… Nothing was to have been expected other than what has happened.” Black freedom was a legal fact, not a moral fact! The mission of NAHOF is to not only honor abolitionists, but to complete abolition – the moral choice. Morsell was the main speaker at the first induction ceremony hosted by the Upstate Institute at Colgate University in October 2005 and represented Douglass at the great black abolitionist’s induction that same year. Morsell’s first Douglass’ programs in the area were in 2000 when the Madison County Historical Society presented Morsell for the 150th commemoration of the Cazenovia Convention of 1850. Morsell also appeared this year at the Madison County Fair. Acclaimed across the U.S. for his portrayal of Douglass, Morsell’s performances include programs at National Park Service sites, the Smithsonian, the Capitol Rotunda, many Douglass’ centennial events, and this year at the 150th anniversary of John Brown’s raid at Harpers Ferry.

The annual dinner, catered by the Colgate Inn, Hamilton NY, will conclude with a birthday cake honoring the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln (The Great Emancipator), the 5th anniversary of NAHOF, and the NAHOF partnership with the Upstate Institute at Colgate University.