Event at Warren County Historical Society features a Symposium, music and reception
The Warren County Historical Society and the Deutschheim Verein will present a “Symposium on the Shared History of Germans and African Americans” on Saturday, August 12, 2023 from 2 PM-4 PM at the Warren County Museum 102 W Walton Street, Warrenton, Missouri.
A free reception will precede the Symposium with a Taste of African American and German Appetizers. Balls Bar B Que in Wright City will provide Barbeque appetizers and the Warren County Historical Society will serve German desserts. The reception is from 2 PM -2:30 PM, and the Symposium will start promptly at 2:30 PM. Singer/actor Sierra Smith will also sing at this event. Sierra has performed in An Amazing Story: German Abolitionists of Missouri, Dreamgirls, and The Wiz to name a few.
The Symposium includes highly recognized historians and scholars available for a Q&A session, including:
- Dr. Gary Kremer, Executive Director of the Missouri State Historical Society
- Dr. John Wright author of 12 books on African American history in Missouri
- Dr. Sydney Norton author of German Immigrant Abolitionists: Fighting for a Free Missouri and
- Cecilia Nadal, sociologist and playwright who wrote An Amazing Story: German Abolitionists of Missouri. Since 2018 Cecilia has organized Symposiums on this topic throughout the State of Missouri collaborating with the Deutschheim Verein and other partners in varied locations such as the Warren County Historical Society.
Due to limited seating, you must register for the Symposium.
Call 636-456-3820, message us online, register below, or email museum@warrencountymohistory.com to reserve a free seat.
More about this event
This will be the first time in Warren County that a historical event focuses on the contributions of German Abolitionists and relationships between Germans and African Americans before, during and after the Civil War. Janet Sutherland, Administrator, Warren County Historical Society said, “We want our community to understand the shared historical experiences and commonality between our cultural groups. Too often we only focus on differences. ”
In addition to the above-mentioned major event on August 12 the Deutschheim Verein in collaboration with the Warren County Historical Society will actively participate in community engagement:
- a) inviting citizens in Warren County to send in written family or personal stories about German and African American relationships before, during or after the Civil War that are a source of inspiration followed by
- b) an invitation to a small group dialogue session sharing stories between Germans and African Americans at the Warren County Museum on Saturday, September 16 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Submit your stories and find details at www.deutschheimverein.org/share-your-story/ or email us at info@gitana-inc.org.
Support for this program in part comes from the following organizations:
About the Deutschheim Verein
The Deutschheim Verein in Hermann is dedicated to the preservation of the culture and heritage of the Germans who migrated to Missouri in the 19th century. We support the mission and programs of the Deutschheim State Historical Site in Hermann and engage in strategic collaborations to share German history in Missouri with diverse audiences.
About Warren County Historical Society
The Warren County Historical Society was organized in 1970 for the purpose of preserving the history of Warren County. It’s our mission to display, preserve and document materials from the Warren County area for the purposes of research, education and for the benefit of present and future generations. The need for a facility in which to preserve and display the growing collection led to the construction of the Museum and Library in 1982.
Media Contact: Sharon Thatcher 314-721-6556 or info@gitana-inc.org
Interviews and photography from the press can be coordinated for this event
