On Thursday, October 17 at the First Congregational Church in Cheshire, Kevin Johnson from the Connecticut State Library’s History and Genealogy Unit, will tell the story of James H. William, known as Professor Jim.
Thursday, October 17
7 p.m. at the First Congregational Church in Cheshire
This event is free and open to the public
Learn more at a presentation by Kevin Johnson from Connecticut State Library’s History and Genealogy Unit, who tells the story of James H. William, known as Professor Jim.
Born a Captive in Yonkers, NY in 1788, Professor Jim later escaped to Connecticut, spending time in Cheshire. He later became a servant to Episcopal Bishop Brownell of Hartford in the early 1820’s. When Trinity College in Hartford was created, he became a janitor there, a job he held for fifty years until his death in 1878. His narrative, The Life of James Williams, Better Known as Professor Jim, For Half a Century Janitor of Trinity College, was published in 1873. He was honored during the Bicentennial last year as a prominent and memorable figure in the College’s history.
Kevin Johnson’s presentation of Professor Jim is told from an emotional and exciting first-person perspective that vividly illustrates the journey of this African American in the early 1800’s. He tells of his early life in New York, his escape and adventure on the high seas, his battle in the War of 1812, and his final years spent at Trinity College. The presentation is based on extensive research in the collections of the Connecticut State Library and the Museum of Connecticut History at 231 Capitol Ave, opposite the State Capitol in Hartford.
