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- Taproom Talks Speaker Series - Enslaved, Indentured, Free, 1800 to 1850
Wade House’s Taproom Talks Speaker Series brings celebrated authors and historians to Wade House for lively discussions of their thought-provoking work. Each Taproom Talk includes a special presentation, a live Q&A and on many occasions the opportunity to purchase a book signed by the author. Prepare to be captivated by the stories and insights of the three exceptional speakers presenting in our 2024 season: Anna Lardinois, author of Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes: Tragedies & Legacies from the Inland Seas; Mary Elise Antoine, author of Enslaved, Indentured, Free, 1800 to 1850; and Susan Apps-Bodilly, co-author of Old Farm Country Cookbook.
Thursday April 4, 2024 | 7 – 8 p.m.
Enslaved, Indentured, Free, 1800 to 1850
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 made slavery illegal in the territory that would later become Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota. However, many Black individuals’ rights were denied by white enslavers who continued to hold them captive in the territory well into the nineteenth century. Enslaved, Indentured, Free shines a light on five extraordinary Black women—Marianne, Mariah, Patsey, Rachel, and Courtney—whose lives intersected in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, during these seminal years.
Join us as Mary Elise Antoine, focusing on the five women listed above, explores the history of slavery in the Upper Mississippi River Valley, relying on legal documents, military records, court transcripts, and personal correspondence. Whether through perseverance, self-purchase, or freedom suits—including one suit that was used as precedent in Dred and Harriet Scott’s freedom suits years later—each of these women ultimately secured her freedom, thanks in part to the bonds they forged with one another.
Mary Elise Antoine is president of the Prairie du Chien Historical Society and former curator at Villa Louis. She is the author of The War of 1812 in Wisconsin and coeditor, with Lucy Murphy, of Frenchtown Chronicles of Prairie du Chien.
COST
Adult (18-64): $7
Teen (13-17): $7
Senior (65+): $5
Child (5-12): $5
Child Under 5: Free
