October Lecture at LancasterHistory to Discuss Legacy of Slavery at Franklin & Marshall College

Panel of Three Speakers to Explore the College's History from its Early Connections to Slavery to Student Civil Rights Activism

LANCASTER, PA — On Thursday, October 17, Dr. Gretchel Hathaway and Louise LoBello of Franklin & Marshall College and LancasterHistory’s Shianne Hargrove will join LancasterHistory for a presentation, “The Legacy of Slavery at Franklin & Marshall College.” Since 2021, the “Legacy of Slavery at Franklin & Marshall College” Study Group has been exploring the connections between the College’s namesakes, its early trustees, and the system of slavery. In this presentation, Hathaway, LoBello, and Hargrove will share the group’s research into F&M’s history from its institutional connections to slavery to its Black students’ involvement in the Civil Rights Movement to the ongoing relationships between the College and the broader Lancaster community.

This lecture is part of LancasterHistory's Regional History Colloquium Series, which features historians and other scholars presenting research on issues related to southeastern Pennsylvania and its wider borders.

Gretchel Hathaway, Ph.D. is the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. She previously served as the Dean of Diversity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at Union College in Schenectady, New York. While at Union College, she also supervised the Office of Intercultural Affairs and Interfaith Department, served as the Director of Community Outreach and as an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance Officer, and taught in the Sociology Department. Hathaway received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Manhattanville College, a master’s degree in psychology from Yeshiva University, and her doctorate in social work from the University of Pittsburgh. She has presented programs on inclusion and bias, intercultural topics, and Title IX programs at various institutions of higher learning. 

Louise LoBello, MI is the Digital and Special Collections Librarian at Franklin & Marshall College. Working in the College Archives and Special Collections of the College Library, LoBello is responsible for preserving and making accessible both physical and digital material from the F&M archives and historical collections related to Pennsylvania’s history and culture. Louise liaises with the academic departments of Art, Art History, Film, Anthropology, Spanish, and Linguistics to provide library instructional classes for students and helps develop research materials in these areas for the College Library. LoBello also curates exhibits that aim to highlight underrepresented areas of the collections, serves as the co-chair of the Legacy of Slavery Study Group at F&M, and serves on the Mindfulness at F&M Committee. In the community, LoBello serves on the Lancaster City Historical Commission. LoBello received her Bachelor’s degree in Art History, Anthropology, and a certificate in Cultural Heritage and Preservation from Rutgers University. She also holds a Masters in Information from Rutgers University, focusing on archival studies.

Shianne Hargrove is the Communications and Research Services Assistant at LancasterHistory. She has been with the museum since May 2022. Along with her position at LancasterHistory, Shianne is also a board member, archivist, and social media coordinator for the African American Historical Society of South-Central Pennsylvania. Currently, her work with both organizations includes providing local genealogical and historical research services and marketing programs and services to the Lancaster County community. Shianne graduated from Millersville University in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and minors in African American Studies and International Studies.

EVENT DETAILS & HOW TO REGISTER

This event will take place in person at LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Avenue in Lancaster, on Thursday, October 17, 2024. Doors open and a reception begins at 5pm. The lecture will begin at 5:30pm. The lecture will also be streamed to Zoom at 5:30pm for those who wish to join virtually.

This program is free and open to the public. In-person attendance requires advance registration in order to guarantee a seat. Due to capacity restrictions, tickets may not be available at the door. Virtual attendance requires advance registration in order to receive the Zoom link. Register online by clicking the appropriate link below or by calling (717) 392-4633. Registration will close online on Thursday, October 17 at 5:30pm.

REGISTER TO ATTEND IN PERSON

REGISTER TO ATTEND ONLINE

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About LancasterHistory

LancasterHistory is a community-based, not-for-profit organization established to educate the public on the history of Lancaster County and its place in the history of Pennsylvania and the United States, to advance the missions of regional historical organizations, and to promote the acquisition, preservation, and interpretation of resources representing the history of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania within the broader context of state and national history, including the homes of 15th US President James Buchanan and Congressman Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith.

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