Lunch and Learn – A Silent Revolution: The Mysterious Demise of Slavery in Revolutionary Connecticut

This virtual Lunch and Learn program explores how slavery began to unravel in Connecticut during the American Revolution through the actions of enslaved people themselves. Historian William Morgan presents research drawn from the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History’s Waterman Research Center, examining how Black individuals created opportunities for freedom during the 1770s and 1780s and quietly undermined slavery at its height. The talk sheds light on the emergence of Connecticut’s first significant free Black population and challenges the idea that legislation alone ended bondage in the state.

The virtual presentation takes place on January 6, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm and is free and open to the public. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link. William Morgan is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of History at Indiana University, Bloomington, where his work focuses on the origins and legacy of emancipation and abolition in Revolutionary New England.

Questions about the program can be directed to Jen Busa, Public Programs Coordinator, at jbusa@connecticutmuseum.org.