March 23, 2007

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY TO HOST THREE-DAY
CONFERENCE ON BLACK HISTORY IN PENNSYLVANIA

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA ~ Lincoln University will host the 30th Annual Conference on Black History in Pennsylvania April 12-14, 2007 in Dickey Hall with Dr. Martin Kilson and Dr. Niara Sudarkasa serving as featured speakers.  The three-day event is led by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) and local and state organizations.

The conference’s theme, “Thirty Years Later: Continuing Challenges,” celebrates the history of the event with an eye to the future.  It focuses on the many aspects of the commonwealth’s African American heritage. 

Dr. Kilson graduated from Lincoln in 1953 and retired as the Harvard University’s Frank G. Thompson professor of government emeritus in 2003.  He will give the keynote address at 8:30 a.m. on April 13 and will be followed by Dr. Sudarkasa at the noon luncheon.

A former Lincoln University president and the first female to hold that post, Dr. Sudarkasa currently serves as consultant and scholar-in-residence for the African American Research Library and Cultural Center of Broward County, Florida.

During its first 29 years, the conference played host to well-known public figures, scholars, educators, artists, and others who have addressed a broad range of important and relevant issues.  It's the longest-running state-sponsored history conference of its kind, according to PHMC.

The conference seeks to bridge the gap between history professionals and the public by encouraging cooperation among the various sectors of society.

For registration and additional information, contact Karen James at 717-783-9871 or kajames@state.pa.us.