Media Alert:
Nov. 2, 2022

Contact:
Marie Cheek
Community Relations Coordinator
Culture & Heritage Museums
www.chmuseums.org
803.909.7312    mcheek@chmuseums.org

Deep dive into York County’s Reconstruction Era history

Meet author Scott Farris at book signing event at Historic Brattonsville

WHAT: Book signing event with Scott Farris, author of “Freedom on Trial: The First Post-Civil War Battle Over Civil Rights and Voter Suppression”

WHO: Scott Farris is a New York Times bestselling author

WHERE: Historic Brattonsville, 1444 Brattonsville Rd., McConnells, S.C. 29726

WHEN: Nov. 10. Book signing drop-in from 1 – 2:15 p.m. followed by a tour of the Brick House exhibits led by Zach Lemhouse, historian for Culture & Heritage Museums.

WHY: Farris’ book “Freedom on Trial” discusses York County’s Reconstruction Era history, including the murder of African American militia captain James Williams. The book was an important source used in the narrative of the new exhibit “Liberty and Resistance: Reconstruction and the African American Community at Brattonsville 1865-1877.” Books are available for sale at Historic Brattonsville Gift Shop.

ADMISSION: Book signing event and tour are free with general admission; please check in at Visitors Services. 

WEBSITE: chmuseums.org

VISITORS SERVICES: 803.684.2327

GOOD TO KNOW: Historic Brattonsville’s book signing and tour event is a special prelude to Scott Farris’ presentation “Family Secrets: A Personal (and Local) History of Reconstruction” at Winthrop University’s Plowden Auditorium. The evening presentation begins at 7 p.m. on Nov. 10 and is sponsored by Allison Creek Presbyterian Church, Historic Rock Hill, and the Winthrop University Department of History, Department of Political Science, Department of Sociology, Department of Criminology, Department of Anthropology, African American Studies, and Peace Studies.

IMAGES:

  1. The Brick House at Historic Brattonsville tells the story of York County’s Reconstruction Era history. Photo taken in Jan. 2021 after restoration by CHM staff.
  2. The family of Capt. James Williams, who was formerly enslaved on the Bratton plantation before becoming an advocate for civil rights, preview the Brick House exhibit “Liberty and Resistance: Reconstruction and the African American Community at Brattonsville 1865-1877.” Photo taken in Nov. 2021 by CHM staff.
  3. Book cover for Scott Farris’ “Freedom on Trial”

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