2025 Founders Day Symposium: Jennifer Rycenga on her new book, Schooling the Nation: The Success of the Canterbury Academy for Black Women

In 1830s Connecticut, Prudence Crandall, a white woman, stood against racism to open a private academy for young Black women. Author and Professor Emerita Jennifer Rycenga will detail the story of Crandall and her courageous students’ resistance in the face of the ensuing racist backlash. As is often the case, the effort to suppress rights and opportunities resulted in the expanded support for those rights. This included a group of families who moved to Northampton to create an alternative, utopian community based on equality, and where all children were welcome to study together in school. Charles Burleigh, a young white Connecticut lawyer drawn in to support Crandall and the school, was also galvanized by their struggle for justice. Burleigh also moved to Northampton and became a prominent and radical voice for the abolitionist cause. Once again, we are grateful to Bombyx Center for Arts and Equity for hosting our annual Founders Day symposium. Tickets are found on the Bombyx website.