Edited by Richard Newman, "The Narrative of the Life of Henry 'Box' Brown" tells the story of Henry Brown, a slave who escaped in 1849 by shipping his 5’8” 200-pound body in a baize-lined crate seamed by five hickory loops from Richmond to Philadelphia. His narrative paints an indelible portrait of life in slavery, and describes one of the most miraculous escapes from slavery.

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania will be displaying materials from its collection relating to Henry “Box” Brown for this event. Admission is free. Reservations can be made by calling 215-732-6200 ext. 412 or e-mailing events@hsp.org.

Richard Newman is the Fellows and Research Officer at the W.E.B. DuBois Institute for Afro-American Research at Harvard. He is the editor of Everybody Say Freedom: Everything You Need to Know About African-American History and Go Down, Moses: Celebrating the African-American Spiritual.

Founded in 1824 in Philadelphia, The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is one of the oldest historical societies in the United States and holds historical materials of national importance. It is one of the largest family history libraries in the nation, has excellent printed collections on local and regional history, and offers a manuscript collection renowned for its 17th-, 18th-, and 19th-century holdings. These collections are used not only by historians and genealogists, but also by set and costume designers, journalists, script and fiction writers, actors and re-enactors, as well as researchers of historical dance, recipes, music, gardens, and many others.