Two programs, one relating three curious stories from Monmouth County history and the other an opportunity to view a film of the original stage reading of the story of
slavery, will give followers of the Monmouth County Library two different areas of American history to follow virtually and at no cost on July 22.
The T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center, the American Association of University Women and the League of Women Voters will present a film discussion on how the legacy of slavery also played in the right to vote, according to a press release.
“Suffragists Speak: Race, Slavery and the Fight for the Vote” will be available through the library’s website at 6:30 p.m. July 22 and will be followed by a discussion of suffrage and voting rights led by members of the film’s cast. The discussion portion of the program begins at 7 p.m.
Viewers to the “Suffragists Speak” program do not need to view the 6:30 p.m. film prior to the 7 p.m. discussion and participation in the program. The film will also be available on the library’s website following the program.
At the same time, John Barrows, founder and editor of Monmouth Timeline and producer of “This Day in Monmouth County History,” will present a discussion about Thomas Edison, the U.S. Lifesaving Service and the importance of radar developed at Fort Monmouth, specifically on Dec. 7, 1941.
This program is presented by the Monmouth County Historical Association and co-sponsored by the library and was originally scheduled to be presented on July 15, according to the press release.
Barrows will speak about Edison during the year the inventor spent in Monmouth County, hinting at what and why he was here; his discussion of the Lifesaving Service will feature an analysis of 150 years of newspaper coverage and how it reveals fascinating stories about aid given to distressed vessels at sea.
The Fort Monmouth story will show how two Army privates used equipment to detect the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, but their warning was not heeded.
The suffragette program and the Monmouth County history program will both be conducted on Zoom with registration and internet access required, according to the press release.
Registration for the programs is available on the library’s website (www.MonmouthCountyLib.org) at its “Upcoming Events” column and must be completed by noon on July 22. The link for the programs will be emailed to registrants after 3 p.m. July 22.
For more information about these and all other programs, visit www.MonmouthCountyLib.org or @MonCoLibrary