Hopes and Expectations: The Origins of the Black Middle Class in Hartford

Just as the Civil War was tearing the nation apart, a recognizable black middle class was emerging in Hartford. In this lunchtime talk, historian Barbara Beeching will present her research into African American daily life in Connecticut in the nineteenth century. Beeching’s book, Hopes and Expectations: The Origins of the Black Middle Class in Hartford, examines the lives of three young black people from Hartford, using the Primus family collection of letters at the CMCH.  The letters describe their daily lives and touch on race, class, gender, religion, and politics, offering rare entry into individual black lives at that time.

After the talk, be sure to head up to the Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow exhibit to see artifacts associated with the Primus family.

This program is included with museum admission.

We will provide coffee and dessert; bring your lunch to enjoy during the talk. Please RSVP by Tuesday, August 20 by calling (860) 236-5621 x238 or emailing rsvp@chs.org.

Questions? Contact Natalie Belanger, Adult Programs Manager, at natalie_belanger@chs.org.

About the Speaker

Now retired, Barbara J. Beeching spent many years working in public relations in Connecticut and received a PhD in US history in 2010. Her book, Hopes and Expectations: The Origins of the Black Middle Class in Hartford, won the 2017 Homer D. Babbidge, Jr. Award, presented by the Association for the Study of Connecticut History.

Image: Carrington Family Members in Automobile, CMCH 1981.136.47