As Britain marks the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade local people are being offered a unique opportunity to discover Sheffield's contribution to ending the barbaric business.
[UKPRwire, Thu Mar 22 2007] Sheffield Hallam University together with Sheffield Archives and Local Studies have teamed up to run a workshop on abolition on Saturday March 24. It will explore the city's role in ending the slave trade and the importance of ordinary people in the campaign.
Dr Alison Wells is a principal lecturer of History at Sheffield Hallam University and has carried out research on anti-slavery movements in 19th century Sheffield. She said: "My own research has been on a family of abolitionists who lived at Wincobank Hall in the 1820s. They were a family of daughters, the Reads, and all were supporters of abolition.
"Their papers are fascinating in that they show the centrality of abolition and other kinds of reform to their family life and the importance of ordinary people in the provinces to the success of the abolitionist campaign. Abolition was not only about William Wilberforce!"
Sheffield has a fascinating abolitionist history and the workshop will explore events such as the petition sent to Parliament signed by 769 men to abolish slavery, despite the threat this posed to their livelihoods in the metal works industry and a visit from Olaudah Equiano, a former slave, who won over many locals with his talks about the horrors of his personal experiences.
The workshop will also include a presentation by Professor Clare Midgley, from Sheffield Hallam University and author of 'Women against Slavery: the British Campaigns; 1780-1870.' She was the first person to look at women's involvement in abolition. It promises to be an eye-opening afternoon for anyone interested in attending. The workshop will be held at Sheffield Hallam University, Owen Building, 9th Floor, Room 942 on Saturday 25 March from 1-4pm. The workshop is open to everybody and bookings can be made by contacting either Sheffield Archives via email archives@sheffield.gov.uk or telephoning 0114 203 9395.
For more information contact the Press Office on 0114 225 4025.
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