Business owner, abolitionist, service worker, father, community leader: John William Creed embodies the many strands of New Haven Black history in the 19th century.

His photograph, taken in 1863, was recently found in the Beinecke, included in the back of a photo album of the secret society, Skull and Bones, where Creed worked. The pencil inscription reads “Old Creed, janitor.” Since finding the image of Creed, several other photographs of Black custodians have been located in the Yale collections.

In this talk, Hope McGrath will discuss Creed, his family, impact, and legacy, as well as the context of Black and working-class life in New Haven in the 19th century—and the archival work and methods that help us find these stories.

Zoom webinar registration link: https://bit.ly/3M39rw3

McGrath is Research Coordinator for Yale, New Haven, and Connecticut History at Beinecke Library. She is the author of two chapters and four interludes in the recently published book, “Yale and Slavery: A History,” as well as lead researcher and editor for that book from the Yale and Slavery Research Project.

Mondays at Beinecke online talks focus on materials from the collections and include an opening presentation at 4pm followed by conversation and Q & A beginning about 4:30pm until 5pm.