Jethro Luke was a key builder of Yale in the 18th century, along with others in his family – though his role and that of other enslaved and free Black people here has only been recognized in recent years.

Zoom webinar registration: https://bit.ly/4elLf3B

Enslaved in the household of James Pierpont, a founding trustee of Yale, Luke would, as a free man, be one of New Haven’s earliest Black property owners. He and his son were instrumental to the construction of Connecticut Hall, as one example of the family’s part in this community. Knowing the Luke family and their circles is essential to knowing the full and true history of Yale and of New Haven, a history that includes extensive involvement by New Haven and Yale leaders in racial slavery.

This 2024 Mondays at Beinecke talk builds on research Michael Morand first presented from the library in April 2017, with additional presentations in February 2021 and April 2022. That research informed the recent book, Yale and Slavery: A History, from the Yale and Slavery Research Project. Morand and Hope McGrath were among the project’s leaders and both authored parts of the book, published this year by Yale University Press. The Luke family story is also part of the exhibition Shining Light on Truth: New Haven, Yale, and Slavery, on view at the New Haven Museum.

McGrath and Morand’s talk will highlight newly uncovered aspects of the Luke family’s stories, including the costs of their freedom, engagement in the Revolutionary War, and more.

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