As part of Black History Month, the Oxford County Library and the Oxford County Archives are hosting Almost Forgotten: Black History in Oxford County, the second installment of their new Local History Speaker Series.
Led by local historian and writer Heather Rennalls, this discussion will focus on the early Black settlers in Woodstock, Ingersoll and Norwich County. Most of the early Black settlers to Southwestern Ontario were former slaves who arrived in the region in the mid-1800s through the Underground Railroad. This presentation will focus on the seldom-told stories of those who made their home in Oxford County, and “examine their struggles and triumphs along the way,” a release stated.
Rennalls, a well-known historian and writer, has been researching Black history in Southwestern Ontario for more than 20 years. An Oxford County resident, her work has been featured in numbers newspapers and magazines while she’s made regular appearances on CBC Radio and Global News. Her website, Heather’s Historicals, shares much of her research on Black history in the region and offers additional resources for area teachers. Rennalls also sits on Southwestern Ontario’s Black History committee.
The intent of the new series is to investigate topics related to the history of Oxford County and its broader region. The first session – Tillsonburg 1872: The Action-Packed Story of Town Incorporation – was presented in October.
Almost Forgotten: Black History in Oxford County is set for Wednesday, Feb. 22, from 6 pm to 7:30 pm at the Tillsonburg branch of the Oxford County Library. While space is limited, the event is free and registration is not required.
For more information, call the Tillsonburg branch of the Oxford County Library at 519-842-5571 or view the Oxford County Library’s program calendar at www.ocl.net
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