The Founding Fathers’ cries for liberty from tyranny and oppression resonated with African Americans and were embraced by Black craftspeople, both free and enslaved. This talk highlights the profound contributions of African American material culture in the enduring pursuit of freedom. It serves as the culmination of the DAR Museum’s 2025 exhibition and the accompanying catalogue, “Fighting for Freedom: Black Craftspeople and the Pursuit of Independence.”

In his lecture, Dr. Torren Gatson examines how the ideology of “making” fueled the success of African American craftspeople while simultaneously shaping and reframing the very foundations of American identity.

The Historic Annapolis Virtual Lecture Series is offered free of charge thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor. If you enjoy this program, we hope you will consider becoming a member or making a donation today to support Historic Annapolis and our mission to connect all people with our shared history. 

Can’t watch live? All lectures will be recorded. Please register and you’ll receive the link to watch the recording after the event.

Advance registration required; registration closes on half-hour prior to lecture. 

Cost: FREE

This lecture will be offered virtually by Zoom. Upon registration, you will be sent the link for the video conference to join on the evening of the lecture. If you do not receive your confirmation email after you register, please check your Spam folder, or email Cara Garside at cara.garside@annapolis.org. To learn more about Zoom and to download the app to your computer, visit the Zoom website.

About Our Presenter: Dr. Torren Gatson is Associate Professor of History and Associate Director for the Center for Historic Preservation at Middle Tennessee University (MTSU). Dr. Gatson is a public historian and scholar of U.S. Southern history, specializing in 19th- and 20th-century African American built environments and material culture. A dedicated historic preservationist, he collaborates with communities to create public-facing projects that confront and illuminate the complexities of African American history.

His work has appeared in leading academic journals including The Journal of Southern History, The Southern Quarterly, and The North Carolina Historical Review. He is the author of Fighting for Freedom: Black Craftspeople and the Pursuit of Independence (UNC Press, 2025), and a contributor to Teaching Public History (UNC Press, 2023) and Fashioning America: Grit to Glamor (University of Arkansas Press, 2022).

Gatson is Co-Director of the Black Craftspeople Digital Archive, the premier resource on Black artisans in America, which has documented over 10,000 individuals nationwide. His nationally recognized exhibition, Fighting for Freedom, debuted at the DAR Museum and is traveling to five institutions across the country. He serves on several boards in the fields of material culture and history, including the Winterthur Portfolio Editorial Board, Old Salem Museums & Gardens, Historic Magnolia House Foundation, the Decorative Arts Trust, and People Not Property.

The information contained in the HA Virtual Lecture series represents the historical research, views and opinions of the lecture presenter and may not represent the views or opinions of Historic Annapolis, Inc.