Life in Florence's Utopian Community, 1843-1846: The Stetson Family Letters
A Zoom Presentation by Dr. Christopher Clark
Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Connecticut
Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Connecticut
Thursday, April 27, 2023 | 7 pm
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In 1842, radical abolitionists opposed to slavery founded a utopian community called The Northampton Association of Education and Industry in Florence. Their goal was to create a society in which “the rights of all are equal without distinction of sex, color or condition, sect or religion.”
The Stetson family from Brooklyn, Connecticut, joined the association in 1843. Their letters (now at Historic Northampton) contain rich details and personal thoughts of community life, work, education and reform. The letters offer glimpses of the life of Sojourner Truth, David Ruggles, and other leading figures of the Community. Dr. Clark’s presentation will include the live “voices” of Dolly Stetson (read by Mary Beth Brooker) and her teenaged daughter Almira Stetson. Register for the Zoom link. Sliding scale admission: $5 to $25. Students: Free of charge. Learn More |
Transcriptions of the Stetson Family letters were published in the book, Letters from an American Utopia: The Stetson Family and the Northampton Association, 1843-1847 in 2005.
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