Event
Presenter Series 2022 - Justice John Marshall Harlan
Fee:
Free.Dates & Times
Date:
Time:
Duration:
Type of Event
Description
The 2022 presenter series continues with Chautauqua living history presenter Dr. Edward B. Smith, who will portray Justice John Marshall Harlan. The presentation will begin at 2pm on Saturday, June 11th, at the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace visitor center auditorium, and is free to the public.
Justice John Marshall Harlan championed for equal rights for African Americans after the Civil War, and said in the 1896 Plessy vs Ferguson ruling “in respect of civil rights, all citizens are equal before the law.” Although originally a supporter of slavery, he eventually changed his views and supported equality for all Americans. He became the first Supreme Court justice to earn a law degree and helped secure Rutherford B. Hays presidency in 1876. Justice Harlan was a visionary for his time, and he reflects our presenter theme this year of “Lincoln’s Promise of Freedom”.
Dr. Edward B. Smith, who will be depicting Justice Harlan, is a Kentucky native and earned a PhD in performance studies. He teaches theatre and film at Georgetown College, where he is professor and chair of the Department of Theatre and Film. Dr. Smith is a member of the Kentucky Humanities Council Chautauqua performers, who bring to life over 70 historical Kentuckians. These performers travel throughout the state, delivering historically accurate dramatizations of important Kentuckians.