Cold Spring Harbor, NY— Preservation Long Island, a regional preservation advocacy nonprofit, is pleased to announce the United for Libraries Literary Landmark™ designation for one of its historic properties, Joseph Lloyd Manor, an 18th _ century manor house in Lloyd Harbor, NY, and a site of Black enslavement. The designation honors Jupiter Hammon (1711– ca.1806), one of the earliest published African American writers who composed his most well-known works while enslaved at the manor.
The Literary Landmark™ plaque unveiling and virtual celebration will take place at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020 which recognizes Hammon's 309th birthday as well as Black Poetry Day. This will mark the first Literary Landmark dedication to be livestreamed.
Jupiter Hammon’s life and writings offer an exceptionally nuanced view of slavery and freedom on Long Island before and after the American Revolution. His works are especially significant because most literature and historical documents from the eighteenth century were not written from an enslaved person’s point of view.
Hammon’s known works include at least six poems and three essays published during his lifetime. At Joseph Lloyd Manor in 1786, he penned “An Address to the Negroes of the State of New-York” and “An Essay on Slavery.”
“As one of the significant early examples of African American literature before the republic, Jupiter Hammon’s work is a masterful ethical critique on slavery, religion, and humane relationship,” said Dr. Georgette Grier-Key, Executive Director and Chief Curator of Eastville Community Historical Society and a member of the Jupiter Hammon Project Advisory Council.
“The designation by United for Libraries validates what we recognized from the beginning, that Jupiter Hammon is a nationally significant individual in history but not many people know about him,” said Lauren Brincat, Curator at Preservation Long Island.
“The Literary Landmark designation complements the work of our multi-year Jupiter Hammon Project that aims to engage the site more fully to reflect the multiple events, perspectives, and people that shaped the house’s history, including elevating the voice and history of Jupiter Hammon”, said Alexandra Wolfe, Preservation Long Island’s Executive Director.
The unveiling event will feature remarks by Rocco Staino, United for Libraries Board Member and Director of Empire State Center for the Book and Irene Moore, Chair, Huntington African American Historic Designation Council. Actor/writer, Malik Work will perform his poem, "An Aria of Pain". The winners of the Jupiter Hammon Essay/Poetry Contest from Silas Wood Sixth Grade Center, South Huntington Union Free School District, will recite their winning entries. Closing remarks will be delivered by Joye Brown, Columnist/Associate Editor, Newsday.
“One of the advantages of a virtual event and livestreaming of the designation ceremony is that it will be accessible to a much larger audience. We will also have recorded documentation of this celebration of Hammon’s significant accomplishments and contributions to American history and literature that will endure digitally on our website”, said Wolfe.
To register for the virtual event via Zoom visit:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jupiter-hammon-literary-landmark-virtual-celebration-tickets-91899358455
To view the event via Facebook Live (no registration required), visit Preservation Long Island’s Facebook page on October 17th at 2 p.m.:
https://www.facebook.com/preservationlongisland/
Jupiter Hammon Literary Landmark Plaque Sponsors:
Town of Huntington African American Historic Designation Council
NAACP Huntington Branch
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.-Sigma Psi Omega Chapter
Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, Suffolk County Chapter
The Links, Incorporated, Long Island (NY) Chapter
Jupiter Hammon Essay/Poetry Contest Winners (Silas Wood Sixth Grade Center, South Huntington Union Free School District):
Esmeralda Benitez Fuentes
Christopher Reyes
Ayberk Isik
About Preservation Long Island
Preservation Long Island is a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to celebrating and preserving Long Island’s diverse cultural and architectural heritage through advocacy, education, and the stewardship of historic sites and collections.
http://preservationlongisland.org
Preservation Long Island maintains and interprets historic sites and collections that embody various aspects of Long Island’s history including:
Joseph Lloyd Manor, Lloyd Harbor http://preservationlongisland.org/joseph-lloyd-manor/
Custom House, Sag Harbor http://preservationlongisland.org/custom-house/
Sherwood-Jayne Farm, Setauket http://preservationlongisland.org/sherwood-jayne-farm/
Old Methodist Church and Exhibition Gallery http://preservationlongisland.org/methodist-church/
About Joseph Lloyd Manor, Lloyd Harbor, New York
Completed in 1767 for Joseph Lloyd, the third lord of the Manor of Queens Village, the Joseph Lloyd Manor House was the seat of a 3,000-acre agricultural estate. The British occupied it during the Revolutionary War and it is where Jupiter Hammon, an enslaved man, and the first published African American author, lived and wrote.
About United for Libraries
United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the American Library Association with approximately 4,000 personal and group members representing hundreds of thousands of library supporters. United for Libraries supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries, and brings together library Trustees, advocates, Friends, and Foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century.
About the Empire State Center for the Book
The Empire State Center for the Book is committed to the book in all formats. Interests of the Center include the promotion of the culture of reading, literature, literacy, book arts, and book history throughout New York State. The Center will work with publishers, libraries, museums, educational institutions, scholars, authors, illustrators and other interested parties to enrich book culture for the people of New York. The Center for the Book relies on grants, sponsorships and the contributions of individuals who share the ideals and support the mission of the Center to promote literature, literacy and libraries.
The Literary Landmark™ program is administered by United for Libraries. More than 150 Literary Landmarks across the United States have been dedicated since the program began in 1986. Any library or group may apply for a Literary Landmark through United for Libraries. More information is available on the United for Libraries website.
