Two Events on Tubman Underscore CT Freedom Trail Month at New Haven Museum

New Haven, Conn. (August 20, 2025) –The New Haven Museum (NHM) will celebrate CT Freedom Trail Month with two events focusing on American abolitionist and social activist Harriet Tubman on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at 6 p.m., for adults, and Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. for children. Following her escape from slavery in 1849, Tubman helped numerous others escape via the “Underground Railroad.” During the Civil War, she worked as an armed scout and spy for the Union army. She was later an activist for women's suffrage.

For the first event, Deirdre Cooper Owens, an associate professor of history and Africana studies at the University of Connecticut, will offer a lecture entitled, “Harriet Tubman: A Disabled American Hero,” on Thursday, September 18 , 2025, at 6 p.m., preceded by a reception at 5:30 p.m. Register for this free NH250 event here.

Dr. Deirdre Cooper Owens

Cooper will discuss the life of Harriet Tubman through the lens of disability. She will explore how Tubman lived in a world of challenges and overcame difficult obstacles, most importantly, her enslavement. “Although there are numerous biographies about Harriet Tubman’s life, none of them delve into her disabilities and how her conditions impacted her decision-making and life,” Cooper says.

In her presentation, Cooper will underscore how Tubman’s sleeping fits, narcolepsy, and fantastical hallucinations affected those around her. She will also examine how Tubman’s community members considered (and reconsidered) how to treat a Black woman who achieved prominence while wearing the markers of 19th century inferiority: blackness, enslavement, femaleness, and disability.  

Cooper will also contextualize how Tubman’s disability and enslavement influenced her  activism and charity. “She was the most written about American woman of the 19^th century, a war hero, activist, and philanthropist. Her life was a model in decency and democracy,” 

For the second program, on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., join author and educator Yvette Cole at NHM for an unforgettable, interactive storytelling experience based on her children’s book, “Harriet’s Dinner Party.” In this multimedia presentation, children are invited to step into the world of Harriet Tubman through a video story time that brings history to life. 

Register for this free NH250 event here.

In Cole’s imaginative tale, a young girl enjoys dinner at Harriet Tubman’s home alongside iconic guests like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Ida B. Wells. Through music, storytelling, and sensory engagement, young audiences will learn about Harriet Tubman's humanitarian legacy and the impact of other Black historical figures in a fun, age-appropriate way.

Children will sing along, touch and smell themed props, and engage all five senses as they explore history in a way they’ll never forget. The program concludes with a themed activity and the opportunity to meet the author for a book signing and photo opportunity.

Cole became interested in this topic while searching for age-appropriate books on Black historical figures for children and realized how few options were available. The lack of accessible, engaging material for younger audiences made her realize how important it is to tell the stories in a way that children can understand and connect with. “I wanted to help fill that gap by focusing on figures like Harriet Tubman, whose legacy deserves to be shared and celebrated with every generation,” Cole says.

Cole hopes the public will gain a deeper appreciation for who Harriet Tubman was—not just as a conductor on the Underground Railroad but as a brave, selfless, and visionary leader who risked everything for the freedom of others. She explains, “I want the audience to walk away with a renewed sense of why Tubman’s story matters, especially for young people, and why it’s essential to keep her legacy alive through education, storytelling, and conversation.”