When: February 14th, 2025, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Where: Hatcher Gallery
What:
We invite you to a birthday party for Frederick Douglass. Although Douglass was born into bondage, and never knew his birthdate, he chose to celebrate every year on February 14th.
This year, we celebrated the publication of a new edition of Malinda Russell’s A Domestic Cook Book by Michigan Publishing, theming the event around Black food history and domestic culture.
Our keynote speaker, Jessica Kenyatta Walker, delivered the keynote address, “From the Hearth to the Side Room: African American Domestic Cultures.” 
Attendees shared their family recipes and food traditions. 
Digital Scholarship Rackham Fellow Lucy Smith baked Malinda Russell’s recipe for Elizabeth Lemon Cake for attendees and shared the adapted recipe.
The Transcribe-a-thon focused on the African American Perspectives Collection at the Library of Congress. It includes speeches, sermons, biographies, narratives, and records from the history of Black political activism. It contains writings by Frederick Douglass, William Still, Angelina Grimké Weld–and many more!
Keynote: Jessica Kenyatta Walker
“From the Hearth to the Side Room: African American Domestic Cultures”
Jessica Kenyatta Walker is an American Studies scholar exploring food, race and belonging in our everyday cultural landscapes. Her research is deeply interdisciplinary, thoughtfully mining the intersections of Black Studies, Critical Food Studies, Black Feminist Theory, and theories of space and place.
Schedule
10:30 am – 12:30 pm – Special Collections pop-up featuring The North Star newspaper and Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.
11:00 am – 12:00 pm – Keynote Address by Dr. Jessica Kenyatta Walker
Hybrid: Watch the Keynote on Zoom
12:00 – 12:30 pm- Douglass day Livestream
12:30 – 1:00 pm – Transcription
- Share your Food History!
- Transcribe historical documents from the Library of Congress’ African American Perspectives collection
- Light snacks and refreshments
1:00 -2:00 pm pm – Happy Birthday Frederick Douglass!
- Desserts from local Black-owned bakeries
- Learn about Malinda Russell’s A Domestic Cookbook
2:00 – 4:00 – Free transcription time
- Share your Food History!
- Transcribe historical documents from the Library of Congress’ African American Perspectives collection
- Light snacks and refreshments