Step back in time on Saturday, April 30 at 1 PM, as the Franklin County Visitors Bureau welcomes the public to a special portrayal of Frederick Douglass at the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center. The event, featuring “The U.S. Constitution in the Words of Frederick Douglass,” is inspired by the public talk Frederick Douglass gave in August 1859, just before meeting with John Brown to discuss Brown’s plans to raid the arsenal at Harpers Ferry. The April 30 presentation is offered at no charge and culminates the Franklin County Visitors Bureau’s April celebration Spring into History.
Author and storyteller Nathan M. Richardson will portray Frederick Douglass. Richardson visited the 11/30 Visitors Center in 2020 to bring Douglass to life in “A Conversation with Frederick Douglass and John Brown.”
Frederick Douglass lived an amazing life—from chattel to Renaissance man. He was a freedom fighter, self-made man, orator, author, activist, abolitionist, suffragist, and public servant. Born enslaved in 1818 as Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, he changed his name to Frederick Douglass after escaping enslavement in 1837. He published his first book about his life called Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas in 1845. Douglass toured America and Europe, speaking about his life and freedom. Support of Douglass grew. In December 1846 through the efforts of English and Irish advocates, Frederick Douglass was legally and totally free. On his return to America as a free man, he began printing and publishing The North Star and completed a second book My Bondage and My Freedom in 1855. He continued his relationship with John Brown and hearing Brown’s plan for the Raid at Harpers Ferry, tried to convince Brown it would not be successful. The raid did not succeed. Douglass continued to carry the message of abolition and freedom. He served as a consultant to President Lincoln, advocating for USCT (United States Colored Troops) and abolition of slavery throughout the war. He was confirmed by the Senate to serve as a U.S. Marshall from 1877 to 1881, continued his work writing, and was a strong advocate of suffrage until he passed away at 77 years old.
Throughout his lifetime, Douglass had many experiences and opportunities to learn and evolve. With such experience comes a special perspective of the American Constitution. Register for this event here, or contact 866.646.8060.
The Franklin County Visitors Bureau welcomes the public to a special portrayal of Frederick Douglass at the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center.
The event recalls the public talk Frederick Douglass gave in August 1859, just before meeting with John Brown to discuss Brown’s plans to raid the arsenal at Harpers Ferry.
Author and storyteller Nathan M. Richardson will portray Frederick Douglass and talk about the U.S. Constitution.
The presentation culminates the Franklin County Visitors Bureau’s April celebration Spring into History and is presented at no charge
Zelda Barbour Wynn Valdes was born June on 28th, 1905 in Chambersburg, PA. She was the granddaughter of a seamstress and in her late teenage years she began working in a high-end boutique in the 1920’s.
With a true love and passion for fashion and design, Zelda opened the first African American boutique in 1948 along with her sister. The boutique was originally opened in Manhattan, NY on Broadway and would later move her studio named, Chez Zelda to Midtown, NY.
In 1949 Zelda Barbour Wynn Valdes was elected President of the New York Chapter of the National Association of Fashion and Accessory (NAFAD.)
Through her career as a designer and dressmaker, Zelda attracted many celebrity clients including Mae West, Dorothy Dandridge, Gladys Knight and Ella Fitzgerald among more. She also designed the gowns for Maria Ellington’s (Mrs. Nat King Cole) wedding party.
Continuing to make a name for herself and a mark on the fashion industry for African American women, Zelda Barbour Wynn Valdes captured the attention of Hugh Hefner. In 1958 Hugh hired Zelda to design the first Playboy Bunny costume which debuted in Chicago in February 1960 during the opening of the first Playboy Club.
She went on to do extraordinary work for many high-end clientele as well as go on to be a contributor to the education of youth interested in fashion. Zelda directed workshops for the Harlem Youth Opportunities Unlimited and Associated Teams (HARYOU-ACT) in 1960.
In 1970 Zelda was asked to design costumes for the Dance Theatre of Harlem and by 1992 had designed costumes for over 80 production.
Zelda Barbour Wynn Valdes died on September 26th, 2001 leaving behind a legacy in the fashion world!
Franklin County has more than 300 years of American History. Take a moment and look back throughout history and browse the Spring into History web page. Check out the timeline. Explore a critical period of American history through the lens of Franklin County.
Underground Railroad of Franklin County
Franklin County as John Brown’s northern headquarters
America’s Civil War comes to Franklin County.
Discover more about Franklin County’s chapters of American history. Peruse the Spring into History booklet online and step back to a time when natives roamed the land of current Franklin County hunting and foraging. Take a virtual visit to sites of famous forts, a presidential birthplace, and a community devasted by Civil War retaliation.
Check out the Spring into History Cryptogram puzzle below. Answer on Wednesday with another Spring into History puzzle.
Join the Franklin County Visitors Bureau and author Cindy Ross in taking the “road less traveled” on Saturday, April 27, 1 to 3 PM, at the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center. Ross, travel writer and author of The World is Our Classroom, is a modern adventurer, who with husband Todd, consciously chose to connect their children with the knowledge, culture, and beauty of the world around them. She will share her world travels and inspire families and individuals to take advantage of the opportunities close to home to shape an education. The world around is an every-day opportunity to live a fuller, bigger life.
Franklin County Visitors Bureau (FCVB) celebrates April as Spring-into-History month. Franklin County was the American frontier, a vital part of Pennsylvania’s breadbasket, and the gateway and retreat of the Gettysburg Campaign. It offers three hundred years of American history and culture, the beauty of the Tuscarora and South Mountains, the two oldest state parks in PA, plus 36 local parks and three environmental centers.
A visit to Franklin County is taking the “road less traveled–” to see and do in four-seasons of beauty, explore trails of history, refresh with a reflective walk, peddle an invigorating climb, or taste plenty of local foods and spirits. “The World is Our Classroom is a perfect fit for Franklin County because it inspires everyone to take a fresh look and see the wonder around them,” said Janet Pollard, FCVB executive director.
The event, held in the second floor Great Room of the new Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center, is free and open to the public. A post-presentation walking tour of downtown Chambersburg is also being offered at no charge. Register for the presentation and walking tour here.
