DTHartford Staff
Harriet Beecher Stowe has surely been able to
make a stamp within history, with many titles under her belt including abolitionist,
philanthropist and author of America’s classic, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”. Stowe’s
novel focused on freedom and equality, selling 1.5 million copies within the
first year, effortlessly; it created much controversy and altered the
perspective of slavery. The Harriet
Beecher Stowe Center now connects past and present day by relating issues of
Stowe’s day to contemporary society.
Today, the
Harriet Beecher Stowe Center is located in Hartford, Conn. The Stowe Center,
which includes the home where Stowe herself lived, provides tours, exhibitions,
a research library and school programs against social inequalities. Lisa Beede, a communications coordinator at the center, states, “Harriet Beecher Stowe's words changed the world and we hope
students will be inspired to do the same.” School programs are provided for
every grade level, starting as young as Kindergarten and reaching 12th-grade.
Each program runs for a duration of ninety minutes, a tour of the
house and hands-on activities. Every program is modified for the given grade
level and meets the Connecticut Common State Standards. Students are able
to take a voyage into the past with a series of collections stored at the
house; including first editions of Stowe’s work, paintings, and personal
literary manuscripts. A program provided for grades eight through twelve titled “Liberty and Justice for All” stimulates a debate amongst the students,
where they compose a written argument for or against Stowe’s novel “Uncle Tom’s
Cabin”. They are able to derive their own ideas on where the U.S. stands today
on emancipation. Other programs titled, “Calling on the Stowes”, “Inspiration
to Action” and “Her Words Changed the World” are designed to provoke discussion
and motivate students to be the change within their society.
The Stowe
Center has made the public aware of current violence, racism, stereotypes and
social stigmas. Programs
are also held for adults and college students with ranging topics that may touch on bullying or
human trafficking. In most recent news, the center has promoted “End the Culture of
Violence”, an event held at Lincoln Theatre on the University of Hartford
campus. With speaker, Marian Wright Edelmen, the event elaborated on
eliminating violence that is presently polluting our communities. Present
headliners, including the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, are broadcasted on
the Stowe Center website, where they offer ways to donate and cope with the
shocking event that occurred last December.
On
Monday, March 11, the center was officially announced as a National Historic
Landmark of Hartford, holding high prestige of one of the many city attractions
to visit in Conn. Frequent visitors are ecstatic about the news, “It’s about
time!” a comment left by one of the Stowe’s supporters on Facebook. When asked
about the highlight of working for such an institute, Lisa Beede added, “For me, it's the
opportunity to learn about social justice issues and what action I can take to
make a difference.” All in all, if you are in the Hartford area, make sure to visit
the historically rich Harriet Beecher Stowe Center for a chance and engage a
little more in our history, American history.
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