Robbins House Humanities Director Presents Ellen Garrison/Harriet Jacobs Pop-up Exhibit

During February’s Black History month, Robbins House humanities director, Elon Cook, created a temporary pop-up exhibit to help Concord Academy students reading Harriet Jacobs’ autobiographical novel Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl connect her story to the African American experience in Concord. Like Robbins House 19th century resident Jack Garrison, Harriet Jacobs fled slavery in the South to gain her independence in the North; her book was anonymously published just before the start of the Civil War. Jacobs eventually settled in Boston and is buried in Mt. Auburn Cemetery.

The exhibit highlighted the book’s feminist lessons about self-respect, gender and racial power dynamics, and social justice. It also drew direct parallels to the writing and life of Robbins House resident, Ellen Garrison – Jack Garrison’s daughter. Ellen and Harriet likely ran in the same abolitionist, equal rights and racial justice circles in the Boston area in the early 1860s. Both women wrote eloquently about the humiliation they felt after being ejected from public transportation because of their race. And both women were determined in their demands for better treatment for themselves as “respectable persons” as well as for all people of color. The exhibit is rounded out with images that connect Harriet and Ellen to modern social justice acts and movements.

The Garrison/Jacobs pop-up exhibit was shown to the Women’s Parish Association from First Parish in Concord this week. If you’re interested in visiting the Robbins House for a private tour before our season opens Memorial Day Weekend, please contact elon@robbinshouse.org.