A Zoom Presentation by Dr. Christopher Clark
Professor of History, University of Connecticut

In April 1842 (180 years ago), a group of radical abolitionists formed the Northampton Association of Education and Industry, a utopian community they sustained for four-and-a-half years. How did their activism contribute to the campaign against slavery? What did they learn about living in community? And although the Association itself broke up in 1846, how did its members help found the village of Florence that still thrives today?

Christopher Clark teaches American history at the University of Connecticut. Three of his books—The Roots of Rural Capitalism: Western Massachusetts, 1780–1860; The Communitarian Moment: The Radical Challenge of the Northampton Association; and Letters from an American Utopia (edited, with Kerry Buckley)—concern the Northampton region. He lives in Northampton with his wife, Margaret Lamb, and dog, Lotty.

This event is co-presented by Northampton Neighbors, Historic Northampton and the David Ruggles Center for History and Education.