The Robbins Story - Concord's African American History

Dive into the history of Concord’s African American community with Jen Turner, Executive Director of The Robbins House

Join us on Zoom for this unique opportunity to learn from Jen Turner, Executive Director of the Robbins House in Concord, Massachusetts. Jen will be exploring the history of The Robbins House and its occupants through the lens of Ellen Garrison. Ellen Garrison lived from birth in the house that would become known as The Robbins House, attended Concord Public Schools, and eventually became a civil rights activist and educator in the South during post-Civil War Reconstruction.

Journey with us as we discuss what motivated Ellen to become a teacher and one of the first African American women in the United States to challenge segregation laws in the country after the Civil War. Ellen left Concord in 1841 to travel widely across the U.S. and eventually moved to Pasadena, CA with her family and died there in 1892.

Jen Turner has been Executive Director of the Robbins House for the past three years and delights in every opportunity to highlight the lives of the members of the Robbins and Garrison families.

This program is made possible in part by a grant from Mass Humanities which is made possible by funding from the Mass Cultural Council.