Did you know that the first published African American author was born on Long Island and that he survived three generations of enslavement? His name was Jupiter Hammon. 

Join Preservation Long Island for the Jupiter Hammon Project, a major initiative to develop a more relevant and equitable interpretation of Joseph Lloyd Manor, one of Preservation Long Island’s historic houses and a site of Black enslavement. While enslaved at the Manor, Jupiter Hammon (1711–ca.1806) wrote powerfully about the social and moral conflicts slavery raised in the newly formed United States.

Through a series of three virtual public roundtables conducted during the late summer and early fall of 2020, the Jupiter Hammon Project will bring together renowned scholars and professionals with local residents, descendant communities, and other stakeholders to explore the legacy of slavery on Long Island and the life of Jupiter Hammon. Please join the conversation! Links to event details and registration below.

On Jupiter Hammon’s birthday, Saturday, October 17, 2020, join us for the designation of Joseph Lloyd Manor as a Literary Landmark in honor of Jupiter Hammon and his significant contributions to American literature.

Roundtable #1: Long Island in the Black Atlantic World


In partnership with Weeksville Heritage Center (Brooklyn)
August 15, 2020
Tickets

Roundtable #2: The Voice of Jupiter Hammon


In partnership with Suffolk County Historical Society (Riverhead)
September 19, 2020
Tickets

Roundtable #3: Confronting Slavery at Joseph Lloyd Manor


In partnership with Lloyd Harbor Historical Society
(Huntington)
October 24, 2020
Tickets

 

Learn More

The most comprehensive volume on Hammon’s works to date, The Collected Works of Jupiter Hammon carefully reconstructs the historical, political, social, and religious contexts that shaped his essays and poems throughout the late eighteenth century.

Peruse a collection of primary, secondary, and interactive sources to learn more about the life of Jupiter Hammon and the history and legacy of enslavement on Long Island. Here, you can also find the Jupiter Hammon Project Bibliography.

 

Take a virtual tour of the house and grounds where Jupiter Hammon wrote and lived. The house was completed in 1767 but less than ten years later, British soldiers occupied it after the devastating American defeat at the Battle of Brooklyn/Long Island on August 27, 1776.

Help Us Tell the Full Story

Your contribution to the Jupiter Hammon Project will help us to expand interpretive programming at the 18th century Joseph Lloyd Manor to encourage more rigorous and relevant encounters with Jupiter Hammon, and the legacy of enslavement on Long Island.

Click HERE to support the Jupiter Hammon Project

Preservation Long Island thanks the following sponsors and advisory council members for supporting the Jupiter Hammon Project:

Jupiter Hammon Project Advisory Council:

Charleen Francis
David Byer-Tyre
Denice Evans-Sheppard
Edward Dugger

Georgette Grier-Key
Irene Moore
Joan McGee
Julia Keiser

Melisa Chioma Emeghebo Rousseau
Zenzelé Cooper

 

DeLaCour Family Foundation

Lloyd Harbor Historical Society