ASU Library Kicked-off its Celebration of Black History Month with Joseph Caver's Book Lecture 'From Marion to Montgomery: the Early Years of ASU'By Kenneth Mullinax/ASUAlabama State University's Levi Watkins Learning Center (LWLC/Library) kicked-off its Black History Month series of events on Feb. 2 with an in-person event that featured ASU Professor Joseph Caver's discussion of his book 'From Marion to Montgomery: the Early Years of Alabama State University, 1867-1925.' Caver is an ASU alumnus (class of 1974), historian, author and lecturer. He has published an all-inclusive book about the origin and history of one of America's earliest and most significant Historically Black Colleges or Universities, which is Alabama State University.The LWLC's Dr. Howard Robinson explained that Caver's story of ASU is a perfect way to begin the celebration of America's Black History Month because a myriad of things have taken place on its campus or by its alumni that are told in Caver's book, which have positively changed the course of black history in America and the nation.
"Caver in his book has captured the very essence of how ASU has so greatly contributed to the celebration of this important holiday and reminds us how intertwined it is in America's celebration of this important holiday," Robinson stated before the lecture took place.
Caver's talk on Feb. 2, both weaved and illuminated the story of how nine freedmen (The Marion-Nine) in Marion, Ala., founded The Lincoln Normal School in 1867, which later moved to Montgomery -- and is now known as Alabama State University. Caver chronicled how ASU’s early leaders including, William Burns Paterson (a Scottish - national), George Washington Card and others, laid the foundation for the University's early years and how it developed up until 1925.
Caver left no stone unturned in his lecture before a packed room of students and scholars as he revealed highlights of the University’s turbulent history in Marion and its 1887 move to Montgomery, as well as tracked various political and social challenges with the story concluding just prior to the Great Depression saying "There is too much good history to include it all in just one book."
"The history of ASU is important because it mirrors the history of African-Americans in the nation and our community's desire to obtain the American Dream, which is to get a good education, make a decent wage, become full-fledged citizens and fulfill the dreams of the Marion-Nine," Caver stated.
This event was co-sponsored by the Levi Watkins Learning Center, the National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and African American Culture and the Harper Councill Trenholm Branch of the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History.To order Caver’s book: http://www.newsouthbooks.com/ frommariontomontgomery News media contact: Kenneth Mullinax, 334-229-4104.
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