2025 John Brown Institute Fall Lecture

Hardy Brown II will bring a portion of his 15,000 primary documents to Akron relating to this year's John Brown Institute Fall Lecture theme, Truth Carried Forward: Saving History, Securing the Future! Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries, history professor from The Ohio State University, will be the moderator.

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for refreshments and fellowship followed by the lecture at 6:30 p.m. Early bird tickets are available now through November 3rd. Society members receive a $5 discount at check out with the code emailed to them.

Full price tickets are $35 per person, $30 for Society members, $150 for patrons, free for students (children 17 and younger must be accompanied by a paying adult), and sponsorships are still available by contacting the Society office at 330.535.1120.

Mr. Hardy has made a profound impact at local, state, and national levels. He is the Managing Principal and Chief Relationship Officer of Footsteps to Freedom Inc., where he leads transformative Underground Railroad study tours. Hardy’s work, including his curation of over 15,000 historical freedom artifacts, serves as a powerful reminder of our shared history and the importance of empathy in education. A trailblazer and the first Black person to serve on the San Bernardino County Board of Education, Hardy has been instrumental in creating equity initiatives that inspire and uplift. Please join us in welcoming a visionary leader and tireless advocate for change Hardy Brown II."