Slavery and the Price of Freedom in Revolutionary New York
What did freedom really mean in revolutionary New York, where ideals of liberty coexisted with the buying and selling of human beings?
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Portrait of Peter Williams Sr., artist unidentified, New York City, c. 1810–1815, oil on canvas. Collection New-York Historical Society
Pace University and Humanities New York invite the community to explore this question through the story of Peter Williams Sr., a formerly enslaved New Yorker whose 1796 manumission deed offers a powerful window into the complexities of freedom in early America.
Led by Joe Murphy, director of strategic partnerships at Humanities New York, this interactive discussion will examine the document that legally freed Williams from slavery and consider what freedom meant beyond the written word. Participants will reflect on the realities of enslavement in Lower Manhattan, the challenges of building an independent life, and the lasting legacy of slavery in New York City.
The event is part of Pace University's ongoing initiative, “Sold in the Free City of New York”: The Business of Slavery and its Legacy in Lower Manhattan, which connects students, faculty, and community partners through experiential humanities education and historical exploration. Supported by a 2026 grant from the Council of Independent Colleges' History and Legacies of American Slavery Grant Program, the project examines the often-overlooked history of slavery in the neighborhood surrounding Pace's New York City Campus.
All are welcome. No historical expertise or advance preparation is required. Participants will read the short historical document together and engage in a guided conversation that encourages curiosity, thoughtful questions, and the exchange of perspectives.
This conversation is the first of two planned collaborations with Humanities New York, with a second discussion scheduled for November 5.
Add To Calendar2026-10-15 19:00:002026-10-15 20:15:00Slavery and the Price of Freedom in Revolutionary New York
What did freedom really mean in revolutionary New York, where ideals of liberty coexisted with the buying and selling of human beings?
Image
Portrait of Peter Williams Sr., artist unidentified, New York City, c. 1810–1815, oil on canvas. Collection New-York Historical Society
Pace University and Humanities New York invite the community to explore this question through the story of Peter Williams Sr., a formerly enslaved New Yorker whose 1796 manumission deed offers a powerful window into the complexities of freedom in early America.
Led by Joe Murphy, director of strategic partnerships at Humanities New York, this interactive discussion will examine the document that legally freed Williams from slavery and consider what freedom meant beyond the written word. Participants will reflect on the realities of enslavement in Lower Manhattan, the challenges of building an independent life, and the lasting legacy of slavery in New York City.
The event is part of Pace University's ongoing initiative, “Sold in the Free City of New York”: The Business of Slavery and its Legacy in Lower Manhattan, which connects students, faculty, and community partners through experiential humanities education and historical exploration. Supported by a 2026 grant from the Council of Independent Colleges' History and Legacies of American Slavery Grant Program, the project examines the often-overlooked history of slavery in the neighborhood surrounding Pace's New York City Campus.
All are welcome. No historical expertise or advance preparation is required. Participants will read the short historical document together and engage in a guided conversation that encourages curiosity, thoughtful questions, and the exchange of perspectives.
This conversation is the first of two planned collaborations with Humanities New York, with a second discussion scheduled for November 5.
