RICHMOND, Va. – The Museum of the Confederacy-Appomattox and the Virginia Baptist Historical Society are presenting “free indeed!: Religion, Emancipation and the African-American Experience.” The program will be held at the Grace Hills Baptist Church, 4320 Pumping Station Road, Appomattox, Va.

Black History Month is an appropriate time to focus on the relationships between whites and blacks in the Baptist churches in Virginia prior to emancipation. The panel will discuss the “free indeed!” exhibit by the Virginia Baptist Historical Society located at the University of Richmond; the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation; the compilation of a registry of over 51,000 names of slaves and freedmen associated with Baptist churches in Virginia; and a look at the history of Liberty Chapel Church in Appomattox County, which is one example of a Baptist church that enrolled and baptized slaves into the church and helped establish an African church after emancipation.

The panel includes: Fred Anderson, executive director, Virginia Baptist Historical Society; Mike Whitt, special projects assistant, Virginia Baptist Historical Society; Josie Butler, education services manager, Museum of the Confederacy-Appomattox, and Linda Lipscomb, site director, Museum of the Confederacy-Appomattox.

Attendance at the workshop is free with admission. Reservations are required. Contact Linda Lipscomb at llipscomb@moc.org or 352-5791 ext. 203, no later than Feb. 22, 2013, to reserve a seat as a participant.