January Speaker Series: Quaker Benevolence and African Genius

• Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2026
  
• Time: Doors open at 6:00 PM; presentation begins at 6:30 PM
  
• Location: Sehner-Ellicott-von Hess House, 123 North Prince St, Lancaster, PA
  
• Admission: By donation
  
• Seating: Limited to 40 attendees – registration strongly encouraged!

For generations, Lancaster County’s history has been told through familiar names and well-documented narratives. Yet some of the most remarkable stories—particularly those centered on African American achievement—have remained overlooked or underrepresented. The Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County’s January Speaker Series continues its long-standing tradition of illuminating these stories with a compelling evening lecture by Dr. Leroy Hopkins.

On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, Dr. Hopkins will present Quaker Benevolence and African Genius: Banneker and Cupid Paca at the historic Sehner-Ellicott-von Hess House, inviting audiences to explore how intellect, opportunity, and community intersected in early America—and how Lancaster County played a meaningful role in that story.

Dr. Hopkins is uniquely positioned to guide this conversation. A Lancaster native and Professor Emeritus of Foreign Languages at Millersville University, he earned his Ph.D. in Germanic Languages and Literatures from Harvard University and devoted decades to teaching, research, and public service. In retirement, his scholarly focus has shifted toward African American history, particularly the stories rooted in Lancaster County that traditional narratives have too often left behind.

Over the last forty years, Dr. Hopkins has researched and written extensively on Lancaster’s African American past, publishing numerous articles in The Journal of the Lancaster County Historical Society. His work reflects both rigorous scholarship and lived experience. Growing up in southeast Lancaster City during an era of segregation, Dr. Hopkins developed a deep awareness of how geography, access, and memory shape historical understanding. That perspective continues to inform his work today as he seeks to recover stories that deserve a fuller place in the historical record.

The January presentation will examine two remarkable figures—Benjamin Banneker and Cupid Paca—through the lens of Quaker benevolence and African American intellectual achievement. Banneker, a self-taught mathematician and astronomer, is widely recognized for his scientific contributions and his role in surveying the original boundaries of Washington, D.C. Cupid Paca, a less familiar but equally compelling figure, represents the untold brilliance and complexity of African American life in the 18th century. By placing these men within the social and cultural networks of their time, Dr. Hopkins reveals how education, patronage, and moral conviction shaped their opportunities—and their legacies.

Doors will open at 6:00 PM, with the presentation beginning at 6:30 PM. Admission is by donation, with proceeds supporting the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County’s broader preservation and educational efforts. Seating is limited to 40 attendees, and advance registration is strongly encouraged. The registration form is available directly on this page.

We invite you to join us for an evening of scholarship, reflection, and discovery. Register today to reserve your seat for this engaging start to the Trust’s 2026 Speaker Series.