The AHI’s inaugural experimental colloquium on the meaning of freedom in the antebellum debate about slavery brought together more than a 150 scholars, students, and informed lay persons for  two and a half days of stimulating conversation. Undergraduate classes from Harvard University, Colgate University, and Hamilton College participated in the event.  Students attended each of the six sessions, asked questions of the conferees, and composed papers in response to assignments related both to the prescribed set of readings and to the ensuing discussion of these readings during  the colloquium.

Professors John Stauffer of Harvard, Pete Banner-Haley of Colgate, and Douglas Ambrose and Robert Paquette of Hamilton College have identified the best paper from each class.  Altin Gavranovic of Harvard, Samantha Feldman of Colgate, and Peter Mallozzi of Hamilton will each receive a cache of inscribed books written by the scholars who participated as conferees in the colloquium.

Honorable mention prizes will go to Kelsey Rice and Sarah Cryer of Hamilton College.  Each  will receive an inscribed copy of Mind of the Master Class, a monumental work on the political and religious thought of southern slaveholders by Eugene Genovese and Elizabeth Fox-Genovese.

These inaugural awards are named after Carl B. Menges, a distinguished alumnus of Hamilton College who has staunchly supported the work of the AHI from its inception.  The students will receive their awards on 17 September, Constitution Day, at a special dinner at the AHI.