Author Talk ~ Phorgotten No More: Glimpses of the African-American Presence in Phillipsburg
April 22 @ 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
After joining the Phillipsburg Historical Society shortly after completing college, author Wayne Sherrer started writing a book about the history of Phillipsburg, New Jersey. One of the chapters discussed the African American history of the town. After discovering how much information he had gathered for this chapter alone, he endeavored to recount the African American history of Phillipsburg in a standalone book. This book, Phorgotten No More: Glimpses of the African-American Presence in Phillipsburg, NJ 1777-2021 was released on Martin Luther King Jr. Day of 2024. Highlights of African American history in Phillipsburg include histories of the town’s involvement in the Underground Railroad, profiles of several enlisted Black soldiers during the Civil War, and the story of a Black candidate for office in 1841 who received 145 votes despite there being only 9 Black men in town. Sherrer’s book showcases the cultural significance of the African American experience in Phillipsburg and highlights the inclusivity of the town throughout its history.
Join us for a rich discussion of Phillipsburg’s African American history as told through Sherrer’s research. There will be time for a short question and answer session, and Mr. Sherrer will have books available for purchase. This presentation is a joint program between Taylor Memorial Library and the Hackettstown Free Public Library. We encourage members of the public to attend as well as the Centenary University community.
This event is being held at Centenary University’s Taylor Memorial Library.
Wayne C. Sherrer, born in Phillipsburg, is a sixth-generation resident of Phillipsburg, NJ. He is a past president of the Phillipsburg Area Historical Society and research associate of the Warren County Historical and Genealogical Society. His published works include A Guide to Civil War Graves in Phillipsburg Cemetery, transcriptions of the parish records of Wesley Methodist Church and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (both in Phillipsburg) and an article in The Historiographer. He is an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Newark and an avid genealogist. He is the Priest in charge of the St. James’ church in Hackettstown, NJ.
