"Free at Last: A History of the Abolition of Slavery in America," a touring exhibition developed by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History in New York City, will be shown at DePaul University, Nov. 2 through Nov. 30 in Kelly Hall of the John T. Richardson Library, 2350 N. Kenmore Ave.

The exhibit is free and open to the public during regular library hours, which are 8 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Thursday; 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday; noon to midnight, Sunday.

An opening celebration will be held in Kelly Hall on Nov. 5, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Chicago folk singer Ella Jenkins will perform and refreshments will be served.

"Free at Last" examines the abolitionists’ crusade from 1780 to 1865 through a narrative story. It raises critical questions that continue to provide topics for debate about slavery in the United States. Rather than find answers for such issues, the exhibition, through authentic documents and rare images – offers a context for political, moral and religious aspects of the debate.

"Free At Last" has toured 24 cities in the past year. The showing at DePaul will be the only stop in the Chicago area. Gary Smith, associate professor of English, headed the effort to draw the exhibition to DePaul and is pleased not only with the coup, but the timing as well.

"Ever since Carter G. Woodson launched Black History Month, most of the programming for the year has been targeted for February," said Smith. "When you take something as complex and complicated as African-American history and reduce it into one month, the conservative response is to say, ‘we’ve done our duty,’ when in fact Black History should be appreciated the entire year."

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History promotes the study of American history through opening dialogue among teachers, scholars and the general public.

For more information about the exhibition, contact Gary Smith at 773/325-1794.