David Fiske to Speak at 2012 Solomon Northup Day Festivities

July 11, 2012 - PRLog -- The topic of Fiske's Solomon Northup Day  talk will be: Ann Northup: A Survivor of Adversity.

What impact did Solomon Northup’s kidnapping have on his wife and family? In Solomon’s absence, the Northup family became a one-income household. Fiske’s presentation will describe how his wife, Ann, carried on and saw to the needs of their children. Information on her later life will also be given.

Fiske is a professional librarian and genealogist residing in the history-laden village of Ballston Spa, New York. Specializing in Saratoga, Washington and Warren counties of New York, his local historical research has been featured in Ballston Spa Life, a weekly newspaper published by The Saratogian newspaper. Fiske’s book, Solomon Northup: His Life Before and After Slavery, was released in January 2012.

Northup was a free black man living in Saratoga Springs, New York, when, in 1841, he was lured away from home and sold into slavery. He lived the life of a slave in Louisiana for nearly 12 years, until he was rescued and returned home. In 1853 he authored an autobiographical book, Twelve Years a Slave.

Fiske's book contains many interesting details of Northup's life, including accounts of lectures Northup gave following publication of his own book in the 1850s, information on his family members, and documentation of his work on the Underground Railroad.

Solomon Northup Day, begun in 1999 by founder Renée Moore, is held every July in Saratoga Springs, New York. The location is the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center, 297 Broadway. The 2012 program will take place Saturday, July 21, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, followed by fiddling, food, and fun from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.