Delaware County Historical Society is proud to host a book signing with Patrick Parr Friday, February 8 as a kick-off to the new display, “A Glimpse of Black History 1800’s - 2019.”

An acclaimed author who has taught thousands of university students in more than 30 different countries, Parr has devoted his non-fiction work largely to the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as evident in his book, The Seminarian: Martin Luther King Jr. Comes of Age released April 2018.

An Artist Trust Fellow and University of Japan professor, Parr has had his work also appear in newspapers and magazines all over the world.

Parr will present at DCHS from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, February 8. This book signing and wine and cheese reception is free. However, seating is limited so please RSVP at padelcohistory.org or 610-359-0832.

In The Seminarian: Martin Luther King Jr. Comes of Age, Parr uncovers King’s formative years that has been largely overlooked by scholars. It traces his time at Crozer Theological Seminary and his development into an orator and civil rights activist.

A description by The Washington Post reads, “King’s three years at the Crozer Theological Seminary, south of Philadelphia, marked an important turning point in his life and are well worth the exclusive focus they get in this compact, readable and well-researched book. (Parr) leave(s) readers with a memorable image. As classmates passed King’s room in ‘Old Main,’ the imposing central building on the Crozer campus, they often heard him rehearsing the delivery of the verse from the Book of Amos that he would invoke again and again over the next two decades, up to the impassioned ‘Mountaintop’ speech he gave the night before his death.”

Coinciding with the book signing is Delaware County Historical Society’s launch of the new display “A Glimpse of Black History 1800’s – 2019,” and the new Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum display, featuring “African-American Sports Legends of Delaware County.”

The display “A Glimpse of Black History” contains pictures, articles and books that DCHS owns as part of its research library and museum. The collection is limited as DCHS only has what residents have donated to it.

No narrative is provided in the display, as the exhibit’s focus is to present black history and invite visitors to tell their own story and to interpret the display based on their own history.

The “African-American Sports Legends of Delaware County” salutes the many accomplishments of Chester’s local athletes, highlighting Delco’s football great, Emlen Tunnell and Fredia Gibbs.

The Patrick Parr book signing and wine and cheese reception is free but seating is limited, please RSVP online at padelcohistory.org or by emailing dchs.pa@gmail.com or by calling 610-359-0832. This event will be 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, February 8 at Delaware County Historical Society, 408 Avenue of the States in Chester, where “A Glimpse of Black History 1800’s – 2019” is also on display.

Delaware County Historical Society presents author Patrick Parr and the opening of "A Glimpse of Black History 1800's - 2019" in celebration of Black History month.

A book signing of "The Seminarian" by author Patrick Parr will kick-off DCHS's exhibit, "A Glimpse of Black History 1800's - 2019" on Friday, February 8.

Patrick Parr, author of "The Seminarian" will do a book signing at Delaware County Historical Society at 5:30 p.m. Friday, February 8.