NMB To Host Free Virtual Lecture On October 2
The National Museum of Bermuda [NMB] is continuing its free Bermuda and the Atlantic World lecture series with a virtual lecture on Thursday, October 2 at 5:30 PM AT via Zoom.
A spokesperson said, “Higglers, Hucksters and Pedlars: Informal Trade at Dockyard will be presented by Dr. Neil Kennedy. Dr. Kennedy, Associate Professor of History at Memorial University, will uncover the overlooked history of informal trade at Ireland Island during the early years of the Royal Naval Dockyard. Drawing on archival records, he reveals how Black Bermudian women, largely absent from official narratives, played a vital role in provisioning the garrison, fleet, and residents by selling food and clothing on the margins of Dockyard.”
“This lecture shines a light on the entrepreneurial spirit of women whose contributions have long been overlooked,” said NMB Curator Dr. Deborah Atwood. “Through archival records and historical context, Neil’s work pieces together a portrait of resilience, entrepreneurship, and agency in the face of colonial constraints, Emancipation-era tensions, and shifting imperial policies.”
A spokesperson said, “Admission is free, but registration is required. Sign up at nmb.bm/lecture to attend and explore this compelling chapter of Bermuda’s past.”
NMB Executive Director Elena Strong shared: “Our Bermuda and the Atlantic World lecture series invites audiences to explore the global forces that shaped Bermuda’s development. This presentation deepens that exploration by focusing on Black Bermudian women whose labour sustained the Dockyard community. Their stories expand our understanding of Bermuda’s place in Atlantic history, especially in relation to informal trade, Emancipation, land access, and taxation. These issues not only influenced daily life on the island but also reflected broader patterns across the British Empire. By centering these voices, we enrich the historical narrative and have a better understanding of the complexity of Bermuda’s past.”
A spokesperson added, “Previous lectures in the series include:
- “The Early Atlantic Age [1250-1609]: Why and how did we get here? and Building a Maritime Community & Maritime State: Early Settlement & Economic Growth [1609- 1800], both presented by Dr. Clarence Maxwell
- “Pushing the Boundaries of Freedom presented by Dr. Kristy Warren
- “Reckoning with the Slave Ship Enterprise in Bermuda, 1835 presented by Dr. Neil Kennedy
- “Societal Changes in Post-Emancipation Bermuda and the ‘Friendly Society’ Effects by Dr. Michael Bradshaw
- “From Hamilton to Charleston: A History of Bermuda Stone in Charleston, South Carolina by Justin Schwebler
- “‘Faint and Weary by Working in the Burning Sun’: Britain’s Convicts in Bermuda [1824-1863] by Dr. Anna McKay.
- “Early Bermuda Indigo Resist Textiles: Unraveling Bermuda’s 17th-Century Textile Legacy, by Lori Lee Triplett
“You can watch all previous lectures at: www.nmb.bm/lecture or on the Museum’s YouTube channel. NMB’s Bermuda and the Atlantic World lecture series and education programs are supported by The Future of History Campaign. Learn more: www.nmb.bm/campaign.
About the Lecturer:
“Dr. Neil Kennedy teaches and researches the history of the early modern Atlantic World in the Department of History, Memorial University, Canada. He has been researching in Bermuda since the Hog Bay and Castle Island archaeological projects, and has worked with the National Museum of Bermuda and the Bermuda National Trust on a variety of projects.
“Currently he is writing a book about Bermudian sailor Patrick Williams’ odyssey from slavery through self-emancipation, to re-enslavement in the United States, and ultimately to his profound insistence on his freedom. Here was a man, robbed of the freedom he seized himself as a boy, who inserted himself in the imperial archive and forced a recognition of his personhood.
“NMB is open every day 10am–5pm [last admission 4pm]. Visit www.nmb.bm/visit for more information. NMB is a non-government, not-for-profit Bermuda Registered Charity No. 136.”
