The local history expert illuminates the economic and social connections between Barbados and the New York region.

Registration for this event has sold out. A limited number of standby tickets may be available on the day of the event.

Seth Kamil draws on Library collections to explore the inter-connected histories within the colonial Atlantic World. His research on Barbados, aka “Sugar Island,” shows how the creation of inter-colonial trade partnerships and exchange routes was sparked by English colonization and the emergence of the island as a major hub in the global sugar trade. In the struggle to secure adequate provisions for the island, planters began prioritizing imports instead of ceding land to cultivate food crops instead of sugarcane. The change dramatically impacted the contours of global trade.

Kamil explores the structures and connections of the colonial era, with a focus on how they remain present in contemporary New York, New Jersey, and Barbados.

To join | Please register for an In-Person Ticket. Doors will open around 1:30 PM. For free events, we generally overbook to ensure a full house. Priority will be given to those who have registered in advance, but registration does not guarantee admission. All registered seats are released shortly before start time, and seats may become available at that time. A standby line will form 30 minutes before the program.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Seth Kamil is a founder and long-time director of Big Onion Walking Tours in New York City. His Columbia University PhD dissertation, “The Provisioning of Barbados from New York and New Jersey, 1650–1765,” explores the inter-connected history of the colonial Atlantic World. Seth is a Fellow of the New York Academy of History. He has been a consultant on a variety of historical tourism projects including Governors Island, New York; The Presidio, San Francisco; Atlantic City, New Jersey; The Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia; and others. Seth has appeared on numerous television networks and his on-camera work has been nominated for thirteen local New York Emmy Awards. Seth earned his BA in Social Thought and Political Economy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He has lived in Brooklyn for over 25 years.

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ACCESSIBILITY

In-Person | You can request a free ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation or CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) captioning service by emailing your request at least two weeks in advance of the event: email accessibility@nypl.org or use this Gmail template. This venue is fully accessible to wheelchairs.

CONNECT

For questions and inquiries, please email publicprograms@nypl.org or use this Gmail template.

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Courtesy Seth Kamil