Upcoming Events
Lecture at the Stanley-Whitman House
On May 16th, 2024 at 4pm, John Mills will be giving a lecture at the Stanley-Whitman House in Farmington, CT. The lecture will focus on how stories are told within colonial heritage sites and what we can do to make them more inclusive.
Lecture: Individuals of Connecticut's Colored Regiments
Join the Working Women’s Network, Yale African American Affinity Group, and Yale Veterans Network for a discussion with John Mills, an independent scholar and president of the Alex Breanne Corporation (a Connecticut-based non-profit researching the lives of the enslaved), about individuals of Connecticut's colored regiments.
Lecture: Connecticut, Color and the Civil War
On June 5th, 2024 at 6pm, John Mills will be giving a lecture at the Bloomfield Community Center located at 330 Park Avenue in Bloomfield, CT.
Isaac J. Hill Graveside Memorial Celebration
To honor Isaac, a service will be held at the Presbyterian Burial Ground at the spot of Isaac’s new gravestone. The service will be on June 8th at 10am at 800 North Broad Street in Woodbury, NJ.
Champion for Freedom: The Reverend Alexander Heritage Newton Story
On Saturday, June 15th, 2024, The New Haven Museum in collaboration with Connecticut’s Old State House will host Historical Preservation Activist and Historian from New Jersey, Dolly Marshall!
Mary & Thaddeus Newton Graveside Memorial
The repaired stone for Mary & Thaddeus Newton, along with the Memorial Stone for Stephen Newton will be unveiled during a graveside cemetery at Evergreen Cemetery the 3rd week of June, 2024. The exact date and time will be solidified in the coming weeks.
Conversations at Noon with Connecticut Freedom Trail!
On Friday, June 25th, 2024, John Mills will join New Jersey Historical Preservation Activist Dolly Marshall for an online noon conversation!
Lecture at the Connecticut Democracy Center
On Wednesday, May 1st, 2024 @ 9:45am, John Mills will be giving a lecture at the Connecticut Democracy Center in Hartford, CT.
Teen Time at the Mattatuck Museum
On Wednesday, April 24th at 2:30pm, the Alex Breanne Corporation in collaboration with Riverside Cemetery and The RiseUp Group will be presenting during Teen Time at the Mattauck.
Interview on WATR 97.7 FM and 1320 AM
On April 17th at 8:30am ET, John Mills will be on Chris Fortier’s morning show on Waterbury, CT radio station WATR 97.7 FM, 1320 AM.
Unforgotten: Connecticut’s Hidden History of Slavery
The “Unforgotten“ project was made available on YouTube and on the Connecticut Public website on March 18th, 2024. It will now air on the Connecticut PBS affiliate CPTV as a 1 hour documentary.
Waterbury Public Schools Artrageous 2024 District-Wide Annual Art Exhibit
On April 9th, 2024 from 6 - 8pm, the The Mattatuck Museum will be hosting Waterbury Public School Students in their annual Artrageous 2024 District-Wide Art Exhibit!
Declaring Freedom: ASCH's Spring Convocation
On March 16th, 2024, John Mills will be presenting a lecture for The Association for the Study of Connecticut History (ASCH). This is an in-person event in-person event at Central Connecticut State University.
Lecture for the Middlesex County Historical Society
On February 29th, 2024 at 7pm, John Mills will be giving an online lecture on Connecticut's "colored" regiments during the Civil War. The event will be co-hosted by the Middlesex County Historical Society and the Greater Middletown Military Museum.
Isaac J. Hill Headstone Installation
Tentatively scheduled for February 24th, we are planning to install a new memorial headstone for Pvt. Isaac J. Hill, a former soldier with the 29th Connecticut Colored Regiment during the Civil War.
Lecture for the Trumbull Historical Society
On February 21st, 2024 at 7pm, John Mills will be giving an online lecture for the Trumbull Historical Society, discussing the men of the 29th Connecticut Colored Infantry Regiment.
Panel Discussion: Talking to Descendants
John Mills will be sitting on a panel discussion at The Connecticut Old State House in Hartford, CT on February 16th, 2024 at 3pm ET. The panel discussion will focus on the perspective of descendants.
Interview on WATR 97.7 FM and 1320 AM
On February 7th at 11am ET, John Mills will be on the Palace Theater radio program, “Your Palace Your Place.“ The program airs on Waterbury, CT radio station WATR 97.7 FM, 1320 AM.
Avenues to Freedom: Exploring Wallingford’s Black History Trail
To celebrate Black History Month, The Wallingford Public Library will be holding a program on Tuesday evening, February 6 at 7pm.
Middletown Common Council Vote on Honorary Street Naming Ordinance
On Monday, February 5th, the Middletown Common Council will vote on the proposed ordinance for an Honorary and Historic Street Naming Program. If approved by this vote, we will then be allowed to use this ordinance to request an honorary street name for Prince Mortimer.
Remembering Connecticut’s Colored Regiments: Film Screenings & Discussion
On February 4th, 2024 at 1pm, the Avon Historical Society will be hosting an event celebrating Connecticut’s Colored Regiments during the Civil War. The event will occur at Connecticut’s Old State House in Hartford.
Lecture at the New Haven Museum
John Mills will be doing an in-person lecture at the New Haven Museum on November 9th, 2023 at 6pm ET.
Interview on “The Full Story” Radio Show
John Mills will be on “The Full Story“ radio show with Tom Kusar on November 8th at 7pm ET. The discussion will center around the Connecticut 29th Colored Regiment and John’s upcoming lecture at the New Haven Museum.
Interview with Babz Rawls-Ivy on WNNH 103.5
John Mills will be on Babz Rawls-Ivy radio show on WNNH 103.5 radio in Connecticut on November 7th at 10:15am ET. The discussion will center around the Connecticut 29th Colored Regiment and John’s upcoming lecture at the New Haven Museum.
Wasch Center Seminar at Wesleyan University
John Mills will be leading an in-person seminar at Wesleyan University’s Wasch Center.
Commemoration on the 10 year Anniversary of the Burial of “The Man Fortune”
On September 13th, 2023, The Mattatuck Museum in collaboration with Riverside Cemetery will be hosting a commemoration ceremony for the 10th Anniversary of the burial of “The Man Fortune”. The event will be from Noon to 1pm ET.
Virtual Discussion with John Mills for the Connecticut Freedom Trail
John Mills will be doing a virtual presentation hosted by the Connecticut Freedom Trail on August 22nd, 2023 at 12:00pm EDT.
Portland, CT Juneteenth Celebration
On June 24th, 2023, John Mills will be the keynote speaker at the 5th annual Juneteenth celebration at Riverfront Park in Portland, CT!
Wallingford Juneteenth Service
On June 17th, 2023, John Mills will be a speaker at the Wallingford Juneteenth Service hosted at St Paul’s Episcopal Church.
In-Person Lecture at the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum
John Mills lectures at the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum!
Old Lyme Witness Stones Installation Ceremony
On June 2nd, 2023, John Mills will be a speaker at the 3rd Witness Stone installation in Old Lyme, CT.
Wooster School Witness Stones Installation Ceremony
On June 2nd, 2023, John Mills will be a speaker at the 3rd Witness Stone installation in Old Lyme, CT.
Augmented Reality Performance at the Ashley House in Deerfield, MA!
John Mills will be one of 3 actors participating in an immersive, augmented reality performance in Western Massachusetts!
Northwestern University D.R.I.V.E. Symposium Lecture
John Mills will be doing a virtual lecture hosted by the Northwestern University on April 14th, 2023 at 11:00am ET. This will be part of their 1st annual D.R.I.V.E. Symposium.
Virtual Discussion with the Haus of BooCrew!
On March 23rd, John Mills will be sitting down for a virtual discussion with Kathleen DeMars of the Haus of BooCrew Peloton community!
In-Person Lecture at Seabury Active Life Community
Prince Mortimer lecture for Seabury Active Life Community.
Virtual Lecture for the Trumbull Historical Society
Prince Mortimer lecture for the Trumbull Historical Society.