Liberty Hall welcomes guest writer Rachel Grimes for a series of blog posts entitled Tracing the Harts! Over the next few months Tracing the Harts will highlight the groundbreaking stories of an African American family descended from Dolly, the first Black woman to live in Kentucky. Dolly’s son Frederick Hart, his wife Judith Brown, and their two children were enslaved by the Brown family at the Liberty Hall estate between the 1820s and 1850s. After paying their manumission to Orlando Brown, they moved their family to a life in freedom near Columbia, OH. Their son, Henry Hart, became known as a violinist, published composer, and popular band leader in the Indianapolis area. Henry’s daughters were all musically trained and went on to successful careers as performers and educators.
Stay tuned and subscribe to our email list to read part one coming soon!
About the Author:
Rachel Grimes is a composer and pianist based in Kentucky who creates music for chamber ensembles, orchestras, film, multi-media installations, and collaborative live performances. She is a multi-generational Kentuckian interested in how genealogy and history research can lead to social change. She has been a member of African-American Genealogy Group of Kentucky since 2019, and a Board member since 2024. She is a past Board member of the Port William Historical Society, and is a member of the Filson Historical Society, Madison County Historical Society, and the Fort Boonesborough Foundation. To learn more about Rachel visit her website: www.rachelgrimespiano.com