WESTFIELD-Dr. Robert Brown leads off the Westfield Athenaeum’s Spring Speaker Series with a fascinating look at the Payton family – one of the few black families in 19th century Westfield.
The hour-long lecture is planned at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 60 Broad St., this Wednesday, January 18, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Brown, a well-known historian in the city, said he chose this lecture topic for the speaker series for several reasons.
Philip A. Payton Jr., who grew up in Westfield, was known as “The Father of Harlem” because of his real estate empire in New York City.
“Not only are we marking celebrations of Martin Luther King Jr. this week, but I believe this will be brand new information to listeners,” said Brown.
Brown noted that Philip Anthony Payton Sr. was a slave from North Carolina who was liberated and traveled in 1872 with the veterans of the Westfield Civil War Unit who were stationed in North Carolina. As part of Brown’s lecture, he will include slides showing pictures of the Civil War Unit.
Brown said that Payton lived in Westfield for 40 years and became a businessman and property owner.
“Payton raised his family here and owned buildings on Elm Street just south of the old Lambson building,” said Brown, adding that his business endeavors included grocery stores, beauty parlors and a barbershop.
Through photographs from Athenaeum archives and other resources, Brown will share pictures of the Payton family – ranging from Payton’s children in high school sports and graduations to his businesses.
Three children of Payton were academics while the oldest son, Philip A. Payton Jr., built a real estate empire in New York City which, for a brief time, was worth millions and resulted in his reputation as “The Father of Harlem.”
“The son, who owned 42 properties north of Central Park, was the Donald Trump of his era,” said Brown, adding he died in 1917.
Brown said that Westfield has always had a small black population and wants to shed light on one of its most prominent families.
“The Payton family was very prominent here and well-known nationally,” said Brown.
The speaker series continues on Feb. 15 at 6:30 p.m. with a lecture titled “Teddy Roosevelt: Mind, Body and Spirit” with author Ted Zalewski. Zalewski will bring to life President Roosevelt as cowboy, soldier, naturalist, father, statesman and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.
The series will also feature lectures including “A Celebration of Irish Songs and Stories” with Kate Chadbourne on March 15 at 6:30 p.m., “Henry Beston’s Cape Cod: The Outermost House,” presented by the Henry Beston Society on April 19 at 6:30 p.m., and “Beekeeping” with Dan Conlon of Warm Colors Apiary on May 17 at 6:30 p.m.
All lectures will be conducted at St. John’s Lutheran Church due to ongoing construction at the Athenaeum.
For more information on the lecture series which is free and open to the public, call (413) 568-7833.
