Holiday Gathering with James Forten (Re-enacted by Keith Henley)

Save the date! Join us on Saturday, December 13, 2025 for the return of our annual Holiday Gathering! Tour the museum, enjoy some refreshments, and travel back in time to meet James Forten (Portrayed by actor Keith Henley).

James Forten was a free Black man who served in the Revolutionary War as a privateer, was captured and imprisoned by the British, and later became a successful Philadelphia sailmaker. His wartime experience and hearing the Declaration of Independence as a child fueled his lifelong dedication to the ideals of freedom and equality, which he championed in his post-war career. You can also discover Forten’s legacy in Episode 6 of ken Burns’ The American Revolution on PBS.

Keith Henley is the Artistic Director and Choreographer of Folkloric Heritage Culture Arts Company Inc. in Cherry Hill, NJ. Keith began his historic interpretation career with Historic Philadelphia, Inc., and has performed for organizations including American Historical Theatre, History First Hand, Smithsonian Associates, Historic Germantown, and the Academy of Natural Sciences. He also portrays: Hercules, William Still, Henry Box Brown, George Washington Carver, Langston Hughes, Matthew Henson, and Martin Luther King Jr.

This program is supported in part by generous grants from: PBCIP (Parkside Business and Community in Partnership) and the New Jersey Historical Commission.

Camden County Historical Society Holiday Gathering

Date: Saturday, December 13, starting at 6pm

Location: Camden County Historical Society, 1900 Park Blvd, Camden, NJ