Join us in welcoming the Oregon Black Pioneers for their presentation: A Man Called York.

York was an enslaved man who took part in the Lewis and Clark Expedition from 1803-1806.

In 1803, William Clark was asked to become co-captain on a military expedition to the Pacific. Clark accepted, and decided York would come on the expedition too. York had the same skills as the nine other Kentuckians Clark recruited for the expedition. But unlike those men, York was not considered an official member of the “Corps of Discovery”. As an enslaved person, he would not be paid for his labors. York was also leaving behind his wife who he had married in 1802.

Oregon Black Pioneers will present a detailed biography of York that reveals his experiences during the Expedition, his life before and after, and his place within national African American history.

In addition to the presentation on October 20, there will be an exhibit on display in the library from October 20 – December 18.