For decades, the story of William “W. Miller” Barbour (1908–1957) has been hiding in plain sight across Dauphin County. Born and raised in Middletown, Barbour rose from central Pennsylvania roots to become a nationally respected civil rights and human rights leader whose work stretched from Pennsylvania to Denver to California.
Yet in the very region that shaped him, his name remains largely unknown.
I uncovered Barbour’s forgotten story through years of archival research, historical writing, and public history work. That research has since evolved into a major effort to restore Barbour to the historical record through forthcoming academic publications, the award-winning documentary which I co-wrote “The Prospect For Freedom,” and now this new regional lecture series dedicated to honoring his life and legacy…