 |
 The Corps of
Discovery included William Clark's slave, York, who
was not an official member of the expedition (he did not receive
compensation for his services, even though he bore the same hardships
and made significant contributions to the success of the expedition).
A life-size bronze statue of York will
soon be placed at the riverside park in Louisville to honor this man's
participation in the historical trip across the
continent. |
 Hasan
Davis provided a living history portrayal of York. It was a dramatic and
informational study of York's accomplishments while with the Corps of
Discovery and his struggle for freedom once the military expedition was
ended.
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Until recently,
not much was known about York's post-expedition life, but much is
revealed about this subject in personal letters William Clark wrote to
his brother Jonathon. The letters were discovered in the attic of a
Clark family member in 1988 and entrusted to the Filson Historical
Society. This book, Dear
Brother, edited by Jim Holmberg and published by Yale
University Press in 2002, presents the annotated text of the letters and
other documents related to William Clark.
Listen to NPR's
Bob Edwards's radio interview with James Holmberg on May 14, 2002's
"Morning Edition." (Requires that you have Real Audio installed on your
computer.) |
The meeting featured a special program
for kids, and Hasan Davis was popular with the Young Explorers who
sought him out for an autograph after his performance portraying
York.
Other meeting events featuring York
included a lecture by Jim Holmberg on what is known about York and
discussions by artists who have depicted York in paintings, music or
sculpture. We were treated to a first-ever performance of selections
from an opera about York, to be presented this November at Penn State
University. |
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From left, Bud
Clark (descendent of William Clark), Hasan Davis, Bob Anderson
(descendent of expedition member George
Shannon), and Roger
Wendlick (wearing an unusual and authentic Jefferson Peace
medal).
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Mel Hankla (left), portraying Gen. George Rogers Clark,
and Bud
Clark, portraying his ancestor Capt. William Clark, raise a glass to
toast Kentucky. |
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