The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center announces the first in its series of America 250 events for 2026, with a celebration of the poetry of the African-American poet Phillis Wheatley on Wednesday, February 18. The event will take place in the Atrium of the Lydia M. Olson Library in Harden Hall at 7 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

This event, co-sponsored by the Department of English at NMU, will focus on the life and poetry of Phillis Wheatley, who is considered the first African-American author of a published book of poetry. Born in West Africa, she was enslaved in Boston by the Wheatley family who taught her to read and write. Eventually she would be emancipated by the family after publishing her first book of poetry but would die ten years later largely in obscurity.

Over the past two centuries, scholars have discovered and celebrated her work. Several faculty members at NMU will speak about Wheatley’s writing, life, influence and the context of the times she lived in during the American Revolution. Participants in the event include Sandra Burr, Associate Professor of English; Lynn Domina, Professor of English; Lesley Larkin, Professor of English; and Alan Willis, Professor and Department Head of History.

The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center is planning monthly events connected with the American Revolution and important historical events since the Revolution throughout 2026. To learn about future events, visit www.nmu.edu/beaumier or go to www.Facebook.com/BeaumierNMU.