Norwich ― New research about the history of prominent members of the Black community in Norwich history will be presented at four free forums on Thursdays, sponsored by city Historian Dale Plummer.

The programs, all free, will be held at 7 p.m. Thursdays on Feb. 2, 9, 16 and 23 in the parlor at Park Congregational Church. February is Black History Month. The church is located at 283 Broadway, but the entrance for the programs is on the opposite, Crescent Street side.

This Thursday, the series starts off with the showing of the documentary, “Free Renty,” chronicling Norwich resident Tamara Lanier’s legal battle with Harvard University to force the release of historic daguerreotypes of her ancestors, Renty and his daughter, Delia, both enslaved people. The daguerreotypes were taken in 1850 by famed Harvard scientist Louis Agassiz to try to prove that Black people were inferior to whites.

Lanier will be at Thursday’s program to give an update on her lawsuit, Lanier v. Harvard, following the airing of the documentary.

On Thursday, Feb. 9, historian Rachel Carley will present her findings on research into the Cape Verdeans of Norwich. Plummer said her work could become the basis for historic designation of locations significant to Norwich’s Cape Verdean community.

“And people don’t know much about the Cape Verdeans here,” Plummer said.

Cape Verde is an island nation off the west coast of Africa, near the country of Senegal.

Thursday, Feb. 16, will offer findings about Sam Huntington, the 18th-century Black man often called “the Black Governor of Norwich.” Written history described him as an enslaved man, but Plummer said historian Pauline Merrick’s new and thorough research shows surprising answers to questions about this Huntington.

“She is really doing some fantastic work,” Plummer said, saying he did not want to reveal too much. “She will talk about that. … She found out groundbreaking work as to his contributions.”

The final program at 7 p.m. Feb. 23 will be presented by Daryl D’Angelo, descendant of Guy Drock and Sarah Powers. Drock was an enslaved blacksmith in Norwich. His wife, Sarah Powers, worked for two years to pay for his release from slavery. The couple purchased a house on Church Street in downtown Norwich, which bears a plaque to denote the history.

“All these things complement each other, because they reveal things about Black history that have been not really brought to our consciousness,” Plummer said.

c.bessette@theday.com