Los Angeles, CA - Celebrated filmmaker and author Constance L. Jackson’s well-regarded documentary, Over the River…Life of Lydia Maria Child, Abolitionist for Freedom will premiere in upstate New York at 6 p.m. Thursday, October 22, 2009 at the Ho Science Center at Colgate University. This event is sponsored by the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum.

The screening will commemorate the life and death of prominent 19th century female abolitionist Lydia Maria Child (February 11, 1802 - October 20, 1880), who in 1833 wrote the very first cutting-edge book on immediately abolishing slavery in America, An Appeal in Favor of that Class of Americans Called Africans. Mrs. Child was a prolific writer, writing many of the first books in America on life-changing social issues that are still engrained in our society today. She was also the editor of Harriet Jacobs’ slave narrative, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Today Mrs. Child is best known for her Thanksgiving Day poem turned song, “Over the River and Through the Woods to Grandmother’s House We Go”.

Jackson’s film, Over the River…, narrated by notable actress Ms. Diahann Carroll, shows Child’s unwavering commitment to Indian Rights and Black suffrage. Child, coined “The First Woman in the Republic” by the great 19th century abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, was also the bridge to the women’s suffrage movement. Written in 1835, her groundbreaking book, History of the Condition of Women helped set the course for women’s rights.

Filmmaker and author Constance L. Jackson was instrumental in getting Mrs. Child inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York in 2001. In a personal letter of appreciation to Ms. Jackson, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton expressed her gratitude to Ms. Jackson for sharing Child’s life with her and the world via the Over the River… book and film.

On Friday, October 23, Ms. Jackson will discuss “Becoming Agents of Change: Then and Now” at the Center for Women’s Studies Lounge on the Colgate campus from 1:30 to 3 p.m., in the East Hall located at 13 Oak Drive, Hamilton, New York.

Please join members of the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum, the community, historians, students, staff and faculty of Colgate University to meet director and writer Constance L. Jackson and view her film, Over the River…Life of Lydia Maria Child, Abolitionist for Freedom. Reception starts at 5:30 p.m. on October 22nd, 2009. General admission is $5 (no charge to students) and parking is free.