Standing Where History Spoke Uncategorized by Sonya Bernard-Hollins - September 30, 2026September 30, 20260 “While standing at a pulpit once associated with some of America’s great abolitionist voices, I shared the story of Merze Tate and the courageous family legacy that helped shape her extraordinary life.” Sonya Bernard-Hollins Sonya Bernard-Hollins stands at the pulpit at Putnum Presbyterian Church in Zanesville, Ohio, where abolitionists such as Frederick Douglass once spoke. Copyright – Sonya Bernard-Hollins I had chills standing behind the historic pulpit of Putnam Presbyterian Church in Zanesville, Ohio. More than a century ago, voices connected to the abolitionist movement used this space to challenge injustice and call people toward a broader vision of freedom. Standing there as a researcher, author and longtime advocate for the legacy of Dr. Merze Tate was an experience I will not soon forget. “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” — Frederick Douglass I was invited to Zanesville to share a portion of the remarkable family history that helped shape Merze Tate long before she became an internationally respected scholar, educator, author and world traveler. My research into Tate’s Old Settlers lineage continues to reveal a family story filled with education, courage, movement, community building and a determination to create greater possibilities for the generations that followed. Those discoveries are becoming an important part of my forthcoming book, Who in the World Is Merze Tate? A Visual Biography. The symposium, hosted by the Pioneer and Historical Society of Muskingum County, brought together historians and storytellers exploring the region’s connections to freedom, abolition and African American history. I was honored to share the program with Gregory May, Kimberly Simmons and Caleb Franz, each contributing important perspectives to the day. For me, however, the experience was also a reminder of why I have spent years following Tate’s trail through archives, family histories, photographs and places connected to her remarkable life. There is still so much more to her story. Muskingum County History Curator Mitch Taylor and Director of Operations: Carrie Forgacs pose at an exhibit in Stone Academy in Zanesville, Ohio. And sometimes, the most revealing chapters begin long before the person we remember was even born. It was an absolute honor to share the stage alongside an incredible lineup of fellow speakers. From left: Kimberly Simmons, Gregory May, Caleb Franz and Sonya Bernard-Hollins pose after the Underground Railroad Symposium. Copyright Sonya Bernard-Hollins As founder of the Merze Tate Explorers, I have also had the privilege of carrying Tate’s legacy into the lives of another generation—using travel, storytelling, journalism and exploration to encourage young people to imagine a world larger than the one immediately before them. That is what makes this work especially meaningful to me. I am not simply researching where Merze Tate went. I am exploring what made her believe she could go there. And that story continues to unfold. Who in the World Is Merze Tate? A Visual Biography is scheduled for release in 2027. For speaking engagements, presentations, author visits and conversations about Dr. Merze Tate’s life and legacy, contact contact@merzetate.org.
