Long before the modern Civil Rights Movement, W. Miller Barbour (1908–1957) dedicated his life to advancing racial equality and human rights. A Middletown native and Elizabethtown College graduate, Barbour rose from local roots to become a pioneering civil rights leader, serving with the Urban League in Denver and Los Angeles. Through advocacy, community organizing, and interracial dialogue, he expanded opportunities for African Americans decades before the landmark victories of the 1960s. This presentation explores Barbour’s remarkable journey from central Pennsylvania to the forefront of early civil rights activism and examines the enduring legacy of a forgotten champion for equality.

Eric Schubert is a public historian, genealogist, and forensic genetic genealogist as seen on Good Morning America and more. He serves on the Executive Committee of the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County and is a White House Historical Association Next-Gen Leader. Schubert earned his M.A. in History at Millersville University. He is part of the research team which contributed to the award-winning documentary The Prospect for Freedom: W. Miller Barbour’s Human Rights Journey and organized the W. Miller Barbour Lecture Series alongside Abigail Sholes, which seeks to reintroduce Barbour’s legacy to communities across Pennsylvania.