Professor Paul Lovejoy: Book Launch and Retirement Celebration
Professor Paul Lovejoy: Book Launch and Retirement Celebration
Date: Thursday, April 3
Time: 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm EDT
Location: Tubman Resource Room, 314 York Lanes (Hybrid)
In-Person Registration: https://research.apps01.yorku.ca/machform/view.php?id=260417
Zoom Registration: https://yorku.zoom.us/meeting/register/xYJAAWuWSeKfQxEMtAcywQ
Professor Paul Ellsworth Lovejoy has been one of the most influential historians of Africa and the African Diaspora since the 1960s. He started his career at York in 1970, two years before he completed his PhD at the “Wisconsin School of African History”. During his time at York, he was, at various times, a Distinguished Research Professor, Tier 1 Canada Research Chair, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and founding director of the Harriet Tubman Institute for Research on Africa and its Diasporas.
He officially retired in 2022, after 52 productive years of high-impact teaching, groundbreaking research, institutional leadership, and, most importantly, training many now-famous historians of Africa and its Diasporas. Even in retirement, and at 81 years old, Lovejoy has continued producing original archives-based research, mentoring students, and serving his global communities. Thanks to his leadership, the Department of History at York University is among the best places to research African history, with its PhD graduates working at some of the best universities in Canada and the world.
In 2024, Toyin Falola released a single-authored book that critically unpacks Paul Lovejoy’s contribution to global African history. It is entitled Transformations in History: African Societies and Economies in The Works of Paul Lovejoy. Falola notes that the book is his way of honouring and showing gratitude to Lovejoy for his generosity over the years.
We plan to launch Transformations in History on Thursday, April 3, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. in the Tubman Institute’s Resource Room. The event will also provide an opportunity for Lovejoy’s colleagues, collaborators, mentees, and people inspired by his scholarship and service to the history professor to gather in person and virtually to celebrate his retirement. In addition to a book discussion featuring invited speakers, all attendees will have the opportunity to offer their tributes to Lovejoy.
Please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Damilola Adebayo adebayod@yorku.ca or Fabio Silva Magalhaes - fabio70@yorku.ca if you have any questions.