J. Michael Raley, Hanover College professor of history, will present his latest research on the prominent 19th-century African-American pastor Rev. Moses Broyles during a special Black History Month presentation of the annual Daryl R. Karns Lecture.

Raley’s address, “’We Have a Right to Live in this Country’: Rev. Moses Broyles and the Struggle for Social Justice and Racial Equality in 19th-century Indiana,” will tell the story of Broyles’ life and career, as well as feature portions of the community leader’s speeches, sermons and newspaper editorials that are being collected for a related book project. Area residents will find particular interest Broyles’ connections to nearby Eleutherian College and Hanover College.

Raley’s address will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, at Fitzgibbon Recital Hall, Lynn Center for Fine Arts. The event – part of Hanover’s Social Justice Series – is open to the public, free of charge.

Broyles ranks as one of the leading historical figures in Indiana’s African American religious, educational, political and legal communities. However, no critical study of his life and contributions has been published to date.