FARMVILLE, VA — Longwood University is pleased to announce that acclaimed historian Woody Holton will deliver the 2026 C.G. Gordon Moss Lecture on Thursday, April 16, 2026, from 6:00–7:00 p.m. in Blackwell Ballroom. Holton will speak about his most recent book, Liberty Is Sweet: The Hidden History of the American Revolution.
Sponsored jointly by the Robert Russa Moton Museum, the Longwood University Office of Academic Affairs, Greenwood Library, and the Department of History, Political Science, and Philosophy, the annual C.G. Gordon Moss Lecture brings to campus distinguished scholars whose research explores themes of democracy, social justice, and activism in American history.
Established in honor of C.G. Gordon Moss, a Longwood College history professor from 1944 to 1969 and a leading local advocate for educational equity during the public school closings in Prince Edward County (1959–1964), the lecture series highlights historians whose work examines the ongoing struggle for justice in the United States. Moss was known for his outspoken support of reopening the public schools and for his commitment to equality during a critical period in the region’s civil rights history.
“Longwood University is honored to welcome Woody Holton as this year’s Moss Lecturer. His work brings renewed attention to voices too often overlooked in traditional narratives of the American Revolution, aligning beautifully with the spirit of the Moss Lecture and its commitment to telling fuller, more inclusive histories,” said Dr. Larissa M. Smith, Longwood University Provost.
Woody Holton, a respected historian of early America, is known for illuminating the complex stories and diverse experiences that shaped the nation’s founding. His latest book, Liberty Is Sweet, offers a richly detailed, inclusive account of the American Revolution, weaving together the perspectives of Indigenous people, enslaved Africans, women, and other groups whose contributions are often minimized.
For more information, please contact Dr. David Coles, 434-395-2220 or colesdj@longwood.edu.