Seward House Museum Presents “Mr. Seward for the Defense”

The Seward House Museum is pleased to welcome you to a truly unique event this fall: Mr. Seward for the Defense. Capping a year of programming and interpreting around the themes of our new exhibit, “Rooted in Reform,” the Museum presents a dramatic re-enactment of William Seward’s closing arguments in the 1846 trial of William Freeman. Perhaps Seward’s most impassioned oratory on behalf of social justice, it also challenged the American criminal justice system and nearly cost him everything.

For this program, the SHM is once again fortunate to have Jack Sherman portraying Mr. Seward. Previously the star of a two-act play, Mr. Seward at Home, as well as several other in-character dramatic reading events at the SHM, Sherman is a wonderful actor who often appears with the Syracuse and Ithaca Shakespeare companies. In addition to being a scholar of Seward, he is a retired Federal Judge who brings a deep background in the law

to this presentation.

The event will take place Wednesday, September 13th at 7pm at the Carriage House Theater (203 Genesee Street). Tickets are $10 for SHM Members and $15 for the General Public and are available by calling 315-252-1283 or visiting sewardhouse.org. The Seward House Museum is the historic home is William Henry Seward and his family. Serving as a New York State Senator, Governor of New York, US Senator, and Secretary of State in the Lincoln and Johnson administrations, Seward was one of the foremost politicians of 19th century America.