Robert Harms
Visiting lecturer on “The Voyage of the Diligent”, a French slaving venture in 1731-32, published in book form in 2002 and subsequently winner of several prestigious prizes and awards.  Harms earned his PhD in African history (University of Wisconsin – Madison, 1978, under Jan Vansina), and is now Professor of History at Yale University.  He is also author of several monographs on the history of central Africa.  He has given his visual presentation on “The Voyage of the Diligent”, the most elaborate and sophisticated reconstruction of a single slaving voyage, in numerous venues, including the original and all subsequent ROOTS Institutes and Seminars.