DR. SUE EAKIN AND HER LIFETIME PROJECT -- "TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE" Originally published in 1853, Twelve Years a Slave was lost to history by the early twentieth century, when it could not be located by libraries, stores or catalogues. Then a 12-year-old planter's daughter and avid reader in central Louisiana ‐ the future Dr. Sue Eakin ‐ discovered a dusty original copy of the narrative in a plantation home near the property where Solomon Northup was enslaved. The book would determine her life's path. Dr. Eakin went on to write her master's thesis about Northup's story, and after decades of research, produced the first authenticated edition of the book in 1968. In 2007, at the age of 88, she completed her final definitive edition with over 100 pages of fascinating new information, never-before-published images and unique maps related to the story; our print book and e-book represent the first mass publication of her Enhanced Edition. Along the way, Dr. Eakin authored over a dozen acclaimed history books and became an award-winning history professor, Hall of Fame journalist, local civil rights leader and internationally recognized authority on antebellum plantation life. Dr. Eakin's academic career spanned over two decades with intensive historical research supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the American Association of University Women, the LSU Foundation and others. She founded and directed the World Plantation Conferences featuring prominent scholars from around the world, served on the boards of many historical foundations, and delivered hundreds of speeches around the country regarding her research and unique perspectives. A popular classroom teacher, her travel courses in Louisiana, Southern and American history developed a large following and she was recognized as Distinguished Faculty of the LSU System and national Outstanding American History Professor by the Daughters of the American Revolution. For more information on Dr. Eakin, including audio and video, please see our website at www.12YearsASlaveBook.com
