Two walking tour booklets featuring historic African-American  and Civil War era sites in West Chester have been published by local author and historian Catherine Quillman. The booklets were completed the histories with the help of grants from the Leeway Foundation and research by co-author Sarah Wesley, who grew up in the “East End,” West Chester’s historic African-American community.

A book signing is planned for Oct. 1 from 7 to 9 pm. at the  Chester County Book Company (967 Paoli Pike, West Chester). The authors will be signing copies of “Walking the 'Uptown' of West Chester.”   They will also be signing the new expanded second edition of  “Walking the East End: The historic African-American community of West Chester, Pa.”     

The new edition features a new appendix  and  a section documenting the lives of former slaves and free black residents in 19th-century West Chester, and their activities before and during the Civil War. 

“Walking the Uptown”  is illustrated with old postcards and photographs, many of them offering a rare glimpse into the lives of early black entrepreneurs.  Each book features a pull-out map that can be used as walking tour guide. 

For more information about the publications, please visit www.quillman-publications.com.