Dr. Walter O. Evans, a retired surgeon based in Savannah, has made headlines over the years as Yale University's Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library acquired his vast holdings of publications and documents relating to African American luminaries including Frederick Douglass and James Baldwin. Dr. Evans and his wife, Linda, will bring to the Grolier Club event many stories representing connections between Black leaders in all aspects of politics and culture.

The Evanses have acquired over 100,000 examples of African American art, publications, manuscripts, letters and documents, including more than 1,000 association copies and artists' portraits of prominent figures.