PETERSBURG, Virginia — As Black History Month approaches, the Historic Petersburg Foundation has announced a public program examining the life and legacy of Joseph Jenkins Roberts (1809–1876)—a Virginia native who emigrated to West Africa and went on to become Liberia’s first and later seventh president, helping shape Africa’s oldest modern republic.
The free lecture, titled “Joseph Jenkins Roberts: From Petersburg to the Presidency of Liberia,” will be delivered by former U.S. diplomat Joel Maybury on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. (11 p.m. Lib time) at the Petersburg Public Library at Washington and Market Streets, organizers said in a release dated January 13, 2026.
The event is being held to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Roberts’ death and will also explore the roles of other Virginians—particularly individuals from Petersburg—who emigrated to Liberia and later served in influential positions in the young nation’s government.
A Virginia Story with Liberian Nation-building Impact
Organizers said Roberts’ story is central to understanding the deep historical ties between parts of the United States and Liberia.
Roberts was born in Norfolk, Virginia, and later moved with his family to Petersburg, where he worked as a boatman and barber. In 1829, he relocated with his family to Liberia—part of an early wave of migration by free and formerly enslaved African Americans during the 19th century.
In Liberia, Roberts rose to national leadership during the republic’s formative years. Liberia declared independence in 1847, and Roberts became its first president the following year, serving from 1848 to 1856. He later returned to office as the seventh president in 1872, serving until his death in 1876.
Historians often credit Roberts with helping to steer Liberia through a critical early period—strengthening foreign relations, consolidating state institutions, and seeking international recognition at a time when the survival of a new African republic was far from guaranteed.
The Historic Petersburg Foundation said Roberts is “just one of a number of people from Petersburg” who would emigrate to Liberia and hold significant roles in government—making the city’s local history an important part of a larger Atlantic story of migration, identity, and governance.
Former U.S. Diplomat to Liberia to Lead the Discussion
Maybury, the featured lecturer, is a retired U.S. Foreign Service Officer who completed a 29-year diplomatic career, retiring in June 2024. He served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Liberia from 2021 to 2023, a role that positioned him at the center of U.S.-Liberia relations.
The foundation said Maybury developed a research focus on historical connections between the United States and countries where he served—particularly in Africa. During his time in Liberia, he began exploring the biographies of Virginia- and Maryland-born African Americans who emigrated to Liberia and became leaders in the republic, and also examined how several U.S. diplomats posted to Monrovia had ties to Virginia.
Before joining the Foreign Service in 1995, Maybury worked in journalism as an editor, reporter, and photographer at newspapers in northern California and Minnesota, including outlets within the Black Press—experience organizers say has strengthened his historical research and public presentations.
Since retiring, Maybury has continued his research while also serving as a senior advisor at Horizon Engage, and teaching risk management to foreign affairs professionals in Virginia.
Public invitation
The Historic Petersburg Foundation said the February 24 program is open to the public at no charge, framing it as both a local heritage event and an opportunity to reflect on an international legacy rooted in Petersburg’s past.
