PBS, WHYY and the Museum of the American Revolution recently aired “Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia”, a 28-minute special with a historical take on an African American family with roots in Cheltenham Township.

From the Special’s description:

WHYY and Museum of the American Revolution present “Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia.” Explore a special exhibition on one of Philadelphia’s most important early African American families. Go behind the scenes to see how it all came together. Learn about the many roles the family played during the Revolutionary War and in the fight to end slavery.

According to The Reporter, African-American scholar, activist, Civil War soldier and inventor Robert Bridges Forten (1813-1864) “enlisted at the then very ripe age of 50 with the 43rd United States Colored Troops infantry regiment of Camp William Penn, the first and largest federal facility to train black soldiers during the Civil War that was located in what is today Cheltenham Township.”

To watch the special, you can click here. The Fortens were also featured in a Museum of the American Revolution exhibit in March.

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