Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park and the Longwood University History, Government & Philosophy Department will host a public symposium on Robert Russa Moton, Monday Jan. 21, from 2-4 p.m., at the Farmville-PE Community Library on West 3rd Street in Farmville.

Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical SP Chief Ranger Interpreter Sam Wilson Jr. and Dr. Larissa Fergeson, associate professor of history at Longwood University, will make short presentations on Moton's early life and education as one of Southside Virginia's most distinguished sons. The two talks will feature his early life in the Sailor's Creek watershed, which flows between Amelia and Prince Edward counties, and his later significant contributions to higher education and social policy, respectively.

Each talk will be followed by a short question-and-answer period.

The event is free and open to the public. It is appropriate for ages 10 years and up.

The purpose of Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park is to preserve the cultural landscape as it was in 1865, and to provide the historic setting to tell the story of the last major battle of the Civil War in Virginia before the surrender of Robert E. Lee's Army at Appomattox Courthouse, and its impact on the citizens of Southside Virginia.

The award winning Virginia State Parks are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

For more information about Virginia State Parks' activities and amenities or to make reservations in one of the more than 1,800 or 300 climate controlled cabins, call the Virginia State Parks Reservation Center at 800-933-PARK or visit www.virginiastateparks.gov.