Karl E. Campbell, associate professor of history at Appalachian State University and a Warren Wilson College alumnus, will read from his book, "Senator Sam Ervin: Last of the Founding Fathers," April 29 at Warren Wilson.

The reading, free and open to the public, begins at 4 p.m. in Canon Lounge of the Gladfelter Student Center. Campbell will be available afterward to sign copies of the book, which recently won the North Caroliniana Book Award for 2007.

Ervin, a constitutional expert who paradoxically defended civil liberties but opposed civil rights, is best known for chairing the Senate Watergate hearings while serving as senior U.S. senator from North Carolina. Campbell discussed Ervin and the biography in February on UNC-TV's "North Carolina People" with William Friday.

Campbell teaches classes at Appalachian State on N.C. History, Recent U.S. History, and African American History. He was graduated from Warren Wilson College with a B.A. degree in history and political science, and from UNC-Chapel Hill with an M.A. and Ph.D. in history. He is the author of several articles on civil rights, civil liberties and American politics, one of which won the Robert D.W. Connor Award from the Historical Society of North Carolina. Campbell previously taught at the Asheville School and at Pfeiffer University.

For more information about the April 29 reading and book signing, call Warren Wilson College history professor Sarah Thuesen at 828-771-3083.