On July 14 at 1 p.m. the Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum will host author Eileen Potter Kopelman speaking on and signing copies of her recent book, “The Honorable Asa Packer: His Life and Times.”

During his lifetime, Packer was so well known that upon his death in 1879, the highly influential national publication Harper’s Weekly wrote, “The other day, Asa Packer died, the richest man in the Commonwealth, and second to none in grandeur of achievement and measure of influence. His whole career is another example of what young men in this country may accomplish through keen intelligence, dauntless energy and unyielding integrity.”

Born in 1805 in Connecticut, Packer was a self-made man who lived a life of ambition, hard work and fulfillment. After moving to Pennsylvania where he worked as a farmer and carpenter, he owned and built canalboats for use on the Lehigh Canal.

A forward-thinking proponent of railroads, he became majority owner of the company that became the Lehigh Valley Railroad. Their line from Mauch Chunk through Allentown to Easton was completed in 1855, bringing rail transportation through the Lehigh Valley.

Packer also served in politics, including terms in both the state legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1865 he gave land and $500,000 to found Lehigh University as an engineering school to promote the industrial growth of the Lehigh Valley.

He continued to support the university throughout his life and in his will.

Kopelman has authored books on numerous aspects of history and art. Her interest in Packer came in part because she is a descendant of Packer’s cousin, Edward Packer Sr.

Her PowerPoint Lecture will explore the life of Asa Packer and his rise from humble beginnings to multimillionaire status as a businessman, entrepreneur, politician and founder of Lehigh University.

Following her presentation, Kopelman will sign copies of her book.

Admission is free to members of the museum.

The museum is located at 432 W. Walnut Street in Allentown. For more information, call 610-435-1074, visit www.lehighvalleyheritagemuseum.org or visit on Facebook.