Speakers

Please join Mike Manning, South Boston native and amateur military historian, in a discussion of "Evacuation Day" and its 250th anniversary Join South Boston native and amateur military historian Mike Manning for an engaging, in-person discussion exploring the history and meaning of Evacuation Day alongside St. Patrick’s Day. This educational program covers key topics from […]

The Battle of Falmouth—An important Revolutionary War encounter between the Colonial Militia and British Troops occurred in April of 1779 in our town of Falmouth, Massachusetts. Faced with imminent attack by British troops and the threat of the town being burned, the local Militia stepped up in a fascinating series of events and saved the […]

American Revolutionaries is a series of gallery talks given by members of the curatorial team in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. Each talk highlights artworks from the Burrows Gallery of American Decorative Arts, including silver from the Henry Morris and Elizabeth H. Burrows collection, which came to the Clark from an […]

American Revolutionaries is a series of gallery talks given by members of the curatorial team in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. Each talk highlights artworks from the Burrows Gallery of American Decorative Arts, including silver from the Henry Morris and Elizabeth H. Burrows collection, which came to the Clark from an […]

Presidential historian Harold Holzer explores Abraham Lincoln’s views on immigration in Brought Forth on This Continent. Drawing on Lincoln’s words and actions, this forum examines how debates over newcomers, belonging, and national identity shaped the 19th century and continue to resonate in America today. Members Free | $10 Non-Members | Free Virtual

Join historian Bob Kelley of the Historical Society of Old Yarmouth for a fascinating talk on the saltworks developed on the uplands at Sesuit Creek in the East Precinct of Yarmouth. He will discuss why the Atlantic coast was unable to produce salt as efficiently as European countries, how the 1775 Prohibitory Act of Parliament […]

Legal scholar Gerard Magliocca explores Justice Robert H. Jackson’s landmark concurring opinion in the Steel Seizure Case, illuminating its enduring framework for presidential power. This forum connects constitutional history to current debates, examining how Jackson’s analysis continues to shape limits on executive authority in times of crisis. Members Free | $10 Non-Members | Free Virtual

Join the student artists featured in the new special exhibition Revolutionary Legacies, along with Curator David Wood and Curator and Director of Exhibitions Christie Jackson, for a gallery talk at 11:30 am on May 1. Free with Museum admission. Members visit free.

Local historian Lee Thomas provides an overview of the events that brought the colonies to declare independence from the mother country as well as the struggle to break away. This program is part of the Revolutionary Library Crawl. Information on the Revolutionary Library Crawl available here: https://hwlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Revolutionary-Library-Crawl-Passport.pdf

Join Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David Blight for a compelling forum on the evolving meaning of American independence. Drawing on his scholarship on Frederick Douglass, Blight will explore how the ideals of the Declaration of Independence have been interpreted and contested over time. Professor Blight will discuss Frederick Douglass’s 1852 speech, “What to the Slave Is […]

Historian Beverly Gage discusses This Land Is Your Land, a sweeping examination of American democracy, protest, and power. Drawing on vivid stories and deep research, Gage traces how struggles over rights, belonging, and national identity have shaped the nation and why those struggles continue to matter today. Supported in part by Mass Humanities. Members Free […]

Soldiers & Sailors is a historical narrative that offers a local perspective on the American Revolution, featuring images by South Dennis artist Howard Bonington and others. Researched and written by Diane Rochelle of the Dennis Historical Commission, the book includes an appendix of brief biographies of East Precinct Patriots buried in Dennis cemeteries, accompanied by […]

GLOBALIZING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION May 21, 2026, 4pm When we think of the American Revolution, we often picture a parochial drama: thirteen colonies squaring off against the British Crown in a spirited bid for independence. But this version of the story is only half the truth—and perhaps not even the most interesting half. In this […]

As part of the Topsfield Library's Rev 250 programming marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we are excited to host Jane Oneail! Join us in celebrating America's extraordinary artistic legacy as we commemorate our nation's 250th anniversary with a curated exploration of the masterworks that have defined our cultural identity. […]

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation marking the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, as renowned historian of the French Enlightenment and Harvard Emeritus Professor Robert Darnton explores how ideas circulating in eighteenth-century France helped shape political imagination on both sides of the Atlantic. In dialogue with scholar Flora Amann, Darnton will draw on his […]