Speakers

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. […]