Supporting scholarship and promoting popular understanding of the American Revolution is central to the work of the American Revolution Institute. The Institute welcomes distinguished scholars and authors to share their insights and discuss their latest research with the public at Anderson House through lectures, author's talks and panel discussions. The Institute also hosts a variety of other historical programs throughout the year, including our Lunch Bite object talks, battlefield tours, special Anderson House tour programs and other events. Many of the events we offer are free.
February 2019
Lunch Bite – Edward Gibbon’s The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
Library intern Kris Stinson presents an eighteenth-century set of Edward Gibbon’s The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire and discusses the influence of classical ideas and literature on Revolutionary War participants. First published in 1776, Gibbon’s revolutionary work wove a provocative narrative on the causes of the decay and collapse of the late Roman empire, a society with which early Americans felt a peculiar affinity. Delving into Rome’s complex imperial structure and the characters upon whose fate it rested, Gibbon presented readers…
Find out more »March 2019
Lecture – The Swords of George Washington
This lecture was rescheduled from February 20 due to winter weather on the original date. Whether in the role of militia officer, commander of the Continental Army or president of the United States, a sword frequently hung by George Washington's side. Nine of his swords are known to exist today, and each has a fascinating history not just as a functional weapon but as a symbol of the iconic American founder and the birth of the nation. Commemorate the 287th…
Find out more »Concert – Classical Violin
Robert Simonds celebrates Women’s History Month with a performance of works by female American composers in this second installment of the American Music Series. Artists featured in the concert include contemporary composers Alexis Bacon, Patricia Van Ness, Cindy Cox and Molly Joyce. Robert Simonds is an American violinist who has performed as an orchestral player, chamber musician and solo recitalist. The concert will last approximately one hour. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Find out more »Lecture – Gifts from the Sea: The Miraculous Stories of Two Continental Army Guns
One of the greatest obstacles that the Continental Army faced during its first two years was providing an adequate supply of firearms suitable for military service. Arms production in Revolutionary America never met the demand for weapons to fight the British. The timely influx of weapons captured from British ships and purchased from France saved the American cause from disaster. Independent curator and historian James L. Kochan illuminates how dependent the army was on foreign arms through the histories of…
Find out more »Lunch Bite – A Collection of Contemporary Newspapers Documenting the Life and Legacy of Alexander Hamilton
Library Director Ellen Clark presents highlights of a recently acquired collection of early newspapers and other periodicals featuring articles on Alexander Hamilton. From the first official reports of his valor at Yorktown through his political career and personal trials to his death as the result of the duel with Aaron Burr, Hamilton was a figure of intense public interest who received wide coverage in the press. The collection also includes detailed accounts of his funeral and subsequent memorial tributes, as…
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