Fraunces Tavern Museum

Join author Kostya Kennedy for this lecture exploring the dramatic events of April 18 and 19, 1775—the night of Paul Revere's famous ride. With new insights from archives, family documents, and contemporary accounts, discover how the legendary ride is far more complex than it is usually portrayed.* This special 250th lecture was recorded as part of Fraunces Tavern Museum's Evening Lecture series on Monday, May 5, 2025. *The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

More than 3 years passed between the last battle in the North and the British surrender at Yorktown. In this lecture, Alan Pell Crawford tells what actually happened in those 3 too-little known years that forced the British to lose the war–and enabled America to win it.* This lecture was recorded as part of Fraunces Tavern Museum's Evening Lecture series on Monday, March 17, 2025. *The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

George Washington and Samuel Fraunces developed skills of risk-taking, judgement, and leadership through their entrepreneurial ventures that would later advantage them and the new nation when they chose to join the cause of American patriots. In this lecture, John Berlau spotlights the successes and struggles of both men in their respective business careers that intertwined at important points in American history.* This lecture was recorded as part of Fraunces Tavern Museum's Evening Lecture series on Monday, March 3, 2025. *The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

On Monday, January 27, 2025, SRNY commemorated the birthday of Frederick Samuel Tallmadge, the second President of the Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc., whose generosity enabled the Society to acquire Fraunces Tavern in 1904. Our featured speaker was Richard Brookhiser,* author of Glorious Lessons: John Trumbull, Painter of the American Revolution. This engaging book tells the life-story of John Trumbull, and also explains the significance of Trumbull's celebrated Revolutionary War paintings, which reflected Trumbull's personal experience as aide to George Washington and to Horatio Gates. Richard Brookhiser is a celebrated journalist and author who has written a series of biographies and other books on American founders and other leading figures in American history, including Alexander Hamilton, Governor Morris, George Washington, John Marshall, James Madison, Abraham Lincoln and the Adams family dynasty. *The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

Clement Clarke Moore is known the world over for his masterpiece of juvenile fiction, Twas the Night Before Christmas — less well-known is Moore's own life story and the involvement of his parents and grandparents during the revolutionary period. Join author and historian Pamela McColl for a festive presentation on the life and times of Clement Clarke Moore (New York, NY 1779-1863) and the Moore and Clarke families' involvement in the Revolutionary War.* This lecture was recorded as part of Fraunces Tavern Museum's Evening Lecture series on Monday, December 9, 2024. *The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

In this lecture, join author, photographer, and licensed NYC sightseeing guide Tommy Silk as he discusses how he decided on the 120 buildings that constitute the hidden landmarks of the five boroughs. Discover the histories of the city's remaining buildings from the 18th century and earlier, including Fraunces Tavern itself, and learn why so few of these structures remain today.* This lecture was recorded as part of Fraunces Tavern Museum's Evening Lecture series on Monday, November 11, 2024. *The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

Remarks and Lecture from special guests in the Bissell Room of Fraunces Tavern® for Fraunces Tavern® Museum's expanded permanent exhibition The Birch Trials at Fraunces Tavern, October 23, 2024. Speakers include Elizabeth Cooke-Sumbu and Andrea Davis, descendants of individuals listed in the Book of Negroes, reviewed and compiled at Fraunces Tavern in 1783. Andrea Davis, Executive Director of the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in Shelburne, Nova Scotia, Canada, presents a lecture, “The Black Loyalists: Their Journey, Arrival & Life in Nova Scotia”. *The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

Remarks from the preview reception for Fraunces Tavern® Museum's expanded permanent exhibition The Birch Trials at Fraunces Tavern, October 23, 2024, in the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Educational Center for American History. Speakers include Peter C. Hein, President, Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. (SRNY); Craig H. Weaver, SRNY Museum Committee Co-Chair; Scott M. Dwyer, Executive Director, SRNY and its Fraunces Tavern® Museum; Melanie Hopkins, Deputy Consul General for the United Kingdom in New York; and New York State Senator for the 27th District Brian Kavanagh. *The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

Hosted by The Lower Manhattan Historical Association, Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York, Inc. and its Fraunces Tavern Museum, and cultureNOW. Each October the Lower Manhattan Historical Association celebrates two of the Continental Army's most decisive Revolutionary War victories, the battles of Saratoga and Yorktown. Both General Horatio Gates, the commanding general at the Battle of Saratoga, and Alexander Hamilton, a key aide to General George Washington and the leader the climactic charge against redoubt 10 at the Battle of Yorktown, are buried at Trinity Churchyard. Additionally, the Battle of Yorktown is symbolic of the United States of America's oldest military alliance. Powerful French land forces, commanded by the Comte de Rochambeau, and an equally important and sizable French fleet, commanded by the Comte de Grasse, played a crucial role in the defeat and capitulation of the British army. Participants include the Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York, Inc. Color Guard; Abby Suckle, Vice President Lower Manhattan Historical Association & President cultureNOW; Ambrose Madison Richardson III, President, Lower Manhattan Historical Association; James S. Kaplan, Former President/co-Founder Lower Manhattan Historical Association; Elizabeth Kahn Kaplan, The Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society; Camille Letournel, French Cadet, United States Military Academy at West Point; Alain H. Dupuis, President of the Federation of French War Veterans, 2nd Vice President & Deputy General Delegate, Le Souvenir Francais in the United States. Also includes the inaugural presentation of the Frederic P. Vigneron Award to the Federation of French War Veterans.* This program was recorded on Saturday, October 19, 2024. *The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

Join the Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York, Inc. to celebrate the signing of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787, featuring a lecture on the formation and implementation of the United States Constitution by Tom Hand, author of An American Triumph: America's Founding Era through the Lives of Ben Franklin, George Washington, and John Adams, an honorable mention for the 2024 Fraunces Tavern Museum Book Award. Hand is also the creator of the website Americana Corner that shares informative stories of the momentous events, significant documents and influential leaders that helped create and shape our country.* This lecture was recorded on Monday, September 16, 2024. *The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

In this lecture, Tyson Reeder traces early America's rocky beginnings, when foreign interference and political conflict threatened to undermine its aspirations and ideals, even its very existence. Spanning the period from the Revolution to the War of 1812, and focusing particularly on the career of James Madison, it reveals a nation adjusting to rancorous partisan politics, aggravated by the untested and imperfect new tools of governance and the growing power of media.* Thanks to The Society of the Second War with Great Britain in the State of New York and The State of New York Society, United States Daughters of 1812 for co-sponsoring this event. This lecture was recorded as part of Fraunces Tavern Museum's Evening Lecture series on Monday, August 12, 2024. *The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

We don't always consider the powerful impact that the War of Independence had on the physical landscape of 18th century America – much less how those impacts might still be seen and felt today. Join Professor David C. Hsiung for fascinating insights into the lasting legacies of the Revolution on the natural world, including deforestation at Valley Forge, raids that seized animals but also produced some surprisingly "positive" effects, and lead musket balls left on battlefields that may only now be poisoning the land.* Thanks to the Paul Revere House for collaboration and promotion. This lecture was recorded as part of Fraunces Tavern Museum's Evening Lecture series on Monday, July 15, 2024. *The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

It is a truism that Lower Manhattan has been America's town square since its founding in 1524, even though its history is much deeper. Virtually every aspect of global, local and national significance can be in some manner traced to this Downtown stage. Some have been forgotten and some have been transformative in our culture and many have fallen between. This is both a project in urban archaeology and a way of describing the city over time. It Happened Here captures the multiple and overlapping stories that are woven throughout our city's life. It embraces America's history as the museums, monuments and memorials that dot its streetscape do. It highlights many of the concerns, events, and places that the people who lived, fought, worked and visited here thought were important at their moment in time. The July 4, 2024 program at Fraunces Tavern Museum was the fifth prequel event leading up to the United States' upcoming 250th birthday and a 4-day It Happened Here celebration the weekend of July 4, 2025. This year's event included speakers on the following topics: Lower Manhattan: The Most Historic Spot in the Unites States; Upcoming Anniversaries: United States's 250th and New York's 400th; Fraunces Tavern: Its Revolutionary Story; The Promise of Liberty: An Authentic Originalism; Lafayette: A Hero's Return - Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of Marquis de Lafayette's Grand Tour of the United States in 1824; First Reading of the Declaration of Independence in New York and the Destruction of the Statue of King George III. *The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

Perhaps no single day in US history was as threatening to the survival of the nation as August 24, 1814, when British forces captured Washington. This unique moment might have significantly altered the nation's path forward, but the event and the reasons why it happened are often forgotten. In this lecture, Dr. Robert Watson explores the British campaign and American missteps that led to the fall of the capital city, but also tells the redeeming stories of the courageous young clerks and the bold first lady who risked their lives to save priceless documents from the flames, including the Constitution. Join Dr. Watson for the shocking, behind-the-scenes story of the British attack on Washington and the rebuilding of the capital and nation.* Thanks to The Society of the Second War with Great Britain in the State of New York and The State of New York Society, United States Daughters of 1812 for co-sponsoring this event. This lecture was recorded as part of Fraunces Tavern Museum's Evening Lecture series on Monday, July 8, 2024. *The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

The opening of Fraunces Tavern Museum's new special exhibition, Lafayette: A Hero's Return, was celebrated with featured lecturer Général de Brigade Vincent de Kytspotter, PhD, Head of the French Defense Mission to the United Nations. This lecture speaks to Marquis de Lafayette's role in the American Revolution, the powerful Franco-American military alliance, and the lasting changes it brought about.* This lecture was recorded as part of Fraunces Tavern Museum's special exhibition opening on Monday, June 24, 2024. *The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

What did “the pursuit of happiness” mean to our nation's founders and how did that famous phrase become the foundation of our democracy? The Declaration of Independence identifies “the pursuit of happiness” as one of our unalienable rights, along with life and liberty. In his new book, National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen profiles six of the most influential founders—Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton—to show what pursuing happiness meant in their lives. In this lecture Rosen not only elucidates the meaning of the Declaration's famous phrase, but also takes us on a revelatory journey into the minds of the Founders, providing a deep, rich and fresh understanding of the foundation of our democracy.* This lecture was recorded as part of Fraunces Tavern Museum's Evening Lecture series on Monday, May 13, 2024. Note that there is some minor sound distortion in this recording. *The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

Martha Washington's worst memory was the death of her husband. Her second worst was Thomas Jefferson's awkward visit to pay his respects subsequently. Indeed, by the time George Washington had died in 1799, the two founders were estranged. But that estrangement has obscured the fact that for most of their thirty-year acquaintance they enjoyed a productive relationship. In this lecture, Francis D. Cogliano considers the significance of one of the most important but understudied personal relationships of the founding era: the connection between George Washington and Thomas Jefferson that spanned three turbulent decades. This lecture was recorded as part of Fraunces Tavern Museum's Evening Lecture series on Monday, April 8, 2024. *The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

Although among the best-known Revolutionary War soldiers, Benedict Arnold is overwhelmingly remembered as little more than a traitor — yet his enormously important contributions to the patriot cause in the early years of the war are, in many ways, far more important than his treason. Join Jack Kelly, author of God Save Benedict Arnold: The True Story of America's Most Hated Man, as he highlights some of Arnold's achievements and paints a realistic portrait of a still-notorious figure of American history. This lecture was recorded as part of Fraunces Tavern Museum's Evening Lecture series on Monday, March 18, 2024. *The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

On Monday, January 22, 2024, SRNY commemorated the birthday of Frederick Samuel Tallmadge, the second President of the Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc., whose generosity enabled the Society to acquire Fraunces Tavern in 1904. Our featured speaker was Eric Schnitzer, co-author of a recent book, Campaign to Saratoga - 1777. This book was created jointly by master historical painter Don Troiani and Eric Schnitzer, who is an historian. Mr. Schnitzer also serves as an interpretive ranger at the Saratoga National Historical Park. *The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

1775 belonged to Boston but after April of 1776, the Revolutionary War's focus became New York City and the highly strategic Long Island, from Brooklyn's terminal moraine high ground to Queens's Hell Gate. 1776 was the year when revolution came to Long Island, and in particular the future Long Island City. The failures, defeats and eventual occupation of the area at the hands of the British forged the resolve and strength of character that would later ensure Patriot victories on distant battlegrounds throughout the rest of the colonies. The British did not evacuate western Queens County until November of 1783, but the events of 1776 would not soon be forgotten during the seven long years of occupation afterword. Join author Richard Melnick as he charts the military, political and cultural history 1776 in Long Island City. This lecture was recorded as part of Fraunces Tavern Museum's Evening Lecture series on Thursday, November 16, 2023. *The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

When John Hancock needed to win people over, he didn't talk about resisting taxes or policy improvements; instead, he served alcohol. He offered rum punch and wine at his home and paid for lavish meals in taverns to bring people together. Guests included lower class men, French officers, and Black women and men. By throwing parties, Hancock gained social and political power among myriad groups, which repeatedly paid dividends. He was consistently elected to political office and when he smuggled madeira into Boston, one of the most memorable and violent mobs during colonial resistance defended him. In this forty-five-minute talk, Brooke Barbier discusses an oft-ignored aspect of colonial life: the high rate of alcohol consumption. Listen to lively and evocative stories that illuminate the critical and complex role that alcohol played in the social, political, and cultural fabric of the American Revolution and how John Hancock used it to his advantage. This lecture was recorded as part of Fraunces Tavern Museum's Evening Lecture series on Thursday, October 26, 2023. *The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

In this lecture, Christian McBurney speaks on his new book, Dark Voyage: An American Privateer's War on Britain's African Slave Trade, a microhistory of an American privateer during the Revolutionary War that sailed to the coast of Africa and attacked a British slave trading post and British slave ships, seriously disrupting and virtually halting the British slave trade during the war years. On the other hand, the privateersmen were out for profit and, in effect, became slave traders themselves. This lecture was recorded as part of Fraunces Tavern Museum's Evening Lecture series on Thursday, October 5, 2023. *The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. celebrates the signing of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787, featuring special guest Justice Mark Dillon, author of The First Chief Justice: John Jay and the Struggle of a New Nation, published March 1, 2022. This lecture was recorded for SRNY's Constitution Week celebration on Monday, September 18, 2023 at Fraunces Tavern® Museum. *The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

In this lecture recorded September 10, 2023, Robert Watson discusses his book America's First Plague: The deadly 1793 epidemic that crippled a young nation. Watson will explore the wave of fear that swept across the fledgling republic, and the numerous unintended but far-reaching consequences it would have on the development of the United States.

In this virtual lecture, recorded July 27, 2023, Major General Jason Bohm explores the origins of the United States Marines. He will explore the parallel stories of the creation and early operations of the Continental Marines, Navy, and Army during the American Revolution, culminating in the Battles of Trenton, Assunpink Creek, and Princeton.

It is a truism that Lower Manhattan has been America's town square since its founding in 1524, even though its history is much deeper. Virtually every aspect of global, local and national significance can be in some manner traced to this Downtown stage. Some have been forgotten and some have been transformative in our culture and many have fallen between. It Happened Here captures the multiple and overlapping stories that are woven throughout our city's life. It embraces America's history as the museums, monuments and memorials that dot its streetscape do. It highlights many of the concerns, events and places that the people who lived, fought, worked and visited here thought were important at their moment in time. The July 4, 2023 program at Fraunces Tavern Museum was the first of many prequels to the United States' upcoming 250th birthday and a 4-day It Happened Here celebration the weekend of July 4, 2025 and included speakers on the following topics: Fraunces Tavern: Its Revolutionary Story; The Birch Trials at Fraunces Tavern; the New York City Revolutionary Trail by The Gotham Center for New York City History; George Washington's First Command; Alexander Hamilton; Revolutionary Forebears; It Happened Here.

In this lecture, recorded June 12, 2023, Christopher Minty focuses on the origins of the American Revolution in New York City from the perspective of those who became loyalists. It argues that longstanding political partisanship played a hitherto underappreciated role in determining their allegiance during the Revolution.

On September 21, 1776, five days after the British occupied New York City, a devastating fire burned down about a fifth of the city. This mystery brings together a startling cast of characters from around the Atlantic World: soldiers and officers, but also Loyalists, women, and people of African and Indigenous descent. Fraunces Tavern Museum hosts the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society and author Benjamin L. Carp to explore these themes in the context of his new book, The Great New York Fire of 1776: A Lost Story of the American Revolution.

etween 1776 and 1783, Great Britain hired more than thirty thousand German soldiers to fight in its war against the American rebels. Collectively known as Hessians, the soldiers and accompanying civilians, including hundreds of women and children, spent extended periods of time in locations as dispersed and varied as Canada in the North and West Florida in the South. In this presentation, recorded April 3, 2023, Friederike Baer highlights some of the key experiences of these participants in a war on a distant continent against a people that had done them no harm.

In this lecture, recorded March 16, 2023, Ken Scarlett will discuss the British Southern Strategy for conquering America and extinguishing the American Revolution. He will discuss the role of a quisling in the framing of their base strategy and how those plans were completely defeated culminating with the forced British evacuation from Charleston, South Carolina (Victory Day). Ken will examine General Nathanael Greene's post-Yorktown counterinsurgency campaign to oust British occupation forces from the Lower South and reinstall elected state governments; which proved to be the final lynchpins for King George III and Parliament to end their war-gone-global and relinquish sovereignty over the declared "United States".

In this special Saturday afternoon lecture, recorded March 11, 2023, Julie Flavell will present her book The Howe Dynasty, the first biography of a British "First Family." The Howe family had as much at stake as the Washingtons and Adamses in the conflict that created the United States. Meet the men and women of the aristocratic Howe dynasty and explore rare paintings of the family.

On Monday, January 23, 2023, SRNY commemorated the birthday of Frederick Samuel Tallmadge, the second President of the Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc., whose generosity enabled the Society to acquire Fraunces Tavern in 1904. Our speaker was Alyssa Loorya, Ph.D., RPA, founder and president of Chrysalis Archaeological Consultants, who received her Ph.D. in 2018 from the CUNY Graduate Center. Chrysalis Archaeological Consultants is a cultural resource management company in New York City that researches, excavates, and analyzes sites to assess their historical or archaeological impact. Since opening in 2001, the company has worked on hundreds of projects, including some which uncovered artifacts relating to the Revolutionary War. Alyssa presented “Revolutionary New York: An Archaeological Perspective”.

There is always something new to be found in America's past that also brings greater clarity to our present and the future we choose to make as a nation. In this lecture, recorded November 10, 2022, Adam Van Doren explores well-known and lesser-known historic sites in the 13 original North American colonies, accompanied by his paintings. From the Bunker Hill monument in Massachusetts to the Camden Battlefield Site in South Carolina, this is a tour of an American cultural landscape with a curious, perceptive, and insightful guide.

In this lecture, recorded October 27, 2022, Keith Beutler will discuss how surviving reported locks of George Washington's hair in the holdings of more than 100 public archives and historical museums, including Fraunces Tavern Museum, offer clues about influential, but often forgotten performances of patriotic memory in the early United States.

In this lecture, recorded October 6, 2022. Nancy Rubin Stuart reveals the long-neglected voices of the women Ben loved and lost during his lifelong struggle between passion and prudence. Weaving detailed historical research with emotional intensity and personal testimony, Nancy Rubin Stuart traces the life of Deborah Reed Franklin—Ben's common-law wife and partner of 44 years— and those of Ben's other romantic attachments through their personal correspondence, giving an intimate look into the lives of these larger forgotten women.

Join us for a jam-packed opening night as we explore the pop culture career of our first Top Gun—George Washington—featuring keynote speaker, former Marvel Editor in Chief, Jim Shooter. Discover how Washington's persona has been showcased throughout pop history, going from traditional reenactments of famous events to appearances in modern times with the likes of Superman, Captain America and other famous heroes—becoming a mythical figure in his own right and a metaphor for good and justice in these tomes. This exhibition highlight Washington's continued relevance to our collective past, present, and future. He is really, if you think about it, our FIRST super hero! The exhibition is guest-curated and written by Renee Witterstaetter of Eva Ink Artist Group and Pros & Cons Celebrity Booking and is based on her book of the same name.

Join Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York, Inc. to celebrate the signing of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787, featuring special guest Logan Beirne, Clinical Lecturer in Law at Yale Law School. Beirne is a lawyer, entrepreneur, author, and academic. His book, Blood of Tyrants: George Washington & the Forging of the Presidency, was awarded the William E. Colby Military Writers' Award. He will speak about the ways in which George Washington's actions during the Revolutionary War helped define many of our constitutional traditions. This lecture was recorded on September 22, 2022.

In this lecture, recorded August 11, 2022, David Gellman explores the contradictions of the Jay family's attitudes toward slavery over multiple generations. Enslaved and formerly enslaved people living in Jay households experienced isolation, even as members of the Jay family took increasingly radical approaches to law, policy, politics, and advocacy, culminating in John Jay's signing of An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery in 1799 as Governor of New York, which helped bring about the emancipation of enslaved people in New York in 1827. Gellman aims to bring new light and a fresh understanding of the Founder's legacy.

In this lecture, recorded July 14, 2022, Jinny Berten will discuss the research behind her historical fiction novel By His Side, which considers the relationship between George Washington and William Lee, the last three days of Washington's life, his changing views on slavery, and the concerns those enslaved at Mount Vernon had for Washington's last will and testament.

Thirty-five years before the battles of Lexington and Concord, the British colonies in North America raised a regiment to serve in the British Army for an expedition to seize control of the Spanish West Indies. The expedition marked the first time American soldiers deployed overseas. In this lecture, recorded June 16, 2022, Craig Chapman will discuss the Americans' role in the conflict, their terrible suffering, and the awful results of the expedition.

In this lecture, recorded May 19, 2022, Mary Sarah Bilder looks to the 1780s, the Age of the Constitution, to investigate the rise of a radical new idea in the English-speaking world: female genius. Bilder will discuss Eliza Harriot Barons O'Connor, a path-breaking female educator who delivered a University of Pennsylvania lecture that was attended by George Washington as he and other members of the Constitutional Convention gathered in Philadelphia.

This lecture was recorded as part of Fraunces Tavern Museum's Evening Lecture Series on Thursday, April 28, 2022. In this lecture, Thomas Balcerski* will discuss New York City as the capital of the nation, beginning in 1785 under the Articles of Confederation Congress. Despite debates over whether the capital should be relocated, the first Congress determined to meet there in March 1789, and the first inauguration of an American President happened there in April of the same year. Balcerski reviews the many sites associated with the early capital, between 1785 and 1790, and considers their significance to later developments in the new government, as well as how the legacy of this important history has been largely forgotten today. *The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its of Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

Military histories often focus on battles campaigns, overlooking the soldiers who fought them. Who were the red-coated soldiers who formed the ranks of the British army in the 1770s? In this talk, recorded April, 7, 2022, Don N. Hagist will investigate where British soldiers were from, what they did before joining the army, what motivated them to enlist, how they were trained, how they lived in America on campaign and in garrison, and what became of them after the war.

In this lecture, recorded March 10, 2022, Roger McCormack, Director of Education at The Bronx County Historical Society, to explore the significance of the Bronx in the American Revolution. This lecture will highlight the Battle of Pell's Point, the impact of the war on ordinary Bronx farmers and inhabitants, and the general history of the war in the Bronx.

For more than forty years, George Washington was dedicated to an innovative and experimental course of farming at Mount Vernon, where he sought to demonstrate the public benefits of recent advances in British agriculture. In this lecture, recorded February 17, 2022, Bruce Ragsdale will discuss these methods of British agricultural improvement and how they also shaped Washington's management of enslaved labor.

In this lecture, recorded January 13, 2022, Norman Desmarais will discuss recent discoveries about the Count de Rochambeau's army that counter popular assumptions—focusing primarily on the recently published diary of the Count de Lauberdière, which includes details that are not covered in any other French diaries. Serving as an aide-de-camp on General Rochambeau's staff, the young and well-educated Lauberdière provided a unique perspective of the war, including descriptions of the French army's camp in Newport, the long march to Yorktown, the siege and capture, and a fascinating examination of the people and their distinctive colonial culture.

In this lecture, recorded December 2. 2021, Martha Saxton provides a sketch of the challenging life of Mary Ball Washington, who raised George and his four siblings largely alone—as well as her unfair treatment at the hands of his biographers.

In this lecture, recorded November 11, 2021, Nina Sankovitch presents the intimate connections between leading families of the American Revolution—the Hancock, Quincy, and Adams families—and explores the role played by such figures as John Hancock, John Adams and Abigail Smith (Adams), Josiah Quincy Junior and Dorothy Quincy (Hancock) in sparking the flames of dissent and rebellion that would lead to the Declaration of Independence in 1776. By focusing in on Braintree, Massachusetts and these three prominent families of the village, Sankovitch demonstrates how the desire for independence cut across class lines, binding people together as they pursued commonly held goals of opportunity, liberty, and stability.

In this lecture, recorded October 14, 2021, Michael Harris will discuss the Battle of Germantown. Despite a complicated plan of attack, George Washington's Continental Army seemed on the verge of victory at Germantown, until decisions at the highest levels of the army took that promised victory away.

In this lecture, recorded September 27, 2021, author and SRNY member Ric Murphy will speak about his family genealogy, and his ancestors who fought in the American Revolution, serving in New York, Massachusetts and North Carolina regiments. Their story is covered in Ric's book, Freedom Road, which also details Ric's ancestors who fought in the War of 1812, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War.

In honor of Fraunces Tavern Museum's Tavern Week, this special lecture celebrates Samuel Fraunces, a revolutionary tavernkeeper and Patriot during the Revolutionary War. Presented on September 13, 2021 by Special Programs and Engagement Manager Mary Tsaltas-Ottomanelli, the lecture will explore the mysteries surrounding his early life, highlight his life in New York City and Philadelphia, and his relationship with General Washington.