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 2025
Lunch Bite—The Orderly Book of Edmund Bancroft from September-December 1775
The Institute’s library director, Thomas Lannon, discusses the orderly book of Edmund Bancroft. Initially a non-commissioned officer in Col. William Prescott’s Regiment from May-December 1775, Edmund Bancroft was likely a participant at the Battle of Bunker Hill before becoming an ensign in the Seventh Continental Infantry in 1776. He eventually became a first lieutenant in the Fifteenth Massachusetts Regiment before dying in service. Although his orderly book was not kept during a period of concentrated military action, Bancroft made record…
Find out more »April 2025
Lunch Bite—A Hanger Sword Owned by Massacusetts Minute Man James Taylor
Deputy Director and Curator Emily Parsons discusses an American-made hanger sword carried during the early months of the Revolutionary War by James Taylor, a minute man from western Massachusetts. A native of Pelham, Taylor was an ensign in Capt. David Cowden’s company of minute men when it answered the Lexington Alarm—seventy-five miles east—on April 19, 1775. Two months later, Taylor participated in the Battle of Bunker Hill, a sobering victory for the British Army, which lost so many casualties that…
Find out more »June 2025
Lunch Bite—A 1773 British Army List
The Institute’s historical programs manager, Andrew Outten, discusses a 1773 register of British Army officers, annotated with casualties suffered during the first battles of the Revolution—most notably at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Beginning in 1740, the British Army published annual books listing officers serving within the army’s various regiments, along with their dates of commissions and promotions and other pertinent information. Drawing from the annotations contained within the 1773 British Army List from our library collections, this presentation will…
Find out more »August 2025
Lunch Bite—A Recruiting Broadside For the Continental Navy Ship Columbus
The Institute's research services librarian, Rachel Nellis, discusses a 1775 recruitment broadside laying out the terms and benefits of enlistment for sailors on the Columbus, commanded by Abraham Whipple. This presentation will discuss the use of broadsides in the Revolutionary era, the terms of enlistment for sailors, Capt. Abraham Whipple, and the various signers of the broadside. Registration is requested. To attend the Lunch Bite in-person at Anderson House, or to watch virtually, please use the appropriate link below.
Find out more »October 2025
Virtual Lunch Bite—A Portrait of Continental Navy Officer Silas Talbot
The Institute’s museum collections and operations manager, Paul Newman, discusses a 1785 portrait of Continental Navy officer Silas Talbot, painted by Ralph Earl. Though he was born in Massachusetts, Silas Talbot first took up arms against the British for his adopted state of Rhode Island in 1775. As a captain in the militia, Talbot first served at the Siege of Boston before being commissioned into the Continental Army and later tasked with creating and launching a fireship against British vessels…
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