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.
November 2024
Author’s Talk—From Empire to Revolution: Sir James Wright and the Price of Loyalty in Georgia
James Wright lived a transatlantic life, taking advantage of every imperial opportunity afforded him. He earned numerous important government posts and amassed an incredible fortune. An England-born grandson of Sir Robert Wright, James Wright was raised in Charleston, South Carolina, following his father’s appointment as the chief justice of that colony. Young James served South Carolina in several capacities, public and ecclesiastical, prior to his admittance to London’s famed Gray’s Inn to study law. Most notably, he was appointed South…
Find out more »Battlefield Tour—The Battle of Guilford Courthouse
Join us on November 15-16, 2024, as we explore a significant engagement of the Revolution's Southern Campaign: The Battle of Guilford Courthouse. The two-day experience will kick off with a Friday evening dinner and lecture given by historian Dennis Conrad, Ph.D., editor of The Papers of Nathanael Greene, discussing Greene’s leadership and various events that led to the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. On Saturday, a day-long guided tour of Guilford Courthouse National Military Park and other associated locations will be…
Find out more »December 2024
Author’s Talk—Declarations of Independence: Indigenous Resilience, Colonial Rivalries, and the Cost of Revolution
On July 4, 1776, two hundred miles northwest of Philadelphia, on Indigenous land along the west branch of the Susquehanna River, a group of colonial squatters declared their independence. They were not alone in their efforts. This bold symbolic gesture was just a small part of a much broader and longer struggle in the Northern Susquehanna River Valley, where diverse peoples, especially Indigenous nations, fought tenaciously to safeguard their lands, sovereignty and survival. Drawing from his new book, Christopher Pearl,…
Find out more »Lunch Bite—A Portrait Miniature of the Marquis de Lafayette Painted During the Farewell Tour
The marquis de Lafayette’s farewell tour of the United States produced a staggering number of images of the general, from original oil portraits commissioned by government entities and wealthy individuals to prints mass produced for sale at public events. One of the lesser-known original works of art created during the tour is a watercolor portrait miniature of Lafayette painted by Charles Fraser during the general’s visit to Charleston, South Carolina, in March 1825. In the portrait Lafayette wears a distinctive…
Find out more »Virtual Lecture—Transatlantic Abolitionism in the Age of Revolution
Throughout his life, the marquis de Lafayette fought vehemently for personal freedoms. He advocated for women’s rights in America and civil rights for Protestants in France, and promoted respect for the identity and sovereignty of American Indians. His most extensive efforts in support of human liberty were his work to end slavery and the African slave trade. While Lafayette respectfully nudged his slave-owning friends to embrace emancipation, he became increasingly disturbed by the contradiction of the American republic, a beacon…
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