Meanings of Independence

In anticipation of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, this conference will bring together those who have an interest in the Revolution and its commemoration in 2026. The conference will take place online from October 18-20, and will be followed by a keynote lecture and in-person discussion on October 21-22 in Philadelphia, PA.

As the country moves closer to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Society, through its new David Center for the American Revolution, is holding a conference on October 18-22 on the “Meanings of Independence.” The conference aims to be unlike a traditional scholarly conference. Instead of scholars presenting scholarly papers to a scholarly audience, we hope to bring together public intellectuals, scholars, leaders of cultural organizations and government agencies, and other thought leaders who have an interest in the Revolution and its commemoration in 2026. We plan to draw a large in-person and online audience that represents this cross-section of individuals along with members of the public and educators. Our hope is that by bringing this diverse group of people together, attendees may be able to network with others and perhaps lay the foundation for collaborations that will bear fruit in 2026.

The symposium is free and open to all, but registration is required to attend. Links for virtual sessions will be sent separately via Zoom. All in-person sessions will be livestreamed.

Program

"Meanings of Independence" Program

October 18-22, 2021

**All times are listed in EDT**

The following sessions will be held online via Zoom Webinar:

Monday, October 18

1:00–2:15 p.m.: Sexuality & Identity in the American Revolution

Register via Zoom to attend.

"Violations, Mortifications, Transformations: The Pinckney Women Confront the Revolutionary War"
Lorri Glover (Saint Louis University)

“Slavery, Freedom, and Survival: Life at Westover Plantation in Revolutionary Virginia”
Ami Pflugrad-Jackisch (University of Toledo)

“Female Genius: Eliza Harriot and George Washington at the Dawn of the Constitution”
Mary Sarah Bilder (Boston College)

“'Damn the Bougre': LGBTQ+ People and the American Revolution"
John G. McCurdy (Eastern Michigan University)

Moderator: Katherine Grandjean (Wellesley College)

Tuesday, October 19

1:00–2:15 p.m.: Slavery, Race, & Revolution

Register via Zoom to attend.

“'Cruel war against human nature itself’: Understanding the American Revolution’s Impact on Slavery within the Context of Imperial Governance"
Holly Brewer (University of Maryland)

“Reexamining Activism in the Revolutionary Era: The Life-Long Efforts of the Revolution's Soldiers of Color”
Benjamin Remillard (University of New Hampshire)

“A Call to Stand Up: Meanings of Independence for People of African Descent"
Sherri Burr (University of New Mexico)

Moderator: Sean Gallagher (David Center for the American Revolution Postdoctoral Fellow, American Philosophical Society)

Wednesday, October 20

1:00–2:15 p.m.: Contesting Power & Authority in the Age of Revolutions

Register via Zoom to attend.

“Sigenauk’s War of Independence: New Indian Leadership and the Struggle for Autonomy in the Revolutionary Borderlands"
John Nelson (Texas Tech University)

“the disagreeable situation in between the Civil in the Military’: Prisoners of War and Local Governance in the American Revolution”
Susan Brynne Long (University of Delaware)

“Taxation With and Without Representation: The Union Crisis in Scotland, The Imperial Crisis in North America, and the Prospects and Costs of Incorporating Union"
Ned Landsman (SUNY Stony Brook)

Moderator: Jack Rakove (Stanford University)

The following sessions will be held in-person at Benjamin Franklin Hall, 427 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA. All in-person sessions will also be livestreamed.

Thursday, October 21

3:45 p.m.: Registration opens

4:00-5:00 p.m.: Project Showcase: Revolutionary City: Next Generation Digital Access to Historic Material [Learn more here]
Watch the livestream here.

5:00–6:00 p.m.: Opening Reception

6:00–6:05 p.m.: Welcome, Linda Greenhouse, President, American Philosophical Society

6:05–7:00 p.m.: Opening Keynote: Meanings of Independence

Featuring:
Scott Stephenson (President and CEO, Museum of the American Revolution)
Anthea Hartig (Elizabeth MacMillan Director, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution)
Christy Coleman (Executive Director, Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation)
Moderator: Patrick Spero (Librarian and Director, Library & Museum of the American Philosophical Society)

Watch the livestream here.

Dinner on one’s own

Friday, October 22

8:00 a.m.: Conference Registration opens

8:30-9:00 a.m.: Light breakfast

9:00–9:15 a.m.: Welcome Remarks, Barbara Oberg, Chair, Committee on Library & Museum, American Philosophical Society

9:15–10:15 a.m.: Panel 1: Experiences of Revolution

Panelists:
Adrienne Whaley (Director of Education and Community Engagement, Museum of the American Revolution)
Lauren Duval (The University of Oklahoma)
Michael Galban (Curator for the Seneca Art & Culture Center at Ganondagan State Historic Site)
Moderator: Robert Parkinson (SUNY Binghamton)

Watch the livestream here.

10:15–10:45 a.m.: Coffee Break

10:45 a.m–11:45 a.m.: Panel 2: War and Revolution

Panelists:
David Waldstreicher (The Graduate Center, CUNY)
Rebecca Brannon (James Madison University)
Kieran O’Keefe (George Washington University)
Moderator: Brendan McConville (Boston University)

Watch the livestream here.

12:00–1:00 p.m.: Lunch on one's own

1:00–2:00 p.m.: Panel 3: The Revolution Beyond its Borders

Panelists:
Andrew Jackson O’Shaughnessy (Saunders Director, Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello)
Kathleen DuVal (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)
Ashli White (University of Miami)
Moderator: Eliga Gould (University of New Hampshire)

Watch the livestream here.

2:00–2:30 p.m.: Coffee Break

2:30–3:30 p.m.: Panel 4: Commemorations and Classrooms

Panelists:
Cindy MacLeod (Superintendent, Independence National Historical Park)
Shaquita Smith (Social Studies Curriculum Specialist, School District of Philadelphia)
Ismael Jimenez (Social Studies Curriculum Specialist, School District of Philadelphia)
Robert Allison (Revolution 250/Suffolk University)
Moderator: Kyle Roberts (Associate Director of Library & Museum Programming, American Philosophical Society)

Watch the livestream here.

3:30–3:45 p.m.: Break

3:45–4:45 p.m.: Closing Keynote: Reflections on the Past; Ideas for the Future

Featuring:
Alan Taylor (University of Virginia)
Mary Beth Norton (Cornell University)
Moderator: Serena Zabin (Carleton College)

Watch the livestream here.

4:45–5:30 p.m.: Closing Reception

Dinner on one’s own

Registration

"The Meanings of Independence" will be held in-person from October 21-22, 2021. Virtual Panels will be held online via Zoom at 1:00 p.m. ET on October 18-20, 2021. Please register for in-person panels only using the link to the left. Registration for virtual sessions may be completed via the links listed with each panel.

Links to the virtual panels scheduled for October 18-20 will be sent separately via Zoom. In-person program attendees must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours and wear a mask while inside Benjamin Franklin Hall. With limited space for social distancing, requiring proof of vaccination is the best way to protect the health and safety of our visitors and staff. Full details are listed on our website.

Please direct any questions to Adrianna Link at [email protected].

Papers for Virtual Discussions

Download Papers

Conference papers can be found through the link to the left. You will be required to enter a password provided by conference organizers to access them. Please contact the APS at [email protected] if you have not yet received the password.

Papers are not to be cited or circulated without the written permission of the author.

Accommodations

Old City Hotels:

There are several hotels within walking distance as well as many within a short ride by public transit, taxi, or Uber. Addresses and contact information are below. The hotels listed here represent accommodations in Old City, Philadelphia. There are many additional options in other areas of the city including Center City and Rittenhouse Square. Philadelphia is also served by Airbnb and other accommodation sharing sites.

Renaissance Philadelphia Downtown Hotel (Marriott)
401 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Reservations: 215-925-0000

Hotel Monaco (Kimpton)
433 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Reservations: 855-295-BELL
Hotel: 215-925-2111

Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District
400 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-923-8660

Philadelphia Marriott Old City Hotel
1 Dock Street (Between 2nd and Walnut Streets)
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-238-6000

Best Western The Independence Park Hotel
235 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-922-4443

Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia-E.Penns Landing
100 North Christopher Columbus Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19106
1-800-405-4329

Getting Here

APS Addresses: The conference will take place in the APS’s Franklin Hall, located at 427 Chestnut Street. The Library is located at 105 South Fifth Street, and the APS Museum is housed across the street from the Library, in Philosophical Hall at 104 South Fifth Street.

Planes: The Philadelphia International Airport is 12 miles from the American Philosophical Society and is served by most major domestic and many international airlines. Philadelphia is a regional hub for American Airlines.

Ground Transportation from Airport: The airport is connected to Philadelphia through a network of public transit, rental cars, taxis, and private car services. In addition, ride share services can be booked for transport to and from the airport. More information on specific modes of transport can be found on the airport’s website.

Trains: Philadelphia has an Amtrak station and is on the busy Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington, D.C. Both Northeast Regional and Acela trains stop at 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. In addition, the Keystone, an east-west Amtrak route, stops several times a day in Philadelphia.

Automobiles: The American Philosophical Society is easily reached by I-95, 676, and the 76/Schuylkill Expressway.

Parking: There are several parking garages within a convenient distance from the APS. The Bourse Garage is the closest facility, at 4th and Ranstead Streets. Additionally, there are garages at the Independence Visitor Center and the National Constitution Center.

Buses: Many bus companies in the Northeast serve the Philadelphia area including Bolt Bus, Mega Bus, and Greyhound. Bolt Bus and Mega Bus arrive at 30th Street Station, which is a short ride away from the APS. The Greyhound station is between 12th and 13th Streets, just behind the Jefferson Station SEPTA stop.

Public Transportation in Philadelphia: The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is the major public transportation provider in the Philadelphia region. SEPTA runs Regional Rail lines through the city to the outlying suburbs and the airport. The Market-Frankford Line stops every couple of streets in Center City and runs out to West Philadelphia, by the University of Pennsylvania. SEPTA also runs trolley lines and buses throughout the city. Schedules, maps, fares, and additional information about the public transit system in Philadelphia can be found on their website.