Virtual Tuesday Talk

This talk will discuss the importance of both the written and printed word in fueling the beginning of the American Revolution, keeping up the spirit and logistics of the fight during the war, and establishing the beginnings of an independent national identity both during and after the war itself. It will touch on the history of the Patriot movement as influenced by communication networks among colonial printers circulating news by mail and the importance of written correspondence and diaries to the people of the era and also to the history of American culture. It will also account for the importance of the Declaration of Independence as a printed document both in 1776 and in the years afterward, paying particular attention to the Binn's printing on display in the DAR Museum's 250th anniversary exhibit.

This virtual Tuesday Talk is free and open to the public. 

Register in advance to receive the zoom link! 

About the Speaker 

Professor Shaffer has been a member of the English Department at USNA since 2002. He is the author of Performing Patriotism: National Identity in the Colonial and Revolutionary American Theater (UPenn Press) along with numerous articles and essays.