HVHS is happy to share this press release from our friends at the Princeton Battlefield Society and Morven.
The Princeton Battlefield Society (PBS) and Morven Museum & Garden (Morven) will host the PBS Cadwalader Lecture featuring local author and historian John Rees, at Morven on February 27. Rees will discuss the largely unknown and under-appreciated role Black soldiers played in the fight for Independence at Princeton and throughout the American Revolution.
Mr. Rees, of New Hope, has been writing for almost 40 years on the experiences of common soldiers and women in the armies of the American Revolution; his most recent book, released in January, is Don Troiani’s Black Soldiers in America’s Wars, 1754-1865, which combines Rees’s narrative and captions with Troiani’s paintings.
“PBS is excited to have John deliver the second Cadwalader Lecture next month, following our inaugural lecture with Richard Brookhiser in November,” said Ben Strong, PBS President. “One of our goals is to tell the story of the common soldiers at the Battle of Princeton and go beyond just looking at the great generals who led army, and part of that story talking about the Black soldiers who made up a critical part of the American fight for Independence at Princeton and throughout the war.”
“We are extremely pleased to partner with Morven to cohost this Cadwalader lecture,” Strong said. “We are the two premier Revolutionary sites in Princeton, two of the most important in Mercer County and New Jersey, and PBS’ and Morven’s stories and our missions are interlocking and complementary. We thank Morven for hosting this edition of the Cadwalader series.”
“Morven was the home to Signer Richard Stockton,” Said Morven Board Chair Liza Morehouse. “What he promised when he signed the Declaration of Independence in July 1776, the men who fought at the Battle of Princeton, about a mile from here, paid for with blood, sweat and toil.
“We are glad Morven and PBS are working together to tell Princeton’s Revolutionary history with the 250th anniversary of the nation coming. We are elated we can play a role in welcoming John Rees to tell the story of these often forgotten soldiers.”
“It’s an honor to be invited to speak by Princeton Battlefield Society, and I certainly look forward to doing so at Morven,” Rees said. “The joint project with Don was a wonderful opportunity to highlight black soldiers’ service and experiences in our founding conflicts.”
Rees will sign copies of Don Troiani’s Black Soldiers in America’s Wars, 1754-1865 at Morven’s Stockton Education Center beginning at 6:00 in the afternoon. Tickets are priced at $40 per person and the proceeds will benefit PBS and Morven. To sign up for the talk, click here.
Rees will autograph books at the event before speaking and Farley’s Bookshop of New Hope will have copies for sale.”
PBS and Morven would like to thank the Cadwalader Lecture’s sponsors, the Cadwalader and Morehouse families.
About John Rees
During his career, Rees has centered his writing on the common soldiers and women who served with the armies of the Revolution. He has authored over 200 articles, many available online. His first book, “They Were Good Soldiers: African Americans Serving in the Continental Army, 1775-1783 was published in 2019.
About Don Troiani
Don Troiani is well-known for his extremely accurate historical and military paintings. His work has appeared in numerous publications and is represented in the collections of many museums, including the Smithsonian’s Museum of History and Technology, the United States Marine Corps Museum, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. His work has recently been featured in a year-long exhibition at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia.
About the Cadwalader Lectures
Concerned with Americans’ ignorance about the fight for Independence and the Battle, PBS created the Cadwalader Series to educate new generations about the Battle and the American Revolution as part of its two-year program to honor the 250th Anniversary of the Nation’s birth and the Battle of Princeton in 2026 and 2027. The Series is named after Gen. John Cadwalader, one of the American heroes at the Battle and the Series is intended to showcase issues and authors relevant to the Battle of Princeton and its place in the struggle for Independence.
About The Princeton Battlefield Society
The Princeton Battlefield Society is a national historic non-profit organization dedicated to the protection, preservation, and promotion of the Princeton Battlefield as a national treasure of the American Revolutionary War. For more information, including exhibitions and events, visit the Princeton Battlefield Society at https://pbs1777.org/
About Morven Museum & Garden
Most historic sites celebrate one notable resident. Morven is unique in that it was home to many remarkable people. Built during the 1750s and home to one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Richard Stockton, Morven was home to five generations of Stocktons, then Robert Wood Johnson, Jr. before becoming New Jersey’s first Governor’s Mansion and home to five New Jersey governors, their families, and staffs, witnessing nearly 300 years of history. Celebrating 20 years as a Museum in 2024, Morven is located at 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ, and is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The gardens are open daily until dusk. For more information, including exhibitions and events, visit morven.org.
Comments