The University of Mary Washington will participate in Virginia250, the Commonwealth’s official commemoration of the 250th anniversary of American independence, with a series of events beginning Tuesday, Jan. 20, with a lecture on Paul Revere’s midnight ride.
Part of the University’s William B. Crawley Great Lives Lecture Series, the Paul Revere presentation featuring Kostya Kennedy, author of The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night that Saved America, takes place on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 7:30 p.m. in George Washington Hall’s Dodd Auditorium. It will examine the complex reality behind one of America’s founding legends, revealing that multiple riders participated in the crucial intelligence mission of 1775.
Two additional Great Lives lectures – one in February and one in March – will also honor the Revolutionary War era and U.S. independence.
On Thursday, Feb. 26, author Matthew Pearl will discuss the 1776 kidnapping of Jemima Boone, daughter of frontier pioneer Daniel Boone, and its impact on westward expansion during the war’s early days. Historian Brooke Barbier will give a lecture on Tuesday, March 17, about John Hancock, examining the merchant-turned-patriot who helped unite ambivalent colonists behind independence.
All Great Lives lectures are held at 7:30 p.m. in George Washington Hall’s Dodd Auditorium. They are free, open to the public and typically include question-and-answer sessions and book-signings.
UMW also will host a Public Square Debate on what it means to live in a democracy on March 11, from 6 to 8 p.m., in the Cedric Rucker University Center’s Chandler Ballroom. Hosted jointly by Mary Washington and Germanna Community College, the debate will follow a Braver Angels format – where the goal isn’t to win but to understand, encouraging civil discourse on civic questions. Students are invited to register online to attend the debate and help choose a debate resolution.
“It’s done in a way that gets people to come together to consider their own positions in the spirit of others,” said Associate Provost for Community Relations and Compliance Shavonne Shorter. “It aligns perfectly with UMW’s ASPIRE values.”
The James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library, an administrative unit of UMW dedicated to the life and times of the fifth president of the United States, will also present a slate of public programs throughout the year to observe the 250th anniversary of the founding of the nation.
These UMW events help mark Virginia250 and America250 ahead of the nation’s semiquincentennial celebration this summer. Virginia250 is part of America250, an initiative commemorating U.S. independence ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday on July 4. The Commonwealth’s effort explores Virginia’s foundational role in forming the nation.
Earlier this fall, the University hosted “Adaptation, Innovation and Tradition: Art from the Patawomeck Community,” an exhibition celebrating the creative traditions of the Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia as part of Virginia250 programming.
America250 is led by the nonpartisan U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission established by congress in 2016 to unite Americans through educational and community programs. Virginia250 runs through 2031 and aims to inspire renewed commitment to citizenship through events, education and civic engagement.
Watch for UMW-hosted Virginia250 events by following UMW on Facebook and #MaryWash on Instagram.
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