EVENTS
See and Do Everything!
Events (April – June)
View a condensed and printable pdf of the events HERE.
Select a date to view events:
April 12th | April 19th | April 26th | May 3rd | May 17th | May 20th | May 24th | May 25th | May 31st | June 2nd | June 3rd
April 12th, 2023
April 12th – 6:30pm
When Religious and Political Beliefs Conflict: The Dilemma of Local Quakers During the Revolution [“Unheard Voices” Lecture]
Location: Lutheran Church of Our Savior
Website: oursaviorhaddonfield.org
Members of the Religious Society of Friends (or “Quakers”) opposed the Townsend Duties along with their neighbors believing the king and Parliament had no right to levy taxes on them. When independence-minded colonists gained control of New Jersey’s government and began preparations for war with Britain, unity ruptured. Local Quakers found themselves caught between rebel-controlled local governments and Philadelphia’s Quaker Loyalists. While some Quakers abandoned their pacifist views to join the military, others held to their non-violent beliefs and were “martyred” by intolerant rebels. Yet, most Quakers tried to avoid conflict and the Haddonfield Friends Meeting enforced political neutrality.
(Presenter: Garry Wheeler Stone)
April 19th, 2023
April 19th – 1:00pm
Impact of Disease on the Revolution & Local Communities [“Unheard Voices” Lecture]
Not only did George Washington’s army have to fight British soldiers during the American Revolution they had to fight an even more dangerous foe: disease. Diphtheria, malaria, yellow fever, dysentery, and smallpox all had an impact in one way or another on how the war was fought. Washington also had to fight the state houses in the various states that forbade smallpox inoculation once he decided he wanted to have Continental troops inoculated. The community spread of disease in the Revolutionary period had an enormous impact on how the general timed his battles, where he rested, and how he raised troops.
(Presenter: Kelly Jackson)
April 26th, 2023
April 26th – 6:30pm
Phillis Wheatley: An Enslaved Poet [“Unheard Voices” Theatrical Portrayal]
Location: Lutheran Church of Our Savior
Website: oursaviorhaddonfield.org
Phillis Wheatley is the first published African-American poet and first Africa-American female public writer. Her poetry dramatized the condition of black Americans during the Revolutionary Era. While still an enslaved person, she met with Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, traveled to London and attended social events with many dignitaries. Although shortly after her manumission she died in poverty at age 31, her poetry remains as an eloquent voice of hope for American liberty.
(Presenter: Daisy Century of the American Historical Theatre)
May 1st, 2023
May 3rd – 1:00pm
African Americans in the Age of Revolution [“Unheard Voices” Lecture]
Location: Camden Conference Center, Camden County College
*Free parking below building; Validate parking ticket as you leave building*
This lecture will discuss African Americans during the Revolutionary War, concentrating on New Jersey and Philadelphia. It will cover African Americans’ direct involvement in fighting for the patriots, black loyalists who sought freedom by fighting for the British, and African Americans’ views on the revolutionary philosophy of freedom that left out both free and enslaved black people.
(Presenter: Kendra Boyd)
May 17th, 2023
May 17th – 6:30pm
Fighting for the Crown: Colonial Loyalists [“Unheard Voices” Lecture]
Location: Lutheran Church of Our Savior
Website: oursaviorhaddonfield.org
In both schools and in the media, it is argued that with the signing of the Declaration of Independence, American citizens rose up as one to challenge the king and Parliament. However, nothing could be further from the truth. It is estimated that when the war began only one-third of the colonists supported the revolution. What actually began was our first civil war: a very personal war of battles and bitterness, often pitting neighbor against neighbor.
(Presenter: Herb Kaufman)
May 20th, 2023
May 20th – 2:00pm
Colonial Taverns of NJ: Libations, Liberty & Revolution [Author Talk & Book Signing]
Location: Indian King Tavern
May 24th, 2023
May 24th – 7:00pm
We Were There Too: Jews & the Revolution [“Unheard Voices” Lecture]
The role of Jews in the events of the American Revolution is largely unrecognized, given that they represented a small percent of the total population and that they were scattered throughout the thirteen colonies. Their loyalties like those of their neighbors were divided with a sizable majority favoring the patriot vision of an independent America. However, some Jewish families were divided within themselves in their loyalties. Their participation marked the first time since their exile from Jerusalem that they could take their place alongside Christian neighbors as equals. This talk will discuss Jewish attitudes toward the Revolution and their contributions to it.
(Presenter: Norman H. Finkelstein)
May 25th, 2023
May 25th – 7:00pm
Mr. President vs. “Mrs. President”: John & Abigail Adams [Debate]
Location: The Haddon Fortnightly
$17.76 – Limited Tickets; Sold Out in 2022
John Adams was a brilliant lawyer and the founding father others “loved to hate.” Although he disliked being refuted, one person boldly challenged him: his wife, Abigail.
Remembered for warning John to “remember the ladies,” her influence led critics to call her “Mrs. President”. Join America’s original power couple for a lively debate.
May 31st, 2023
May 31st – 6:30pm
Freemasons & the Revolution [“Unheard Voices” Lecture]
Location: Lutheran Church of Our Savior
Website: oursaviorhaddonfield.org
This talk will provide an overview of Freemasonry’s and individual Freemasons’ contributions to the independence of the British-American colonies. It will cover such topics as: Why Freemasonry’s role has been exaggerated; It’s helping to bind the disparate (religious, social, etc.) elements of the Continental army; and Benjamin Franklin’s use of masonic networks to help secure French aid. It will also elucidate the prominent roles of individual Freemasons in the fields of art, finance, politics, and war.
(Presenter: John Herd Couch Minott)
June 2nd, 2023
June 2nd –
5pm-7pm
Colonial Taverns of NJ: Libations, Liberty & Revolution [Author Talk & Book Signing]
June 3rd, 2023
June 3rd –
9am-3pm
The Haddonfield Skirmish [Full Day – Colonial & Revolutionary Events]
Location: Indian King Tavern
Town-wide events start at 9 a.m.; Skirmish starts at 2 p.m.