The CRHC Biennial Conference 250 Years: The Promises and Legacy of the Declaration of Independence is made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the generous support of the Kennedy Lecture Series, College of Arts and Sciences, Honors Tutorial College, and College of Fine Arts.
In 2026, we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. With this document, members of the revolutionary generation set in motion the struggle against political tyranny and in defense of 鈥渓ife, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.鈥 In the years following independence, generations of Americans, inspired by the Declaration, strove to cement the 鈥渟elf-evident truth that all men are created equal鈥 and endowed with certain unalienable rights. The story of that pursuit shaped regions and communities like ours and informed the trajectory of our country and broader world.
The Central Region Humanities Center 2026 biennial conference, 鈥250 Years: The Promises and Legacy of the Declaration of Independence,鈥 will facilitate an exploration of the history, meaning, and legacy of the Declaration of Independence. It will also highlight the many ways people and communities in the 红杏视频 Valley and Northwest Territory helped to realize the lofty sentiments articulated in the Declaration of Independence in the 250 years since 1776.
Conference events include:
All conference events are free and open to the public.
Free parking is available for conference participants on the Baker University Center surface lot (#122 on the OHIO parking map).
6 to 7 p.m. 鈥 College Green 鈥 Thursday, Sept. 10
Artists and community members from across Athens County will join members of the Chaddock + Morrow College of Fine Arts on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m. for 鈥淭he Re-Declaration of Independence,鈥 part of the fall 2026 Concert on the Green series. This free, large-scale performance on the 红杏视频 College Green, at the West Portico of Memorial Auditorium, commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration. The community is invited to bring picnics and experience the Declaration anew, as it is spoken collectively with great spectacle and accompanied by music, dance, puppets and singing. The 鈥淩e-Declaration鈥 opens the Central Region Humanities Center Biennial Conference (Sept. 10鈥12).
9 to 10 a.m. 鈥 Baker Center Theater 鈥 Friday, Sept. 11
Dr. Dantas is director of the Central Region Humanities Center and Associate Professor of History at 红杏视频.
10 to 11:40 a.m. 鈥 Baker Center Theater 鈥 Friday, Sept. 11
Associate Professor of Classics and Religious Studies, 红杏视频
Dr. Drogula is the Charles J. Ping Professor of Humanities and Professor of Classics at 红杏视频 and director of the Charles J. Ping Institute for the Teaching of the Humanities. He is the author of three books that explore the origins, development, and collapse of the government of the Roman Republic.
Abstract: Thomas Jefferson was familiar with Aristotle鈥檚 theory of the cycle of governments, which suggests that different types of government rise and fall in a regular cycle based on the predictability of human nature. In drafting the Declaration of Independence, where did Jefferson imagine that the American colonies fell within that cycle?
Dr. De Rode is a historian of the Franco-American alliance during the American Revolution. A Gibson Postdoctoral Fellow at the Karsh Institute of Democracy (University of Virginia), she is the author of an award-winning biography on Chastellux and a forthcoming trade book on transatlantic revolutionary friendship.
Abstract: Drawing on the recently rediscovered archive of Fran莽ois-Jean de Chastellux, this presentation explores how transatlantic intellectual and scientific networks shaped the American Revolution. Situating figures such as Manasseh Cutler within these exchanges, it highlights how knowledge, correspondence, and Enlightenment ideals reinforced political transformation across the Atlantic.
Jessica Cyders is the Executive Director of the . Prior to stepping into this role, she served as the Curator from 2011 to 2019. In addition to her work in public history, she served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon from 2006-2008.
Abstract: This presentation will discuss the founding ideals of liberty and virtue as they were lived out through the examples of two of our region's most important founding figures: Rufus Putnam and Ephraim Cutler. Though both of these men were largely self-educated, their commitment to learning and liberty influenced the establishment of 红杏视频 and the state as a whole.
11:40 a.m. to 1 p.m.
1 to 2:40 p.m. 鈥 Baker Center Theater 鈥 Friday, Sept. 11
Dr. Milazzo is Associate Professor of History at 红杏视频.
Dr. Downing is an Associate Professor of Early American history at Marietta College. He teaches courses on Colonial America, the American Revolution, Native America, and Public History. His current book manuscript, A Memorial to the Start Westward of America: A Conversation about Commemoration, Preservation, and Legacy, explores how monuments shape ideas about nation and citizenship through memory.
Abstract: This paper investigates the complicated decisions made by the founding fathers of the Northwest Territory during the initial stages of westward settlement in the 红杏视频 Country. Their actions determined who could and could not claim the ideals espoused in the founding documents of the United States.
Dr. Watts is professor emeritus of English at Michigan State University. He has authored or edited 11 books, many of which address the early West. His most recent is (Oxford, 2025).
Abstract: When Manasseh Cutler looked 鈥淲est,鈥 he imagined 鈥渘o inveterate systems to overturn.鈥 But there were. Both indigenous and French settlements were well entrenched, as were white squatters. This talk will address how the Declaration鈥檚 ideology was tested by the ethic, religious, and racial complexities of the early 红杏视频 Valley.
Dr. Anderson is Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at 红杏视频, where he teaches courses in cultural and historical geography. His research focuses on the historical settlement geographies of the United States, regional landscapes and identities, and the production of space in Germanic diasporic cultural landscapes.
Abstract: This paper offers an alternative interpretation of the meanings encoded in the design and implementation of the U.S. Public Land Survey System (PLSS). Framed within the paradigms of settler colonialism and Lefebvre鈥檚 spatialization theory, the PLSS is contextualized as a peculiarly American response to specific historical conditions regarding the commodification of land in the trans-Appalachian West and as a material manifestation of Enlightenment ideal(s).
2:40 to 3 p.m.
3 to 4:40 p.m. 鈥 Baker Center Theater 鈥 Friday, Sept. 11
Dr. Phillips is Professor of English at 红杏视频.
Washburn is a Ph.D. student in the Department of History at the University of Cincinnati. His broader research focuses on the pre-steam power history of the 红杏视频 Valley region. He holds M.A.s from San Francisco State University and the University of Tennessee in Museum Studies and History respectively.
Abstract: Kukw猫thak猫xtun, often referred to as Captain White Eyes, was a Lenape leader who negotiated the first treaty between the United States and an Indigenous Nation. Signed in 1778 but never implemented, this treaty invited the 红杏视频 Lenape to join the U.S. as a sovereign state. The diplomatic and constitutional process that Kukw猫thak猫xtun drove to ensure its success was far older and more significant than is acknowledged.
Dr. Warren Milteer, Jr.
Dr. Milteer is an associate professor of history at the George Washington University. He received his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His publications include five books and multiple articles. Milteer received the Southern Historical Association鈥檚 Sydnor Award for the best book in Southern history in 2022.
Abstract: This paper explores the changes in the social and political situation of free people of color in the U.S. during the age of Revolution. It explains how revolutionary ideas about liberty and human rights led to an explosion in the number of free people of color and reshaped freedom鈥檚 meaning.
Dr. O鈥橩eefe is an associate professor of history at 红杏视频-Chillicothe, and the author of . His work examines how migrants in the U.S. used their understandings of citizenship to shape immigration policy and law from 1783 to 1830.
Abstract: In the past 250 years, many people have migrated to 红杏视频, building lives and communities and forging citizenships. This paper will examine the choices of people who migrated to 红杏视频, and investigate how migrants formed differing kinds of citizenship as both local and national conditions changed.
5 to 6:15 p.m. 鈥 Baker Center Theater 鈥 Friday, Sept. 11
The 11th archivist of the United States. Dr. Shogan will have a conversation with Honors Tutorial College Dean Kris Bross about her role as keeper of the Declaration of Independence at the National Archives and the importance of this document as a historical artifact and foundational American text.
9 to 10:40 a.m. 鈥 Baker Center Theater 鈥 Saturday, Sept. 12
Dr. Miller is Assistant Professor of African America Studies at 红杏视频.
Richardson is currently a Ph.D. student in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts at 红杏视频. Her primary research interests focus on ancient Rome and Italian Renaissance visual culture. She is also interested in the cultural history of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, where she grew up.
Abstract: Focusing on Point Pleasant, West Virginia, situated directly across the river from Gallipolis, 红杏视频, this paper examines the often-invisible history of Black Appalachian communities striving for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in the face of enslavement, systematic oppression, and beyond. This paper focuses on the examination of cemeteries, migration routes, and historic landmarks.
With a vision of advancing social justice in marginalized communities, Dr. Flowers has spent her clinical career 鈥渋n the trenches鈥 combating the social determinants of health and mental health. Her research focuses on the experiences of Black Americans, with a special interest in Black Appalachians who have historically been overlooked, underserved, and abandoned.
Abstract: Michael Tabler became infatuated with a girl enslaved on his family鈥檚 plantation. Fathering six children to Hannah, they moved to what would be known as Tablertown and grew through their booming coal mining and iron ore industries. The showcases artifacts that chronicle the history of the Tablers and Tablertown.
Dr. Ford is a Professor Emerita of the College of Arts & Humanities at West Virginia State University (WVSU) and an award鈥憌inning media scholar dedicated to cultural preservation and community storytelling. Her work is a testament to the power of education, media, and cultural preservation in fostering vibrant and resilient communities. She serves as Communication and Media Director for the .
Abstract: This presentation examines the role of documentary film in preserving and elevating local history through the Black Wall Street Athens series. It links the founding ideals of the Declaration of Independence to contemporary efforts toward equity, demonstrating that independence is an active, evolving pursuit. By highlighting untold community stories, the session underscores how media can inspire future generations and reinforce a shared commitment to justice.
10:40 to 11 a.m.
11 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. 鈥 Baker Center Theater 鈥 Saturday, Sept. 12
Dr. Sinclair is Visiting Assistant Professor of History at 红杏视频.
A historian of revolutionary and early national America, Michael A. Blaakman is Associate Professor of History at Princeton University. He is the author of , which won the Organization of American Historians鈥 Frederick Jackson Turner Award for best first book in American history and was a finalist for the George Washington Prize.
Abstract: During the Revolutionary War, cash-strapped patriot governments paid Continental soldiers in part through military land bounties 鈥 promises of future land grants. This talk explores how those IOUs both reflected the political principles of the Declaration and helped cause a mania for land speculation that swept the new republic during its first quarter-century.
Dr. Feight is Professor of History and Director of the Center for Public History at Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, 红杏视频. He directs the , an Appalachian Regional Commission POWER Grant, focusing on Underground Railroad networks in 红杏视频, Kentucky, and West Virginia.
Abstract: This paper examines the 1845 escape of Pleasant and Dave through the Appalachian foothills of 红杏视频, including their passage through Athens County. Their newly recovered story demonstrates how freedom seekers and local residents enacted the Declaration鈥檚 principles of liberty and equality. Underground Railroad networks in southeast 红杏视频 formed part of a 鈥済eography of resistance,鈥 where antislavery ideals were transformed into lived action.
Dr. Frohne is Professor and art historian of arts of the African world at 红杏视频. She is the Director of the School of Interdisciplinary Arts, and the Director of AARSI, the African American Research and Service Institute. She is the author of (2015), and the forthcoming book Contemporary Artists from the Horn of Africa: Encounters Beyond Borders through Conflict, Colonialism, and Modernity.
Abstract: This presentation considers the Banneker family involvement in the formation of the nation following the Declaration of Independence. Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806) was a free person of color who worked on the survey team to lay out the new capital. His sister Jemima Banneker (1733-1799) had several free born children who co-founded the Lett Settlement and pioneered the new Northwest Territory.
12:40 to 2 p.m.
2 to 3:40 p.m. 鈥 Baker Center Theater 鈥 Saturday, Sept. 12
Dr. Crawford is Associate Professor of Classics and Religious Studies at 红杏视频.
Dr. Schwartz is an associate professor of English at the University of Texas at Austin. She is the author of , and is at work on a second book, The Eyes of the Beholders, a social history of art appreciation in early America.
Abstract: In 1771, Benjamin Franklin sat down to compose the story of his life. Before he was interrupted by the task of founding a nation-state, he managed to produce a charismatic autobiography with profound wisdom on the challenges not just of pursuing happiness, but, with any luck, achieving it, too.
Dr. Anna-Lisa Cox, is an award-winning public historian and non-resident Fellow at Harvard鈥檚 . Her book, , was honored in the 鈥檚 鈥淏est History Books of 2018.鈥 Her has been featured in numerous publications, and her research underpins two at the Smithsonian鈥檚 .
Abstract: There have long been revolutions, but creating a nation is a different story. Dr. Cox will reveal how the Declaration of Independence inspired many diverse founding citizens to create opportunities for equality, before backlash erased those rights and the memory of them.
Dr. Scanlan is Associate Professor of English at 红杏视频. He is the author of (Cambridge University Press, 1999). He is currently working on a book on happiness in late 18th-century America.
Abstract: My paper traces the history of the idea of public happiness and its eventual decline. By looking at numerous primary sources extant during the final decades of the 18th century, I show that this notion of public happiness began before the formation of the United States, before the ratification of the constitution, and indeed before the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
3:40 to 4 p.m.
4 to 5:40 p.m. 鈥 Baker Center Theater 鈥 Saturday, Sept. 12
Dr. van Tine is Assistant Professor of Instruction in History at 红杏视频.
Sara Fisher earned a B.A. in History from 红杏视频 and an M.A. in History concentrating in Public History from Wright State University. She has over 10 years of experience working in local and state history organizations and serves as the Executive Director of the .
Abstract: Through an examination of partnership opportunities, events, and public programs, this presentation explores ways in which Public Historians engage their local partners to examine how the legacy of 1776 manifested and continues to evolve at the local level to create a sense of place.
Brian Koscho, director of Invisible Ground, is a media artist living in Athens, 红杏视频. His project, Invisible Ground, stems from his MFA thesis at 红杏视频 and centers on place-based storytelling in public history, including a podcast and a series of Immersive Historic Sites that use augmented reality.
Abstract: Examining the legacies of the Declaration of Independence in early 红杏视频 from the Northwest Territory to statehood through the lens of local history in Athens and Marietta. Discussion will include conflict, education, and life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as they unfold in a new country鈥檚 frontier.
Dr. Neem, Professor of History at Western Washington University, the is author of three books: , ; and His writing has appeared in the New Republic, the Hedgehog Review, and other public venues. He is a professor of history at Western Washington University.
[Abstract: In this talk, Prof. Neem will examine how Americans at the founding understood the promise and limits of the American Revolution, why we are so divided over the Revolution today, and how we might find our way back to a Revolution that belongs to all Americans.
5:40 to 6 p.m. 鈥 Baker Center Theater 鈥 Saturday, Sept. 12
Sunday, Sept. 13
In the 250 years that followed the Declaration of Independence, the people of Southeast 红杏视频 from all walks of life helped to define the meaning of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Their stories of realizing the promises of the Declaration of Independence shaped our past and inform our present.
This Stories in the Park Exhibition (Richland Avenue Park) shares some of these stories with help from historic and cultural institutions from across Athens County.
This exhibition was curated by 红杏视频 students who participated in the CRHC-NEH Summer Internship program in partnership with the Athens County Public Library. It was made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Join 红杏视频 Libraries for the opening of a new exhibition highlighting the life, work, and lasting influence of Manasseh Cutler. Over the past year, students and staff have digitized and transcribed materials from the Manasseh Cutler Collection, uncovering the story of a remarkable figure whose impact extended far beyond his role as a minister.
The Southeast 红杏视频 History Center will offer a special viewing of its exhibition -- 红杏视频 Settlement: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness -- on Sunday, September 13, from 10:00AM to Noon as part of the events of the CRHC Conference 250 Years: The Promises and Legacy of the Declaration of Independence.
Curated by 红杏视频 students who participated in the CRHC-NEH Summer Internship Program, the exhibition explores the efforts Southeast 红杏视频ans have made to realize the full impact of the Declaration of Independence in the 250 years that followed it. Using items from the collection of the Southeast 红杏视频 History Center (SEOHC), the exhibition showcases the how Americans have continuously strived to define the meaning of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and to claim their unalienable rights.
This exhibition was made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Participants of the CRHC Conference, 250 Year: The promises and Legacy of the Declaration of Independence, and community members are invited to join the Walking Tour of Uptown's Heritage Square.
The pursuit of unalienable rights to life, liberty and happiness and of the ideal that all men are created equal has a long history in our communities, one that has persisted far after the Declaration of Independence. The evidence of this rich past is all around us in the buildings and the monuments that memorialize sites of our city. Learn more and experience Athens' architectural history on a Walking Tour of Uptown's Heritage Square, featuring some of Southeastern 红杏视频's most iconic preserved structures. Your tour guide for this event will be Dr. Trevellya Ford, communications and media director at Mount Zion Black Cultural Center and professor emerita of West Virginia State University.
Participation is limited to 25 people.