Revolutionary Princeton 1774-1783: The Biography of an American Town in the Heart of a Civil War
Thursday, January 21, 2021
7pm Internet Webinar via GoToMeeting
Presented by Larry Kidder
Please go to HopewellValleyHistory.org to register for this event.
The story of Princeton between 1774 and 1783 is a microcosm of the struggles faced by ordinary Americans during the Revolution, struggles intensified by Princeton’s geographic location within the State, which saw more military activity than most and on a road constantly used to move troops and their supplies. Life in Princeton connected to just about every aspect of the Revolution. The stories of people who lived in Princeton, or who spent time there because of the Revolution, helps us better understand the hitherto untold importance of this town beyond the one, well-known, day of battle. This case study of a small New Jersey town located at the crossroads of the Revolution reveals the very human consequences, costs, and benefits of the war experienced by “ordinary” people.
The talk is based on Kidder’s research for his recent book of the same title, Revolutionary Princeton, 1774-1783: The Biography of an American Town in the Heart of a Civil War (The Knox Press).
About the Presenter:
Larry Kidder is a retired history teacher who taught for 40 years, including 32 years at The Hun School of Princeton. He is a graduate of Allegheny College (BA 1967, MS 1969) and served four years in the US Navy. Kidder has been a volunteer historian and historical interpreter for the Howell Living History Farm in Hopewell for more than 30 years and is a member of the board of the Princeton Battlefield Society where he focuses on educational programs and battlefield tours. He is a past president of the Hopewell Valley Historical Society and has served on the board for many years. The author of two books on rural New Jersey history and three on aspects of the American Revolution in Mercer County, Kidder is a frequent speaker throughout New Jersey. He also has been a presenter at conferences on the American Revolution in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New York. For more of Kidder’s projects and books, visit WLKidderHistorian.com.
Co-sponsored by Hopewell Valley Historical Society, The Hopewell Museum, and the Hopewell Branch of the Mercer County Library.