Public History in a US Presidential Year: An International Conversation about the 250th Anniversary

The run-up to the U.S. presidential election is in full swing. Due to the highly-charged, difficult, and sometimes dangerous path of democracy in recent years, both in the US and abroad, the role of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the American Revolution is critical to consider. What can this commemoration be used for? Who or what is considered revolutionary, and from what perspective? Against the backdrop of a presidential election, what role can the upcoming 250th anniversary of the American Revolution serve for global citizens? Join an international roundtable to hear about shared interests, places of possible connection, new discoveries, and the future of global cooperation with a mix of scholars and cultural heritage professionals from the US, Canada, and Europe.

Facilitator: Kevin Butterfield, John W. Kluge Center, Library of Congress
Participants: Iris de Rode, America2026
Laura Macaluso, Independent Scholar
Amy Speckart, Rare Book School, University of Virginia
Bertrand Van Ruymbeke, Université de Paris VIII (Vincennes Saint-Denis)