From RUTHERFORD B. HAYES PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY & MUSEUMS
From the signers of the Declaration of Independence to stories of men and women behind the American Revolution to the downfall of Alexander Hamilton, History Roundtable will have a colonial American focus this fall.
The series, led by retired educator Mike Gilbert, returns for its 13th season and will focus on topics highlighting early American history in celebration of the United States’ semiquincentennial celebration in 2026. Gilbert researches each topic and presents stories of the past.
History Roundtable will take place in person at Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museums located at Spiegel Grove. Pre-recorded virtual sessions will also be offered for those who cannot attend in person.
Six sessions will be offered on Saturdays in September and October. Sessions are from 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Admission – whether in person or virtually – is $5 per session or $25 for all six. Pre-registration and pre-payment for both in-person and virtual sessions are required.
Cash, checks, and credit cards are accepted. To register and pay, contact Julie Mayle, curator of manuscripts, at jmayle@rbhayes.org. There are no refunds.
The schedule of sessions is:
- Saturday, Sept. 5 – Prelude to the American Revolution
- The collapse of the British East India Company and unrest at home pushed Britain into taxing tea and hiring Hessian soldiers, exposing an overstretched empire straining to hold its power as the Revolution unfolded.
- Saturday, Sept. 12 – We the People: The Signers
- The Declaration of Independence is remembered for its 56 signers, but its creation and preservation relied on many others. People will learn how unrecognized individuals played a part in this historic document.
- Saturday, Sept. 19 – Hidden History: Women Behind the American Revolution
- This topic will shine a light on the women of the American Revolution. From indigenous diplomats to the enslaved, from privateers and spies to front-line patriots, their stories reveal a more complex and powerful transformation.
- Saturday, Sept. 26 – Hidden History: Men Behind the American Revolution
- The American Revolution promised liberty, yet minorities and the poorer classes faced harsher realities. These stories reflect the tales of men lost to history and their contribution to a Revolution that changed the world.
- Saturday, Oct. 10 – The American Revolution and its Effects on the British Empire
- Britain’s “black holes” overlooked imperial episodes including the displacement of Loyalists, the legal limbo of privateers and the plight of prisoners. Administrative indifference, maritime law ambiguity, and wartime movement erased their lives from official histories.
- Saturday, Oct. 17 – Alexander Hamilton: The Downfall of a Founding Father
- In 1799, the murder of “Elma” Sands and the sensational 1800 trial, defended by Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, helped grow public interest for courtroom drama and served as a forerunner to the true crime genre popular today.
For more information, call 419-332-2081, or visit rbhayes.org.
