Princeton Battlefield Society and Morven Museum & Garden to Host Local Historian and Author John Rees for Cadwalader Lecture To Discuss Black Soldiers in the American Revolution During Black History Month

Princeton Battlefield Society and Morven Museum & Garden Announce Cadwalader Lecture

The Princeton Battlefield Society (PBS) and Morven Museum & Garden (Morven) announced today that Morven will host the PBS Cadwalader Lecture featuring local author and historian John Rees, at Morven on February 27th. Rees will discuss the largely unknown and under-appreciated role Black soldiers played in the fight for Independence at Princeton and the American Revolution.

About John Rees

Mr. Rees, of New Hope, has been writing for almost 40 years on the experiences of common soldiers and women in the armies of the American Revolution. His most recent book, released in January, is Don Troiani’s Black Soldiers in America’s Wars, 1754-1865, which combines Rees’s narrative and captions with Troiani’s paintings.

“PBS is excited to have John deliver the second Cadwalader Lecture next month, following our inaugural lecture with Richard Brookhiser in November,” said Ben Strong, PBS President. “One of our goals is to tell the story of the common soldiers at the Battle of Princeton and go beyond just looking at the great generals who led the army. Part of that story is talking about the Black soldiers who made up a critical part of the American fight for Independence at Princeton and throughout the war.”

“We are extremely pleased to partner with Morven to cohost this Cadwalader lecture,” Strong said. “We are the two premier Revolutionary sites in Princeton, two of the most important in Mercer County and New Jersey, and PBS’ and Morven’s stories and our missions are interlocking and complementary. We thank Morven for hosting this edition of the Cadwalader series.”

“Morven was the home to Signer Richard Stockton,” said Morven Board Chair Liza Morehouse. “What he promised when he signed the Declaration of Independence in July 1776, the men who fought at the Battle of Princeton, about a mile from here, paid for with blood, sweat, and toil.

Rees will sign copies of Don Troiani’s Black Soldiers in America’s Wars, 1754-1865 at Morven’s Stockton Education Center beginning at 6:00 PM. Tickets are priced at $40 per person, and proceeds will benefit PBS and Morven. To sign up for the talk, click here. Rees will autograph books at the event before speaking, and Farley’s Bookshop of New Hope will have copies for sale.

About the Cadwalader Lectures

Concerned with Americans’ ignorance about the fight for Independence and the Battle, PBS created the Cadwalader Series to educate new generations about the Battle and the American Revolution as part of its two-year program to honor the 250th Anniversary of the Nation’s birth and the Battle of Princeton in 2026 and 2027. The Series is named after Gen. John Cadwalader, one of the American heroes at the Battle, and the Series is intended to showcase issues and authors relevant to the Battle of Princeton and its place in the struggle for Independence.

About The Princeton Battlefield Society

The Princeton Battlefield Society is a national historic non-profit organization dedicated to the protection, preservation, and promotion of the Princeton Battlefield as a national treasure of the American Revolutionary War. For more information, including exhibitions and events, visit Princeton Battlefield Society.

About Morven Museum & Garden

Morven is unique in that it was home to many remarkable people. Built during the 1750s and home to one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Richard Stockton, Morven housed five generations of Stocktons, then Robert Wood Johnson, Jr., before becoming New Jersey’s first Governor’s Mansion. Celebrating 20 years as a museum in 2024, Morven is located at 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ, and is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The gardens are open daily until dusk. For more information, visit Morven Museum & Garden.

Media Contacts

Princeton Battlefield Society
Mark Herr, 203-517-8957
Mark@MarkHerrCommunications.net

Morven Museum & Garden
Ellen Malavsky
emalavsky@Morven.org