When Lancaster resident Mary Rowlandson published her captivity narrative in 1682, it quickly became a best-seller both in the American colonies and in Britain. But what was it about her story that was so interesting? Why did seventeenth-century readers enjoy a captivity narrative so much? Join our Special Collections and Archives Librarian to learn more […]
What can small New England towns teach us about the meaning of independence—250 years later? In this engaging talk, local historian and teacher Tim Castner explores how town meetings became a training ground for democracy in the years leading up to the American Revolution. Starting with the story of Mary Rowlandson, we’ll look at how […]
The Battle of Bunker Hill was the second major battle to take place in Massachusetts at the beginning of the American Revolution, just a few short months after Lexington and Concord. While technically a loss for the Americans, it was a costly victory for the British, and it proved that the militiamen of New England […]
As the Revolutionary War continues into 1776, what are Lancastrians doing to support the war effort? Do the same people who responded to the Lexington Alarm in April of 1775 continue to fight? Does the community continue to support the Continental Army? And aside from the Revolution, what else is going on in the Town […]
By the 1790 Census, there were no slaves reported in the state of Massachusetts. But the state’s long history is intertwined with the history of slavery in the United States. Join our Special Collections and Archives Librarian for this program exploring the history of slavery within the state, from the abduction of Indigenous Peoples in […]