Submitted by Tryon Palace
As we approach the 250th anniversary of America’s independence, Tryon Palace is thrilled to present Dr. Michael D. Hattem for its two North Carolina Community Class series this month. Dr. Hattem is a historian of the American Revolution and popular memory. He is the author of The Memory of ’76: The Revolution in American History (Yale University Press, 2024), which was a finalist for the 2025 George Washington Prize, and Past and Prologue: Politics and Memory in the American Revolution (Yale University Press, 2020). Dr. Hattem’s work has been featured, or mentioned in The New York Times, TIME magazine, The Smithsonian Magazine, the Washington Post, as well as many other mainstream media publications and outlets. Dr. Hattem received his PhD in History at Yale University and has served as a historical consultant or contributor for several projects and organizations, curated historical exhibitions, appeared in television documentaries, and authenticated and written catalogue essays for historical document auctions.
The first NC Community Class will take place on February 12, at 6:00 pm, at the North Carolina History Center. Dr. Hattem will present “The American Origin Myth: Why We Remember the Revolution” and discuss the unique role of the Revolution in American history and culture as our national “origin myth.” Americans have told and retold the story of the Revolution for two and a half centuries, visually depicting its most important scenes, visiting historical sites, and engaging in reenactments of its most famous moments. Dr. Hattem will explore how Americans have revised the meanings and ideals of the Revolution in ways that have been shaped by their own times, and address why Americans have always had a uniquely emotional connection to the memory of the Revolution.
Dr. Hattem will return to the North Carolina History Center two weeks later for the second NC Community Class of the year, on February 26, at 6:00 pm. For this one, he will present “Becoming American Scripture: The Declaration of Independence after 1776.” In this talk, Dr. Hattem will discuss the history of how the Declaration of Independence come to be familiar to Americans as the defining document of American history and one of the most influential documents in the history of the world. Though it served an important purpose in 1776, the Declaration was not particularly noted or celebrated in the decades after the Revolution. In this talk, Dr. Hattem will discuss how groups from across the political spectrum have redefined the Declaration and its ideals to make them more relevant and meaningful to their own times. In the process, he will show how the Declaration became “American Scripture,” as well as a model for independence-seeking people around the world.
Both NC Community Class series presented by Dr. Hattem will be followed by a light reception and book signing. Registration for each of the lectures is $15. You can reserve a copy of Dr. Hattem’s book, The Memory of ’76: The Revolution in American History, by calling the Tryon Palace Museum Store at 252-639-3532.