About the Project

States of Independence offers an extensive collection of videos that paint an expansive and, at the same time, intricate picture of American independence. The videos, roughly 100 in total, feature historical experts from each of the original thirteen states answering the following questions:

Context

What were the particular circumstances in your colony (relative to the other twelve) during the early-to-mid 1770s as the prospect of national independence was anticipated and debated? 

Declaration

Can you give us a sense of how the Declaration of Independence was received and enacted in your state?

Memory

How has the Declaration been commemorated and invoked in your state over the past 250 years?

Perspectives

Can you provide a sense of the particular attitudes and experiences of the following groups of Americans during the Revolutionary moment?

  • African Americans
  • Loyalists
  • Native Americans
  • Politicians
  • Women

All filming took place between January and May of 2026.

This project is a collaborative effort between New American History and Monticello.

Contact: andy.hammann@richmond.edu

 

People

  • Lead Historian: Andy Hammann, New American History, University of Richmond
  • Lead Videographer: Jordan Breeding, Breeding Ground
  • Advisors: Ed Ayers, New American History, University of Richmond; Andrew Davenport, Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies, Monticello
  • Website Design: Journey Group

Connecticut

  • Natalie Belanger, Public Programs Manager — Connecticut Museum of Culture and History
  • Damien Cregeau, Independent Scholar, Author of Portraits of Patriots
  • Katherine Hermes, Professor Emeritus, Publisher of Connecticut Explored — Central Connecticut State
    University
  • John Mills, President, Author of The Narrative of Primus — Alex Breanne Corporation
  • Andrea Rapacz, Chief Curator of Collections — Connecticut Museum of Culture and History

Delaware

  • Rebecca Fay, Director of Education — Delaware Historical Society
  • Charles Fithian, Delaware Archeologist — Delaware Historical Society
  • Leigh Rifenburg, Chief Curator — Delaware Historical Society
  • Joseph Sullivan, Welcome Center Supervisor — Delaware Public Archives

Georgia

  • Christy Crisp, Vice President of Education and Programs — Georgia Historical Society
  • Stan Deaton, Dr. Elaine B. Andrews Distinguished Historian — Georgia Historical Society
  • Keith Strigaro, Director of Public Relations and Communications — Georgia Historical Society

Maryland

  • David Armenti, Vice President of Education and Engagement — Maryland Center for History and Culture
  • Catherine Arthur, Vice President of Collections and Chief Curator — Maryland Center for History and Culture
  • Katie Caljean, President and CEO — Maryland Center for History and Culture
  • Micah Connor, Library Associate and Student Research Coordinator — Maryland Center for History and Culture
  • Martina Kado, Vice President of Research and France-Merrick Director of the H. Furlong Baldwin Library — Maryland Center for History and Culture

Massachusetts

  • Miriam Liebman, Assistant Editor, The Adams Papers — Massachusetts Historical Society
  • Sara Martin, Editor in Chief, The Adams Papers — Massachusetts Historical Society
  • Kate Melchior, Associate Director of Educator Engagement and Outreach — Massachusetts Historical Society
  • Heather Wilson, Assistant Director for K-12 Learning — Massachusetts Historical Society
  • Kanisorn Wongsrichanalai, Peter Drummey Chief Historian — Massachusetts Historical Society 

New Hampshire

  • Eliga Gould, Professor of History — University of New Hampshire

New Jersey

  • James Amemasor, Research Specialist — New Jersey Historical Society
  • Todd Braisted — Royal Provincial Research
  • Elaine Buck, Co-Founder, Co-Author of Harmony and Hostility: A View from the Mountain — Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum
  • Sara Cureton, Executive Director — New Jersey Historical Commission
  • Linda Caldwell Epps, President and CEO — 1804 Consultants
  • William Krakower, Resource Interpretive Specialist — Princeton Battlefield State Park
  • Beverly Mills, Co-Founder, Co-Author of Harmony and Hostility: A View from the Mountain — Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum 

New York

  • Julie Golia, Linda May Uris Director, Humanities and Social Sciences Research Library — New York Public Library
  • Meredith Mann, Interim Charles J. Liebman Curator of Manuscripts — New York Public Library
  • Lizzie Tribone — New York Public Library

North Carolina

  • Sally Bloom, Curator of Distance Education — North Carolina Museum of History 

Pennsylvania

  • David Brigham, President and CEO — Historical Society of Pennsylvania
  • William Ewald, John J. O’Brien Professor of Comparative and International Law — University of Pennsylvania Law School 

Rhode Island

  • C. Morgan Grefe, Executive Director — Rhode Island Historical Society
  • Richard Ring, Senior Director for Library & Museum Collections at Rhode Island Historical Society — Rhode Island Historical Society

South Carolina

  • Elizabeth Chew, CEO — South Carolina Historical Society
  • Annette Guild, Metadata Specialist — South Carolina Historical Society
  • Melina Testin, Education Coordinator — South Carolina Historical Society 

Virginia

  • Maggie Creech, Director of Education — Virginia Museum of History and Culture

  • James Herrera-Brookes, Melanie Trent De Schutter Senior Director of Research & Publications — Virginia Museum of History and Culture