Michael Hattem: An Unfinished Revolution at 250 at New Haven Museum
Historian and author Michael Hattem will present “An Unfinished Revolution at 250” at the New Haven Museum on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. Hattem will discuss the unique role that the Revolution has had in American life and the longstanding tradition in American history of remembering the nation’s founding as an “unfinished revolution.” The free NH250 event will be held at 6 p.m. and preceded by a reception at 5:30 p.m. Register here.
Michael Hattem
Hattem is an American historian with interests in early America, the American Revolution and historical memory. He will base his lecture on his newest book, “The Memory of ’76: The Revolution in American History”(Yale University Press, 2024). The book is a finalist for the 2025 George Washington Prize.
Hattem notes that the principles of the Revolution have been constantly redefined to fit the needs of the times. “Countless social movements — including abolitionists, suffragists, and the civil-rights movements of the 1960s and 1970s—have tried to win popular support by depicting their causes as attempts to fulfill the ideals of the American Revolution,” he says. He explains that abolitionists were the first Americans to celebrate the Declaration of Independence specifically for its preamble and the statement that “all men are created equal.”
Hattem hopes visitors gain an understanding that the 250th anniversary offers an opportunity to redefine those principles for our own times. He adds,“ As we commemorate the anniversary of American independence, this long and surprising history serves as a critical reminder of the importance of redefining the Revolution in ways that are meaningful and useful in the present.”
About NH250
This event is part of NH250, an ongoing series of programming developed by New Haven Museum to complement “America 250,” culminating with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The series will highlight inclusive, local and lesser-known stories, connecting past and present.
About the Author
Hattem received his Ph.D. in history at Yale University and has taught at The New School and Knox College. He previously published “Past and Prologue: Politics and Memory in the American Revolution” (Yale University Press, 2020). He is currently the associate director of the Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute. His work has been featured or mentioned in The New York Times, TIME magazine, The Smithsonian Magazine and Washington Post, among others. He has served as a historical consultant or contributor for numerous projects and organizations. He has alsocurated historical exhibitions, appeared in television documentaries and authenticated and written catalogue essays for historical-document auctions.
About the New Haven Museum
The New Haven Museum has been collecting, preserving and interpreting the history and heritage of Greater New Haven since its inception as the New Haven Colony Historical Society in 1862. Located in downtown New Haven at 114 Whitney Avenue, the Museum brings more than 375 years of New Haven history to life. It does it through its collections, exhibitions, programs and outreach. As a Blue Star Museum, the New Haven Museum offers free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve. For more information visit http://newhavenmuseum.org or @NewHavenMuseum or call 203-562-4183.
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