Learn about the history of African-descended soldiers and civilians serving with both the Continental Army and with Loyalist troops in the British Army. Special attention will be paid to individuals serving in New York as well as the impact of the Philipsburg Proclamation, which was signed at Philipse Manor Hall in 1779. Speakers are: Sarah Wassberg Johnson is the programs and education manager at Philipse Manor Hall State Historic site in Yonkers, NY. She has a master’s in public history from the University at Albany and has been working in history museums since 2007. She started her research into Black loyalists and patriots in 2023 and hasn’t stopped since. Matt Thorenz, a historian who specializes In the American Revolutionary period and writes about the Black experience in the Continental Army since 2015. He has a master’s in information science from SUNY Albany and serves as the Local History & Government Docs Librarian at Newburgh Free Library. No charge to attend.
