In Search of “Private Yankee Doodle”: Discovering the Material World of a Revolutionary War Soldier
Schedule
Fri May 29 2026 at 06:00 pm to 07:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
14 Hancock St, Portsmouth, NH, United States, New Hampshire 03801 | Portsmouth, NH
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𝐈𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 “𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐘𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐥𝐞”: 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐖𝐚𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐫Friday, May 29, 2026, 6-7 PM
Strawbery Banke Museum, 14 Hancock Street, Portsmouth
As part of the Revolutionary Portsmouth Lecture Series, a partnership between Portsmouth Historical Society and Strawbery Banke Museum, Dr. Philip Mead explores the lived experiences of enlisted soldiers in the American Revolution through the writings and material world of Joseph Plumb Martin. Enlisting at just 16, Martin served seven years in the Continental Army under George Washington, leaving behind one of the most detailed firsthand accounts of the war from the perspective of an ordinary soldier. Drawing on Martin’s memoir alongside surviving objects and documents, Mead examines the motivations, hardships, and lasting impact of military service, revealing how one man’s story reflects broader questions about sacrifice, identity, and democratic ideals in the early American republic.
Dr. Philip Mead holds a Ph.D. in early American history from Harvard University. From 2014 to 2023, he served as the founding Chief Historian and Curator of the Museum of the American Revolution. He recently served as guest lead curator of The Declaration’s Journey (2025–2027), marking the 250th anniversary of 1776. His work focuses on the material culture and lived experiences of the Revolutionary era.
𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧:
SBM and PHS members $15; Nonmembers $20.
𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬:
The Revolutionary Portsmouth Lecture Series is a collaborative program between Strawbery Banke Museum and Portsmouth Historical Society, presented in conjunction with each organization’s 2026 exhibition, Revolutionary Portsmouth. Through a series of engaging talks, historians and scholars explore the people, events, and everyday experiences that shaped Portsmouth during the American Revolution and its lasting legacy.
Lectures rotate between Strawbery Banke Museum and Portsmouth Historical Society. Please note the location for each program when registering.
Admission per lecture is: SBM and PHS members $15; Nonmembers $20.
Buy 3 full-price tickets, get additional tickets 25% off with code REV250.
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Where is it happening?
14 Hancock St, Portsmouth, NH, United States, New Hampshire 03801Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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