Dr. David Armitage to Recount Global History of the Declaration of Independence in First 2025-2026 Read the Revolution Speaker Series Event, Nov. 13

Lecture on 2007 release, The Declaration of Independence: A Global History, will connect with new Museum special exhibition, The Declaration’s Journey 

Dr. David Armitage, Lloyd C. Blankfein Professor of History at Harvard University, will join the Museum on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 6:30 p.m. to present the first public program in the Museum’s 2025-2026 Read the Revolution Speaker Series. The hybrid lecture and discussion inspired by his award-winning book, The Declaration of Independence: A Global History (Harvard University Press, 2007), coincides with the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026 and the Museum’s new special exhibition, The Declaration’s Journey, opening Oct. 18.  

In The Declaration of Independence: A Global History, according to the publisher’s website, “Armitage examines the Declaration as a political, legal, and intellectual document, and is the first to treat it entirely within a broad international framework.” Just as in The Declaration’s Journey, the book also addresses how over one hundred declarations of independence have been written since 1776, showing the influence and role the American Declaration has played in informing independence movements all over the world—from France to Haiti to Vietnam. Armitage's scholarship for this 2007 title was a foundational source for The Declaration's Journey, as well as his participation on the exhibition’s Scholarly Committee. 

This special program, sponsored by The Haverford Trust Company,  will be held in the Museum’s Liberty Hall and will be broadcast live online for ticketed guests. Following the presentation, Museum President and CEO Dr. R. Scott Stephenson will join Armitage in an interview conversation and facilitate a live Q&A with both onsite and online audiences.  

Doors open at 6 p.m. for onsite guests to see a featured artifact from the Museum collection, enjoy refreshments at a cash bar, and purchase signed copies of the featured book. Guests with onsite tickets are invited to arrive early to view The Declaration’s Journey from 5:15 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here. 

The Museum’s Read the Revolution Speaker Series brings celebrated authors and historians to the Museum for lively discussions of their work. Now in its ninth season, the series is based on the Museum’s national Read the Revolution bi-monthly e-newsletters, which feature excerpts from thought-provoking books to inspire learning about the American Revolution. 

About David Armitage  

Dr. David Armitage is the Lloyd C. Blankfein Professor of History at Harvard University and an Honorary Fellow of St Catharine's College. Cambridge. He is the author or editor of nineteen books, among them The Ideological Origins of the British Empire (2000), The Declaration of Independence: A Global History (2007), The Age of Revolutions in Global Context, c. 1760-1840 (2010), The History Manifesto (2014), and Civil Wars: A History in Ideas (2017). A prize-winning author and teacher, he has lectured on six continents and has held fellowships and visiting positions in Australia, Britain, China, France, Germany, South Korea, and the United States.  

About Museum of the American Revolution 

The Museum of the American Revolution uncovers and shares compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events that sparked America’s ongoing experiment in liberty, equality, and self-government. Through the Museum’s unmatched collection, immersive galleries, powerful theater experiences, and interactive elements, visitors gain a deeper appreciation for how this nation came to be and feel inspired to consider their role in ensuring that the promise of the American Revolution endures. Located just steps away from Independence Hall, the Museum serves as a portal to the region’s many Revolutionary sites, sparking interest, providing context, and encouraging exploration. The Museum, which opened on April 19, 2017, is an independent, non-profit, and non-partisan organization. For more information, visit www.AmRevMuseum.org or call 877.740.1776.