Yale Historian Dr. Joanne Freeman Discusses her Lifelong Hunt for Hamilton, Nov. 15

PHILADELPHIA, OCT. 11, 2017 — While many people are still hunting for tickets to the smash hit Broadway musical “Hamilton,” prolific author, scholar and Yale historian Dr. Joanne Freeman has been hunting for the real Alexander Hamilton for most of her life.

The quest to understand Hamilton and his world has taken her to the Caribbean and Scotland, compelled her to fire a black powder dueling pistol, and connected her with the Broadway musical created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, which was influenced by her work and writings.

Freeman, a professor of History and American Studies at Yale University, will join the Museum of the American Revolution to discuss “Hunting for Hamilton: Getting to Know a Flawed and (Now) Famous Founder” on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017 from 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. The event is co-sponsored by the Museum of the American Revolution and the Yale Club of Philadelphia.

Tickets are $25 for general admission and $5 for members (tickets include access to Museum galleries from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.). They can be purchased here.

Dr. Joanne B. Freeman specializes in early American politics and political culture, and is a leading expert on Alexander Hamilton and his world. She is the author of the award-winning Affairs of Honor: National Politics in the New Republic and editor of Alexander Hamilton: Writings and The Essential Hamilton: Letters and Writings.

A co-host of the history podcast “BackStory,” Freeman has offered commentary for a wide range of media outlets, appearing most recently in PBS's Great Performances documentary, “Hamilton's America.” Her Yale University online course, “The American Revolution,” has been viewed in thousands of homes and classrooms around the world.

Freeman was the lead consultant in the National Park Service's renovation and reinterpretation of Hamilton's home, The Grange. Her extensive knowledge of dueling and Hamilton influenced the creation of the Broadway musical “Hamilton.” 

Freeman's upcoming projects include The Field of Blood: Congressional Violence and the Road to Civil War (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2018), a study of physical violence in the U.S. Congress, and Hunting for Hamilton (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, forthcoming), an introduction to the fun and challenges of getting to know Alexander Hamilton.

About the Museum of the American Revolution
The Museum of the American Revolution explores the dynamic story of the American Revolution using its rich collection of Revolutionary-era weapons, personal items, letters, diaries, and works of art. Immersive galleries, theater experiences, and recreated historical environments bring to life the events, people, and ideals of our nation’s founding and engage people in the history and continuing relevance of the American Revolution. Located just steps away from Independence Hall, Carpenters’ Hall, and Franklin Court, the Museum serves as a portal to the region’s many Revolutionary sites, sparking interest, providing context, and encouraging exploration. The Museum is a private, non-profit, and non-partisan organization. For more information, visit www.AmRevMuseum.org or call 877.740.1776.