MTSU 250

American Semiquincentennial Celebration

MTSU Semiquincentennial events are made possible by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. We need your support. Please consider donating $17.76 in honor of America’s founding to support the matching grant: https://tbg.mtsu.edu/forms/usa250.

SUMMER

June 16

Exhibit at Cannonsburgh Village; Honors College Dean John Vile presenting at 10 AM, 12 PM and 2 PM

June 24-26

Alumni Summer College Party in the USA

July 4

Voter Registration Drive in partnership with Daughters of the American Revolution

• Downtown Square before fireworks – more information

August 22

University Convocation will feature Edward J. Larson, a Pulitzer-Prize winning historian and author of Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters at the Murphy Center

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FALL SEMESTER

Honors Buchanan Lecture Series: “Legacies of the American Revolution”

Lectures take place in Honors 106 on Mondays at 3 pm.

This lecture series kicks off at Cannonsburgh Village on August 31 at 1 PM, where Honors College Dean and Political Science Professor John Vile speaks on the history of the celebration of America’s founding

September 14-17

• Constitution Day readings across campus

• Thursday, Sept. 17, 1 pm, Tucker Theatre: Constitution Day Public Program with Law professor Sheryll Cashin, moderated by MTSU students on current issues and decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court and how they fit with the vision of the Founding Fathers.

• Homecoming week collaboration with SGA and Student Affairs

September 30

“Party Like It’s 1776” Rock the Vote campus concert

Currently seeking artists – contact amerdem@mtsu.edu for more information.

October 10

Sycamore Shoals State Park Field Trip (transportation provided, bring lunch)

• Limited to current students
• Deposit required

November 2

Rutherford County archivist Dr. John Lodl and Murfreesboro Public Librarian Kayla Willoughby on “The Revolutionary Roots of Rutherford County,” which includes a five-panel traveling exhibit

Also in November

Collaboration with Athletics and Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center

TBD

• “Historians in Conversation” virtual program from the History Department, featuring historians discussing the impact and legacies of the American Revolution.
• Panel Discussion on the sources of America’s democratic tradition featuring English professor Mallory Porch and Religious Studies professors Adam Brett and Rebekka King.
• On campus exhibit of Revolutionary War artifacts and accompanying lecture by George Marchelos
• History Department’s Strickland Lecture featuring Janet Polasky

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SPRING SEMESTER

Buchanan Lecture Series: “Revolutions” (Click image to see full list of lectures for the Spring semester; visit the website to watch videos of the lectures.)

Lectures take place in Honors 106 on Mondays at 3 pm.

February 5

Nashville PBS partners with MTSU for a day of activities connected to the Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt documentary, “The American Revolution”

• 1 pm in Tucker Theatre: Campus showing of the documentary followed by a Q&A with historians of the Revolution
• 3 pm in Learning Resources Center, Room 101: PBS Outreach director will conduct a workshop with students from the College of Education about educational materials connected with the documentary in partnership with the local Sons of the American Revolution chapter and their Patriot Chest program
• 6 pm in Tucker Theatre: documentary viewing with Q&A, open to the public

March 16

12:40 to 2:05 pm at STU SGA Parliamentary Room: Learn more about the Patriot press with Carol Humphrey, author of The American Revolution and the Press

March 17

Celebration of Evacuation Day

MTSU Celebrates America’s 250th Anniversary with Hands-On History Event – Video

• Noon to 4 pm at TODD 350: printing copies of the Declaration of Independence preamble on MTSU’s replica Franklin Printing press
• 1 pm at Honors College lawn: campus reading of the Declaration of Independence preamble and distribution of copies printed