Revolutionary Portsmouth Lecture Series: Music of the American Revolution

Revolutionary Portsmouth Lecture Series: Music of the American Revolution

Music of the American Revolution: Soundtrack of a Nation in Conflict Thursday, July 30, 2026, 5:30–6:30 PM Portsmouth Historical Society, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth

“Revolutionary Portsmouth” Joint Lecture Series:

Music of the American Revolution: Soundtrack of a Nation in Conflict
Thursday, July 30, 2026, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Portsmouth Historical Society, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth

Erin Dubois explores the sounds of the Revolutionary era, from the fifes and drums that directed troops on the battlefield to the songs and dances heard in homes, taverns, and gathering places. Through historical context and musical examples, this talk examines how music served practical, social, and political purposes during the fight for independence, shaping morale, strengthening community bonds, and reflecting the hopes and tensions of a nation in formation.

Erin Dubois is a flutist, educator, and arts administrator based on New Hampshire’s Seacoast. She serves as General Manager of the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra and performs as the orchestra’s piccoloist and second flutist. She teaches Woodwind Methods at the University of New Hampshire, is an instructor at Concord Community Music School, and continues to perform regularly throughout New England.

This event is part of a joint lecture series with Strawbery Banke Museum

Strawbery Banke logo
Revolutionary Portsmouth Lecture Series “In Search of Private Yankee Doodle” at Strawbery Banke

Revolutionary Portsmouth Lecture Series “In Search of Private Yankee Doodle” at Strawbery Banke

In Search of Private Yankee Doodle Friday, May 29, 2026, 6-7 PM at Strawbery Banke Museum

“Revolutionary Portsmouth” Joint Lecture Series:

In Search of “Private Yankee Doodle”: Discovering the Material World of a Revolutionary War Soldier
Friday, May 29, 2026, 6–7 PM
Strawbery Banke Museum, 14 Hancock Street, Portsmouth

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.