Who Celebrated Sullivan-Clinton in 1929 and Why? The Lasting Legacy of the 150th Anniversary
September 11 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
The Sullivan-Clinton Campaign of 1779 was a scorched-earth military mission that resulted in the destruction of more than 40 Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) settlements. Despite its devastating impact, the campaign was widely celebrated by settlers, leading to the creation of nearly 300 markers and monuments across Pennsylvania and New York. As a result, it may be the most commemorated Revolutionary War expedition in the nation.
In her book Memory Wars, A. Lynn Smith examines this vast commemorative landscape for the first time. During her talk, she will focus on New York’s 1929 celebration of the Sullivan-Clinton Campaign, exploring how the 150th anniversary commemorations reflected the nation’s settler-colonial foundations. She will conclude with a discussion of how we might grapple with this history, and the lasting legacy of its 1929 commemoration, as the campaign’s 250th anniversary approaches in 2029.
This program is part of the Erie Canal Museum’s Sloan Lecture Series and will be hosted at the Skä•noñh Great Law of Peace Center in partnership with the Skä•noñh Great Law of Peace Center, the Onondaga Historical Association, and the Liverpool Public Library.
Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $10. Registration is required.