In this episode of Revolution Revisited™, host Maggie Creech explores the pivotal role of print culture in the American Revolution with guests Dr. James Herrera-Brookes & Dr. Cathy Hellier.

Highlighting the contributions of trailblazing printer Clementina Rind and the impact of Thomas Jefferson's radical pamphlet 'A Summary View of the Rights of British America,' the episode delves into how literacy and printed materials like newspapers and pamphlets spread revolutionary ideas. The discussion covers the intellectual foundations of the Enlightenment, the logistics of 18th-century printing, and the far-reaching effects of disseminated ideas, even among enslaved populations. The episode emphasizes the transformative power of the written word in mobilizing and unifying colonial resistance against British rule.

Dr. James Herrera-Brookes, Melanie Trent de Shutter Sr. Director of Research & Publications at VMHC

• James is responsible for leadership of the VMHC’s library services, overall management of research and publications, and growing the library’s print collection. He holds an MRes and Ph.D. in American studies and history from the University of Nottingham, where he specialized in the American Civil War and American print and visual culture. James has held research fellowships at the Newberry Library, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the Library of Congress. James’ doctoral research examined Civil War soldier-artists and the varied ways they pictured the conflict and has been published in Civil War History and Journal of American Studies. This work will form the basis of a forthcoming exhibition and publication by the VMHC.

Dr. Cathleene B. Hellier, Senior Historian at Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

• Cathy Hellier is currently Senior Historian at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Williamsburg, Virginia. Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, she joined the Foundation in 1978 as a historical interpreter. From 1979, she has worked in Historical Research at the Foundation. This department produces original research, primarily on Virginia during the colonial period, and supports programming in the Foundation’s Historic Area. Cathy has master’s degrees in Museum Education and American Studies and a doctorate in American Studies. Her dissertation is on enslaved male domestics in Virginia to 1800, and her other research interests include the politics and ideology of the American Revolution; the community of Williamsburg; history of the family; eighteenth-century English language; dance and deportment; and household management. She and her husband Ben have two grown children, Stephen and Katie.

• 00:00 Introduction to Revolution Revisited
• 00:41 The Power of Print in the 18th Century
• 01:54 Literacy and Print Culture in Colonial America
• 05:44 The Role of Newspapers and Pamphlets
• 15:04 Censorship and Challenges in Print
• 17:49 Clementina Rind: A Trailblazing Printer
• 23:34 Jefferson's Radical Pamphlet
• 29:20 Impact of Revolutionary Print on Enslaved People
• 34:11 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

Revolution Revisited™ is produced by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. This podcast is made possible by the generous support of William & Karen Fralin. © 2025 Virginia Museum of History & Culture

In this episode of Revolution Revisited™, host Maggie Creech explores the transformative year of 1774 in the Virginia colony with guest historian Dr. Cathy Hellier.

Discover how Virginia's reaction to the Boston Tea Party and Britain's Coercive Acts led to a year full of drama and defiance, shaping the road to revolution. Learn about the symbolic act of a public day of fasting, the dissolution of the House of Burgesses, and the bold steps taken at the First Virginia Convention. This episode examines grassroots democracy and highlighting the economic sacrifices of non-importation and non-exportation agreements. It also reflects on the broader tensions between colonial self-governance and British parliamentary sovereignty that fueled the burgeoning conflict.

Dr. Cathleene B. Hellier, Senior Historian at Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

• Cathy Hellier is currently Senior Historian at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Williamsburg, Virginia. Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, she joined the Foundation in 1978 as a historical interpreter. From 1979, she has worked in Historical Research at the Foundation. This department produces original research, primarily on Virginia during the colonial period, and supports programming in the Foundation’s Historic Area. Cathy has master’s degrees in Museum Education and American Studies and a doctorate in American Studies. Her dissertation is on enslaved male domestics in Virginia to 1800, and her other research interests include the politics and ideology of the American Revolution; the community of Williamsburg; history of the family; eighteenth-century English language; dance and deportment; and household management. She and her husband Ben have two grown children, Stephen and Katie.

• 00:00 Introduction to Revolution Revisited
• 00:38 Setting the Stage: Virginia in 1774
• 00:58 The Coercive Acts and Virginia's Response
• 04:00 Symbolic Defiance: A Day of Fasting and Prayer
• 07:34 The Dissolution of the House of Burgesses
• 09:53 The Raleigh Tavern Meeting and Non-Importation Agreement
• 12:34 The First Virginia Convention
• 13:54 Colonial Perspectives on Power and Rights
• 26:33 Non-Importation and Non-Exportation: Economic Resistance
• 35:00 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

Revolution Revisited™ is produced by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. This podcast is made possible by the generous support of William & Karen Fralin. © 2025 Virginia Museum of History & Culture

In this episode of Revolution Revisited™, host Maggie Creech and guest historian Dr. Richard Bell delve into the critical decade leading up to the American Revolution, from 1763 to 1773.

As Britain grappled with post-war financial crisis, its new taxation policies on the American colonies ignited simmering tensions and widespread defiance. Explore key events including the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, and the Townshend Acts, and learn how these taxes led to colonial protests, boycotts, and a growing demand for representation. Discover the pivotal moments of intercolonial unity and resistance that set the stage for the revolution. This episode highlights not just the economic grievances but the burgeoning American identity and the quest for rights and freedom that would define a nation.

Dr. Richard Bell, Professor of History at the University of Maryland & Author

• Richard Bell is Professor of History at the University of Maryland and author of the book Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped into Slavery and their Astonishing Odyssey Home which was a finalist for the George Washington Prize and the Harriet Tubman Prize. He has held major research fellowships at Yale, Cambridge, and the Library of Congress and is the recipient of the National Endowment of the Humanities Public Scholar award and the Andrew Carnegie Fellowship. He serves as a Trustee of the Maryland Center for History and Culture and as a fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

• 00:00 Introduction to Revolution Revisited
• 01:36 Setting the Stage: Post-War Financial Crisis
• 04:53 Colonial Reactions to British Taxation
• 07:42 The Sugar Act and Its Impact
• 10:05 The Stamp Act: A Direct Tax on Daily Life
• 13:55 Patrick Henry and the Virginia Resolves
• 28:52 The Townshend Acts and Colonial Boycotts
• 38:34 The Tea Act and the Boston Tea Party
• 43:50 The Coercive Acts and Rising Tensions
• 47:55 Conclusion and Next Episode

Revolution Revisited™ is produced by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. This podcast is made possible by the generous support of William & Karen Fralin. © 2025 Virginia Museum of History & Culture