OCT
29
Fall Lecture Series: Illuminating Lives: The Stories of Several Women During the American War for Independence
Saratoga National Historical Park Visitor Center
October 29, 2026
The chill in the air can only mean one thing—it’s time for lectures! Saratoga National Historical Park and the Friends of Saratoga Battlefield will soon welcome a series of distinguished scholars and historians for its annual Fall Lecture Series. These speakers will discuss a variety of topics to help us examine and better understand our shared histories as we mark the 250th anniversaries of the Revolutionary War and the founding of the United States. Reservations are required and may be made by emailing SARA_reservations@nps.gov.
Event Details
- Start Time:
6:30 pm
- Location:
Saratoga National Historical Park Visitor Center, 648 NY-32, Stillwater, NY 12170
Additional Details
Using a variety of archival sources and research techniques, Saratoga National Historical Park Curator Christine Valosin will talk about six different women with ties to the Schuyler family or estate, illuminating little known stories of their lives during the turbulent years of the American War for Independence. The scope includes Barbara Gray Schuyler, Hannah Pettit, Bet and Britt (whose stories are closely intertwined and therefore presented together), Mary McAlpin, and Catherine Schuyler. Many of these women left little written evidence of their own, so their stories are reconstructed from indirect sources and contextual clues, allowing us to better understand their contributions and perspectives.
The focus is on the years 1776–1783, with the Schuyler Estate serving as the central anchor. The goal is to dig deep and tell a story about each woman so that we can say “we know them a little better now.”
A practiced genealogist, Valosin integrates information gleaned from a variety of sources. For this talk, she used material from Philip Schuyler’s Store Ledger, letters, 18th century prints, wartime ledger accounts, land records from the Philip Schuyler Papers, local and town histories, pension records, published and unpublished family histories, newspaper accounts, Loyalist Papers, and church records. Each source provides a different perspective, collectively illuminating the lives of six women whose contributions to the Schuyler Estate and the Revolutionary era illuminates our historical memory.
Support for the Fall Lecture Series is provided by Friends of Saratoga Battlefield. Reservations are required due to limited space. Email SARA_Reservations@nps.gov to reserve your seat!
UPCOMING EVENTS
NOV 7
Revolutionary Run for Veterans at Fort Hardy Park
Saratoga250 will have a presence at the Saratoga County Revolutionary Run for Veterans, a 5k run at Fort Hardy Park which benefits Saratoga County Veterans.
OCT 9-10
Celebrating the 250th: Battles of Saratoga @250 Reenactments
Watch history come alive at the 250th Battles of Saratoga Reenactment. Two days of live muskets and maneuvers, October 9–10, 2027 in Saratoga, NY.
OCT 17
Celebrating the 250th: Turning Point Parade 2027
Join the Turning Point Parade marking 250 years since the Surrender at Saratoga. October 17, 2027, 10am in Schuylerville, NY.
OCT 22
Fall Lecture Series: Morgan Lewis: The Making of a Patriot
Morgan Lewis is an often-overlooked figure of the American Revolution but one who was at the center of some of the most pivotal moments in the formation of America. The son of a signer of the Declaration of Independence, he defined a generation of young officers who, despite their youth and inexperience, brought tenacity and intellect that was the foundation for victory.
OCT 29
Fall Lecture Series: Illuminating Lives: The Stories of Several Women During the American War for Independence
Using a variety of archival sources and research techniques, Saratoga National Historical Park Curator Christine Valosin will talk about six different women with ties to the Schuyler family or estate, illuminating little known stories of their lives during the turbulent years of the American War for Independence.
NOV 5
Fall Lecture Series: When the Declaration of Independence Was News
Published for the 250th anniversary of the United States, When the Declaration of Independence Was News focuses on the nation’s founding document at the moment of its creation in 1776, before anyone knew what the legacy of the Declaration would be or if the United States would win the war against Great Britain.
NOV 12
Fall Lecture Series: Did the Battle of Redbank bring France into the War of Independence?
Americans generally assume that the surrender of Sir John Burgoyne to General Horatio Gates at Saratoga on 17 October 1777 caused France to openly enter the American War of Independence. The American leadership interpreted the defeat at Saratoga within their military and political needs. Saratoga was of great military importance, an immense morale booster and extensively used for propaganda purposes. But France’s decision to join the American rebels came after years of preparation and was by no means monocausal.
NOV 19
Fall Lecture Series: They Were Good Soldiers: African Americans Serving in the Continental Army
The role of African Americans, free and enslaved, in the regiments of the Continental Army is not well-known; neither is the fact that relatively large numbers served in southern regiments and that the greatest number served alongside their white comrades in integrated units. John Rees will discuss black soldiers’ acceptance, service, and experiences during and after the War for American Independence, focusing on those who served in Continental regiments. African American women with the army will also be featured.
Keep America’s Turning Point Alive 
Keep America’s Turning Point alive for generations to come by making a tax-deductible donation to the Campaign for Saratoga 250, Inc. Our certified 501c3 nonprofit organization is dedicated to promoting awareness, education, and preservation of critical assets of the Battles of Saratoga. Your support will help promote historical awareness of new generations of people across the region, nation, and globe.





