The Broadside

Welcome to The Broadside, the official blog of the American Independence Museum. Get exclusive behind-the-scenes looks at our exhibits, meet our dedicated staff, researchers, and college interns, and discover the stories that bring history to life. Join us on The Broadside – where the past comes alive in new and interesting ways.

Building Bridges to our Past and Future

November 14, 2024

by Robert Levey

“I was like, ‘yes,’” recalls Karen. “I had been frustrated by the national dialogue, the lack of civil engagement, and the polarization. I wanted to make a difference, even in some small way.”

For Karen, the idea of fostering a more civil society resonated deeply, as it mirrored her private reflections on the current state of democracy and the need to rediscover the core principles of respect and inclusivity.

“What is democracy?” she rhetorically notes. “How do we support one another? How do we do better?”

“Jen especially got me fired up,” explains Karen. “She was so inclusive in her approach. We need to tell the full story of the Revolution, how the country came to be, and how we bring these conversations forward in an inclusive way.”

Her renewed excitement was not just about history. Rather, it was about making AIM relevant and exciting for today’s audience. “We need to fire people up around the story,” she says.

Exeter, once the capital of New Hampshire during the American Revolution, houses seminal historical artifacts such as a Broadside copy of the Declaration of Independence and working drafts of the US Constitution. “It’s a jewel in the crown of the state, and no one knows about it,” she adds.

Karen sees the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026 as a pivotal moment for AIM. “We’ve got the nation’s 250th coming up,” she notes. “If we’re not put on the map by then, we’re missing an opportunity.”

For her, this anniversary is not just about looking back—it is about using history as a springboard to foster civil discourse and engage the public in meaningful, relevant ways.

“We have to start having these intense conversations to build bridges,” she says. “The organization has two huge charges in front of it—delivering incredibly important programming and maintaining the historic buildings. We need to get more people engaged in both.”

Karen’s belief in the power of dialogue is at the core of her involvement at AIM, as she acknowledges she is increasingly concerned about the state of discourse in today’s society. “Can we have a dialogue where we discuss opposing viewpoints in a civil way?” she asks.

Karen draws inspiration from New Hampshire Listens, an initiative out of UNH that trains facilitators to guide civil discussions. “You get two people together, and there’s always disagreement,” she notes, “but it’s become so uncivilized. How do you build a better democracy?”

This question can be explored at AIM. “Let’s really look at the facts of what happened, but it’s got to be inclusive of all voices—people of color, women, people who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, and other marginalized people,” she states.

Karen’s passion for inclusive history also stems from her belief in the power of artifacts to connect people with their past and future. “Our artifacts speak to our souls,” she says. “They are jumping-off points for conversation, and the more informed we are, the more impactful those conversations become.”

These conversations can find a home at AIM. “We have a chance to be a change agent in New Hampshire and beyond,” she says. “I believe we can build bridges to our past and our future.”

Indigenous New Hampshire Collaborative Collection Highlights AIM’s Educational Gardens

October 21, 2024

The outdoor gardens represent a timeline that explores changes in land use as a result of colonization. The garden exhibit is split into three sections: native plantings that would have been used by Indigenous people for food, medicine, and ceremonial purposes, an 18th-century kitchen garden common among Euro-American colonizers, and a contemporary pollinator garden.

AIM plans to add more plantings in the spring of 2025 and will use the gardens for educational programming, offering students the opportunity to interact with, taste, and smell history.

Click here to read Carr’s article on the Indigenous New Hampshire Collaborative Collection website.

Stepping Up for Democracy (Q&A with Judy Rowan)

October 11, 2024

by Rowan Wilson

What aspects of history have you discovered or learned more about through your involvement with AIM?
One of the most eye-opening aspects has been learning about slavery in the northern colonies and the role women played in major historical events. As more museums and historians delve into these areas, we are uncovering stories that have been overlooked. It’s important to tell these stories so people can see themselves in history, regardless of their background. We are a diverse nation, and sharing these stories helps communicate that we are all part of our history, lineage, and legacy.

Can you share a personal story of how you’ve introduced people to AIM and what impact it had?
Just last night, I was at a fundraiser for a fine crafts store in Exeter, and I spoke with some people from Rye who had never been to AIM. I told them about the museum’s unique artifacts, including the state’s original broadside and handwritten notes on the Constitution. Standing in front of these documents brings history to life—you can see the people who lived in that house and played significant roles in our nation’s history. I encouraged them to visit and be a part of this rich legacy.

What do you see for the future of AIM, and how does the board contribute to its growth?
I see a strong future for the museum. We now have a very active board, and we are in the process of developing a new strategic plan that will further our mission of bringing history to life. The museum is an active place, offering educational opportunities for both kids and adults and hosting joyful events like the annual festival. We are working to ensure the museum continues to thrive for many years to come, preserving its legacy and educating future generations.

What message do you hope visitors, especially younger generations, take away from the museum?
I hope visitors come to see that historical figures weren’t a different category of person—they were like us. The message we want to convey is that we all have the potential to make a difference. By telling these stories, we encourage people, especially the younger generation, to take pride in democracy, understand their role in history, and step up in their own lives to make the world a better place. Democracy is a living thing, and we need caretakers of it across time.

The Women’s War: Clothing, Boycotts, and the Fabric of Revolutionary America

August 20, 2024

by Kali Kraemer

Trace that notion back to eighteenth-century America, and you will find that many of those principles transcend time and space. Europe was an ever-changing nucleus of fashion during the period, with the latest trends coming out of London, Paris, and Milan. Across the sea, Britain’s colonies still relied on material imports from European fashion hubs to keep up with relevant trends.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, hetchels were essential tools used to separate the fibrous strands of the flax plant. Once groomed, these strands were spun into linen filaments on a spinning wheel, becoming the threads used to craft cloth items such as stockings, dresses, bedding, and shirts. Hetchels and other spinning implements allowed women to craft clothing in their homes on their terms (Earle, 1992, p. 167).

As an abundant plant in the colonial landscape, farmers cultivated flax from North to South, making it readily available and ideal for the homestead. While Americans produced goods for exportation, the market, and the home, the importance of local linens reached a pinnacle following the Sugar and Townshend Acts of 1764 and 1767. These decrees, levied by British ministers, taxed the colonies on critical necessities, including china, sugar, paper, and lead. Rising tensions and mercantile pressures compelled Americans to respond by boycotting British commodities and producing local items such as fabric and tea (Raphael, 2016, p. 39).

While male administrators carried the non-importation movement to assemblies, women spearheaded cloth boycotts at home, helping to reduce economic dependence on British commodities. Some women wore their homespun garments as proud statements against British taxation, while groups in Rhode Island and New Hampshire refused to drink tea, substituting their regular indulgences with coffee (Norton, 1996, p. 159). These seemingly simple acts created significant societal change as Americans became less reliant on British imports for survival.

Boycotting allowed women to become instrumental in civic affairs, blending domestic duties with resistance. The significance of female cooperation in America’s dissent compelled men to reconsider the role women would play as the struggle for freedom progressed (Norton, 1996, p. 159). By refusing to consume or wear British products, women, bans, and local products became driving forces of colonial transformation. Such potent non-consumption agreements marked some of the first moments in American history where women could enact substantial political change.

Artifacts like the hetchel remind us of the statements made by American women in the struggle to free the colonies from British tyranny. This tool recalls how, by uniting their public and household obligations, women changed the accessibility of political protests while embodying the declaration of “No Taxation without Representation.” If Britain was going to tax America on critical items, the people would make their own goods, proving they could endure without British mercantilism.

The idea that boycotts and choices of clothing could contribute so significantly to politics was as influential in the 18th century as it is now. Ladies’ groups such as the Daughters of Liberty made significant headway by refusing British policies and proclaiming their sentiments through homespun textiles. This combination of politics, identities, and principles allowed women to transform conventional ideas while establishing themselves in the spaces, structures, and threads of our independent nation.

Bibliography

Earle, Alice Morse. Home Life in Colonial Days. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1992.

Norton, Mary Beth. Liberty’s Daughters: The Revolutionary Experience of American Women, 1750-1800. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1996.

Raphael. Ray. A People’s History of the American Revolution. New York: The New Press, 2016.

Meet Rowan, AIM Writer

July 31, 2024

At AIM, I write press releases, website content, and member-exclusive stories. Some of my writing includes pieces about artifacts from the museum collection, research by historians, and events and programs at AIM.

For leisure, I enjoy spending time in nature with my two dogs, Zombi and Jasper, swimming, hiking, playing flute, and reading.

AIM to Launch Digital Exhibits in August

July 19, 2024

We are thrilled to announce the launch of its new digital exhibits in August, utilizing the cutting-edge 42 Kites system. This innovative technology will transform visitors’ experiences by offering digital content in place of traditional wall labels, enhancing engagement and accessibility for all.

Visitors can look forward to interactive features, instant language translations, text-to-speech options, and customizable text sizes and colors. The integration of multimedia elements and interactive scavenger hunts will provide a more immersive and educational experience.

Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting development, and join us in August to experience history in a whole new way!

Meet Annalise, Tufts University

July 3, 2024

Meet Annalise, a passionate graduate student from Tufts University immersing herself in the world of history and museum studies this summer at the American Independence Museum. Follow her journey as she redefines educational programming, dives into curriculum development, and brings marginalized voices to the forefront of Revolutionary War history. Join us as we uncover the fascinating intersection of education, storytelling, and historical artifacts through Annalise’s eyes.

Hi, I’m Annalise! I’m currently pursuing my master’s degree in History and Museum Studies at Tufts University, and I am spending my summer interning here at the American Independence Museum. I wanted to intern at AIM as I really wanted to work in a history museum, and I was intrigued by the educational programs that the museum offers. Part of my goal for this summer is to dive deeper into curriculum development and understand how museums create programming for schools.

My goal is to create new lesson plans that expand upon the objects in the trunk and that are engaging and easy for educators to use. Ideally, I would like to highlight stories from marginalized voices into these new lesson plans. Curriculum surrounding the Revolutionary War period typically centers around the men who fought in the war, but it does not highlight the stories of women or those of African descendance, who either fought in the war or were forced into slavery. Civics education is also an important aspect of the trunk, and it is something that I believe I can draw out of the objects in the trunk in order to really aid in students’ understanding of the Revolutionary War period.

Besides the Traveling Trunk, I will also be helping with leading the kid’s tent at the American Independence Festival that the museum puts on every year! I am excited to be able to collaborate with my fellow interns on this project. I have worked at a summer camp for the past seven summers, so I love working with kids and creating games and activities for them. I’m excited to also help out with the Mini Camps that the museum offers later on in the summer!

Meet Kali, Southern New Hampshire University

June 27, 2024

Meet Kali, a dedicated scholar from Southern New Hampshire University delving into Museum Studies, specializing in Colonial America. Hailing from Grantham, NH, Kali’s upbringing steeped in homeschooling ignited her lifelong passion for American history. Now, she’s embarking on a transformative journey at the American Independence Museum, where she’s unraveling personal connections, exploring untold stories, and unraveling the rich tapestry of our nation’s heritage.

My name is Kali Kraemer, and I hail from the tiny New England hamlet of Grantham, NH. I am an honors graduate from Southern New Hampshire University where I acquired a Bachelor of Arts in American History. Growing up, I was homeschooled by my mother who, as a single parent, integrated her love for history and heritage into her teachings. From school excursions to museums and forts as well as giving Fencing instructions at Renaissance Faires, my mom incorporated these elements into nearly every aspect of my childhood.

The pursuit of history has both enriched my academic understanding and inspired me to ask questions about how our ancestors laid the groundwork for the ideas and establishments of today. These inquiries led me on a deeply personal quest in which I uncovered details about my own forefathers and their participation in the formation of our country.

Throughout this research, names like General John Glover, Captain Nicholson Broughton, William Prescott, and Amos Farnsworth were uncovered in my family’s genealogy as were many other brave men who fought for American liberty. In addition to those individuals, I am also the great-great granddaughter of Jennie Sophia Farnsworth Broughton (née Folsom, a direct descendent of the immigrants John Folsom and Mary Gilman who arrived in the colonial world in 1638.

These ancestral discoveries and my fervor for Revolutionary America directed me to the American Independence Museum, an organization that is crucial for understanding this period in history. Furthermore, working at AIM will benefit me as I investigate the people, artifacts, and stories that form the unique fabric of our nation. Since coming on board as a Summer 2024 Intern, I have had incredible opportunities to engage with peers and academics while making American History more accessible for future generations.

Regarding research goals, there are several areas including individual stories of Exeter soldiers, the Folsom contribution to the Revolution, Exeter maritime history, and other topics that I would be ecstatic to examine. I am exhilarated to see where this path leads and am looking forward to creating an enlightened future through a complete understanding of the themes, personalities, and structures that came before.

Q&A with Ashley Hlebinksy

June 19, 2024

What is your full name?
Ashley Hlebinsky

Tell us about yourself.
I’m best known for my work as an arms and ammunition historian and museum consultant, but my expertise goes beyond that. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some incredible research centers and museums around the world, like the Smithsonian Institution, the Mob Museum, the Los Angeles Police Museum, and the Houston Museum of Natural Science, to name a few. I’ve also collaborated with the National Park Service and the Organization of American Historians. Recently, I founded a research center at the University of Wyoming and am working on establishing a new center overseas.

For a decade, I had the privilege of running the most prestigious firearms museum in the world. During that time, I led a multi-million-dollar renovation that transformed the museum into an educational space where people of all knowledge levels, experiences, and beliefs could engage in thoughtful discussions about firearms, culture, and history.

What you are working on at AIM in the next 4 months?
I’m diving into my museum experience to help our team reimagine and plan exhibitions and educational programs. Since summer is our busiest time, we’re gearing up to create some really engaging programs and exhibits for various Exeter festivals and events. At the upcoming Independence Festival, I’m teaming up with Jennifer Carr to curate two outdoor exhibits. One will give folks a sneak peek at a new educational garden focused on how agricultural practices have evolved throughout history. Plus, I’m putting together a special exhibit on the arms used during the American Revolution, complete with live presentations by a top-notch gunmaker. My goal through all of this is to breathe new life into our museum’s history and strengthen our connections within the community.

Describe how your vision will help propel AIM forward and enhance its mission?
I love working with smaller historic sites because there is such an amazing opportunity to work closely with the local community. Just because a site is small, doesn’t mean it can’t have a big impact. I hope to take what is so special and unique about the American Independence Museum and weave together exhibitions and stories to engage a broader audience, which is especially important as we move into the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.