FAIRFIELD — This weekend will mark the start of a fall speaker series at the Fairfield Museum and History Center, recognizing the 250th anniversary of the United States and exploring how American history is interpreted and retold today.

The first lecture in the fall speaker series will take place at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20th. John Mills, a genealogist and president of the nonprofit Alex Breanne Corporation — which focuses on research into formerly enslaved individuals — will discuss the Revolutionary War experiences of four Connecticut families. Noting how Black men often served in the Revolution and returned to bondage after U.S. independence, the talk “reveals a powerful and often overlooked history of service, sacrifice, and resilience, and challenges us to reconsider what patriotism and liberty truly meant for Black people in Revolutionary-era Connecticut.”

Reflecting at 250 welcomes historians who will examine how storytelling shapes our understanding and perspectives on history, and how these influence national identity and debates over the past and future of the United States. Additional lectures in the series include:

• T.H. Breen, “The Will of the People,” Oct. 4th
• Michael Langlois, “From Liberty to Legacy: Exploring American Ideals in the Musicals 1776 and Hamilton,” Oct. 18th
• Travis Glasson, “Nobody Men: Neutrality and Loyalties in the American Revolution,” Nov. 8th

Registration is available for individual presentations or for the series as a whole. For more information, click here.

Expanded coverage of Fairfield County cultural events is made possible with support from the Fairfield University Quick Center for the Arts