What were the roles of Betsy Ross, George Washington, and Francis Hopkinson in the creation of our symbolic circle of stars flag? John Balderston Harker, a fifth-generation descendent of Betsy Ross and author of Betsy Ross's Five Pointed Star, will question the long-standing belief that Hopkinson was the designer of our First Flag. Christian Johnson of American Historic Theater will argue on behalf of Hopkinson.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, HSP and GSP present Josephine Dunn, associate professor of Art History at the University of Scranton, who tells the often-overlooked story of northeastern Pennsylvania’s unconventional women and their extraordinary lives. This presentation is made possible by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council.

Learn the story of Emilie Davis, a free African American woman who lived in Philadelphia in the 1860s. The guest speaker will be Kaye Wise Whitehead, a doctoral candidate from the University of Maryland who has been studying Emilie Davis's diaries. Whitehead will recreate the narrative of Davis's life and analyze the free black community where she lived and worked. Davis's diary will be on display.

Jack Fruchtman Jr., a professor of political science at Maryland’s Towson State University, will discuss how Thomas Paine turned a tax revolt into a revolution for independence with Common Sense. This June marks the 200th anniversary of Paine's death. Presented by Moonstone Inc.