American folklorist and historian Henry Glassie says, “History is not the past but a map of the past, drawn from a particular point of view, to be useful to the modern traveller.”
That’s a sound assessment and one that the Southampton History Museum is taking to heart. Next month, on Nov. 14, is the launch of “The Distinguised Lecture Series,” a new program set to gather historians, scholars, teachers and cultural thinkers to the Rogers Manions (the museum’s headquarters) for conversations to hopefully offer insights on the people, events and ideas that have (and continue to) shape the world we live in.
“History is not simply about understanding the past. It’s about discovering how the past continues to shape our lives today,” says Sarah Kautz, executive director of the Southampton History Museum, in a press statement. “We want this series to bring fresh perspectives and engaging conversations to Southampton, encouraging audiences to look at history in new and unexpected ways.”
Dr. Richard Veit will lead the inaugural talk in Southampton History Museum’s newly launched Distinguished Lecture Series on Saturday, Nov. 14. (Photos courtesy of Southampton History Museum)
Kicking off the inaugural lecture is Dr. Richard Veit, award-winning archaeologist and Monmouth University provost. Offering up “Unearthing Point Breeze, the Fabled Estate of Stephen Sayre and Joseph Bonaparte,” Veit will explore the history of one the nation’s most extraordinary early 19th-century estates — Point Breeze, located along the Delaware River in New Jersey — which was home to Stephen Sayre, the Southampton-born Revolutionary War patriot, merchant and international figure who also served as personal secretary to one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Benjamin Franklin. As it turns out, Sayre ended up selling Point Breeze to Bonaparte, the elder brother of Napoleon Bonaparte and the former King of Naples and Spain. After the fall of his brother, Joseph fled Europe and turned the Point Breeze property into a grand country estate, which included elaborate gardens and one of America’s largest private libraries.
“Dr. Veit led archaological excavations at Point Breeze that uncovered remains of the estate’s long-lost mansion and landscaped grounds, shedding new light on it extraordinary history,” the museum’s press release says.
Fittingly, the museum is currently holding its own exhibit titled “Stephen Sayre’s American Revolution,” which showcases the story of the often-forgotten Southampton patriot (on view now through New Years).
The Distinguished Lecture Series begins on Saturday, Nov. 14, starting at 5 p.m. in. the music room of the Rogers Mansion, located at 17 Meeting House Lane in Southampton. Admission is free buy RSVP is requested. For more information, call 631-283-2494.
