October 14- Part of the 2026 Fall Speaker Series
In-person at the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, 219 S 6th St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
October 14, 2026 at 6pm
Part of the 2026 Fall Speaker Series
The Stamp Act Crisis: Catalyst of the American Revolution
To help reduce the massive debt incurred during the French and Indian War, Parliament passed The Stamp Act in March of 1765. The North American colonies immediately protested through pamphlets, newspaper editorials, political cartoons, intimidation of tax collectors, and economic protest. Recognizing the negative economic impact of the resulting American Non-Importation agreements, Parliament repealed the tax in May of 1766. This pattern of taxation, protest, and repeal would repeat itself over the next decade, giving rise to key arguments and rallying cries—such as “taxation without representation” and “government by consent”--that culminated with independence a decade later.
David R. Brigham was appointed Librarian and CEO of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP) in 2020. Prior to that he served for thirteen years at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts as Museum Director and later as President and CEO. He has written and edited several books, and most recently published essays on the Stamp Act (American Philosophical Society, 2025) and the earliest art academies in the United States (Yale University Press and the National Gallery of Art, 2026). Brigham earned bachelor’s degrees in English and Accounting, summa cum laude, from the University of Connecticut, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in American Civilization from the University of Pennsylvania.
Q&A and refreshments to follow.
Book Recommendations:
Spero, McDonald, Horn, Brigham, O'Connell, Miller. Philadelphia, the Revolutionary City, The American Philosophical Society Press, 2025
$15 for Members: PAGP Member discount will be automatically applied at checkout when logged in. If you are a member of the Athenaeum, please enter the promo code provided by the Athenaeum at checkout.
