American Revolution 250th Anniversary Resource Guide
Explore resources for commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution from the Congregational Library & Archives.
Congregationalists played an active part in the American Revolution, on both sides of the conflict. The Congregational Library & Archives, with the help of scholarly contributors and staff, have gathered together a range of primary and secondary source resources for you to use to better understand this important event in our nation’s history.
This page references just a few of the resources held by the Congregational Library & Archives on the American Revolution. The reading room is open Monday-Friday from 9 am – 12 pm and 1 –4 pm. You can find resources in our online catalog. To make an appointment, email ref@14beacon.org.
Visit our events calendar to learn more about upcoming programs, tours, and workshops on religion and the American Revolution.
Revolutionary Stories
Check out our Revolutionary Stories playlist on YouTube for recordings of past virtual programs with leading scholars. Learn more about famous events on the road to revolution, the experience of being a Congregationalist during the war, and even listen to music of the time period.
Revolutionary Stories
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Exhibitions
For the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the Congregational Library & Archives created two exhibitions.
Religion of Revolution: Congregational Voices on Liberty
Digital Exhibition | Launched November 2024
This digital exhibition highlights the stories of New England Congregationalists through important and rarely seen print works of the period as well as church records, letters, and sermon literature from the CLA’s collections and the New England’s Hidden Histories project.
Sacred Rebellion: Congregationalists in Revolutionary Massachusetts
In-Person Exhibition | Open by Appointment
Sacred Rebellion highlights the stories of Congregationalists in Revolutionary Massachusetts who believed God favored the patriot cause, yet debated questions of liberty, loyalty, and the legacy of the American Revolution.
First Person Accounts from the NEHH Digital Archive
View the American Revolution through the eyes of Congregationalists in these documents from our New England’s Hidden Histories digital archive. Some are also available with transcriptions.
Alden, Timothy. Sermon (1777)
Bean, Joseph. Sermon (1766)
Buckminster, Joseph. Sermon (1777)
Cleaveland, John. Sermons (1752-1799)
Coe, Curtis. Sermon (1788)
Cumings, Henry. Sermon (1775)
Dwight, Timothy. Sermon (1789)
Fish, Elisha. Sermon (1776)
Fish, Jr., Elisha. Sermon (1784)
Frost, Amariah. Sermon (1774)
Gay, Ebenezer. Sermon (1774)
Gurley, John. Sermon (1783)
Haven, Joseph. Sermon (1776)
Hemmenway, Moses. Sermon (1776)
Hill, Abraham. Sermon (1774)
Hubbard, Robert. Sermon (1773)
Hutchinson, Aaron. Sermons (1745-1774)
Litchfield, Paul. Sermon (1777)
Marsh, John. Sermons (1774-1776)
Mills, Samuel. Sermon (1778)
Newton, Roger. Sermons (1773-1775)
Thaxter, Joseph. Sermons (1784)
True, Henry. Sermon (1781)
Tucker, John. Sermons (1775)
Wales, Samuel. Sermons (1770-1792)
Whitman, Samuel. Sermon (1776)
Cleaveland, John. Papers (1741-1810)
Dickinson, Timothy. Papers (1809, undated)
Green, Joshua. Memoranda (1768-1775)
Hawley, Gideon. Missionary Journal and Letterbook (1754-1807)
Hopkins, Samuel. Correspondence (1766-1803)
Hovey, Ivory. Papers (1731-1803)
Hunt, Susan Counce. Papers (1756-1837)
Josselyn, Thomas. Diary (1743-1775)
Parkman, Ebenezer. Papers (1717-1782)
Parkman Family. Papers (1712-1779)
Berkshire Association of Congregational Ministers (1759-1859)
Essex North Association (1761-1836)
General Association of Connecticut (1708-1952)
Hampden Association of Congregational Ministers (1762-1844)
Marlborough Association of Congregational Ministers (1725-1842)
Massachusetts Convention of Congregational Ministers (1749-1838)
Bethlehem, Conn. First Church of Bethlehem (1738-1849)
Bolton, Conn. Congregational Church (1725-1824)
Cheshire, Conn. First Congregational Church (1717-1813)
Fairfield, Conn. First Church of Christ (1694-1817)
Greenfield Hill, Fairfield, Conn. Greenfield Hill Congregational Church (1668-1878)
Groton, Conn. Church of Christ Church (1704-1893)
Hartford, Conn. First Church of Christ (1684-1910)
Lebanon, Conn. First Church and Society (1697-1796)
Litchfield, Conn. First Ecclesiastical Society (1768-1830)
New Haven, Conn. Church of Christ (1742-1870)
Old Lyme, Conn. Old Lyme Congregational Church (1721-1912)
Newtown, Conn. Newtown Congregational Church (1742-1851)
Rocky Hill, Conn. Rocky Hill Congregational Church (1726-1856)
Stonington, Conn. First Congregational Church of Stonington (1674-1879)
York, Maine First Parish Church (1731-1927)
Berkley, Mass. Congregational Church (1737-1814)
Boston, Mass. Church Records (1684-1781)
Boston, Mass. First Church (1690-1825)
Boston, Mass. Old South Church (1669-1882)
Boylston, Mass. First Church (1718-1859)
Byfield, Mass. Byfield Parish Church (1709-1845)
Cambridge, Mass. First Church (1638-1783)
Essex, Mass. First Congregational Church (1681-1879)
Franklin, Mass. First Congregational Church (1737-1887)
Gloucester, Mass. First Church (1677-1835)
Hingham, Mass. First Parish (1635-1806)
Marblehead, Mass. Old North Church (1684-1886)
Marlborough, Mass. First Church (1704-1839)
Middleboro, Mass. First Church (1707-1865)
Natick, Mass. First Congregational Church (1721-1862)
Newbury, Mass. First Church (1634-1828)
Newburyport, Mass. First Religious Society (1725-1816)
Pittsfield, Mass. First Church of Christ (1764-1864)
Reading, Mass. Second Church of Christ (1720-1806)
Salem, Mass. South Church (1774-1805)
Shutesbury, Mass. Congregational Church (1743)
Westborough, Mass. Church of Christ (1724-1787)
Candia, NH Church of Christ (1771-1831)
Epping, NH Congregational Church (1744-1940)
Epsom, NH Union Congregational Church of New Rye (1761-1887)
Gosport, NH Congregational Church (1729-1774)
North Hampton, NH First Congregational Church (1742-1856)
Portsmouth, NH Third Congregational Church (1758-1831)
Salem, NH First Congregational Church (1739-1872)
Sandown, NH Congregational Church (1759-1838)
Stratham, NH Congregational Church in Stratham (1745-1867)
