‘The importance of history’: MSU’s Grant Presidential Library to screen new Burns documentary on the American Revolutionary War before debut

Contact: Carl Smith

STARKVILLE, Miss.—America’s struggle for independence that began 250 years ago will take center stage next month as Mississippi State’s Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library hosts the screening of a new Ken Burns documentary on the Revolutionary War and a discussion featuring prominent Bulldog historians.

Lee Hall’s historic Bettersworth Auditorium will feature a 45-minute preview of “The American Revolution” on Oct. 21, 6 p.m., before the six-part, 12-hour documentary debuts on PBS in November. Following the screening, Grant Library Executive Director and Associate Professor of History Anne Marshall will moderate a short discussion featuring MSU Department of History Associate Professor Peter Messer and Professor Judith Ridner. The new film follows in the footsteps of more than 40 Burns has made for PBS, many of which are Emmy winners and Oscar nominees.

The event is free and open to the public.

“This screening is a great way to kick off our commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, in conjunction with the national and state initiatives America250 and America250Mississippi,” Marshall said. “Presidential libraries play an important role in reminding the public of why our founding principles were and are still relevant today. This film, along with the discussion with Dr. Peter Messer and Dr. Judith Ridner, will give the MSU and Starkville communities a chance to reflect on this.”

“The American Revolution” examines how 13 British colonies rose in rebellion, won their independence and established a new form of government that radically reshaped the continent and inspired centuries of democratic movements across the globe. It presents the story of the Revolutionary generation—its humanity in victory and defeat, and the crisis it experienced. By weaving together accounts of American political leaders and their British counterparts with the perspectives of those who waged and witnessed war, the documentary series is an expansive, evenhanded look at the virtues and the contradictions in the fight for independence and the birth of the U.S.

The PBS series premieres Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. and will air for six consecutive nights through Nov. 21. The much-anticipated series directed by Sarah Botstein, David Schmidt and Burns, who serves as its executive producer, was in production for eight years.

“The American Revolution is one of the most important events in human history,” Burns said. “We went from being subjects to inventing a new concept, citizens, and set in motion democratic revolutions around the globe. As we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our founding, I’m hopeful that people throughout the country will come together to discuss the importance of this history and to appreciate even more what our ancestors did to secure our liberty and freedoms.”

For more information or questions about the event, contact usgpresidentiallibrary@library.msstate.edu.

Part of MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of History is a student-focused, research-extensive, Ph.D.-granting department with historians who place a premium on the creation of new knowledge and interpretations of the field. Visit www.cas.msstate.edu and www.history.msstate.edu for more information.

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