Pennsylvania Germans and the Revolution

The Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center will host “Pennsylvania Germans and the Revolution” a collaborative, interdisciplinary conference on November 13 & 14, 2026, exploring Pennsylvania German experiences in the era of the Revolution and beyond. The conference is co-sponsored by the German Society of Philadelphia and part of America 250 PA Berks County. The conference will examine different experiences and responses to the American Revolution across a wide spectrum of Pennsylvania German communities and identities, highlighting the ways Pennsylvania German culture both shaped and was shaped by the American Experiment.
On Friday, November 13, the conference will open at 6:30 PM in the Academic Forum at Kutztown University, Room 102, with a keynote presentation by Heritage Center Director Patrick J. Donmoyer, providing an overview of the development of Pennsylvania German culture at the time of the Revolution and ways that Pennsylvania Germans responded to momentous change during the birth of a new nation. Light Refreshments will be served, followed by a Community Discussion at 7:00 PM, moderated by Dr. William W. Donner, Freyberger Professor of Pennsylvania German Studies and Patrick Donmoyer.
On Saturday, November 14, a series of presentations will commence at 8:30 AM with panels of speakers exploring selected topics in folk culture, history, language and religion, including Friederike Baer, Joshua Brown, Patrick Donmoyer, William Donner, David Hunsicker, Mark Louden, Steven Nolt, Jennifer Schlegel, and Maria Sturm. A full conference schedule will be available at www.pagerman.org/revolution/.
The conference is free to the public, and registration is required to attend. Optional Saturday Lunch registration is $30, and features traditional Pennsylvania Dutch fare, including sausage, sauerkraut, potato filling, salad with hot bacon dressing, and shoofly pie. Registration information is available at www.pagerman.org/revolution/ and registrations must be received by November 1. For more information follow PGCHC on Facebook and Instagram, or call 610-683-1589.