Today's DAR
In just a few short weeks, DAR will host a landmark event at our National Headquarters as part of the lead-up to America’s 250th anniversary. From Friday, September 19, to Saturday, September 20, the DAR will proudly co-host the Spain and the Birth of American Democracy Symposium at DAR Constitution Hall.
Presented in partnership with the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute (QSSI) and the Fundación Ramón Areces (FRA), this symposium promises to be an intellectually stimulating and historically rich event. We first introduced the symposium earlier this year and were thrilled to share additional details during Opening Night of the 134th Continental Congress, where QSSI was honored with the President General’s Medallion in recognition of their outstanding contributions to historical scholarship.
We are delighted to now unveil the official program of speakers and topics. The symposium will feature a distinguished lineup of historians, authors, and academics who will offer unique insights into Spain’s role in the founding of American democracy:
- Dr. Gonzalo M. Quintero Saravia - Author, historian, diplomat, and recognized world expert on Bernardo de Gálvez, the Spanish Patriot and hero who had a pivotal impact in the Revolutionary War; speaking on Spain in the American Revolution.
- Dr. Richard L. Kagan - Author, professor emeritus at Johns Hopkins University, and the QSSI's academic director; exploring the erasure of Spain from the United States' history.
- Dr. Thomas E. Chávez - Author, historian at University of New Mexico, and inaugural recipient of The Fundación Xavier de Salas Award; speaking on the role of diplomacy in the American Revolution.
- Dr. Kathleen DuVal - Professor at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Guggenheim Fellow and 2025 Pulitzer Prize in History for Native Nations: A Millennium in North America; presenting on the role of Indigenous groups in the U.S.–Spanish borderlands.
- Dr. Larrie D. Ferreiro - Author, naval architect, historian at George Mason University and finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize in History; speaking on the Franco-Spanish Royal Navies.
- Dr. Ivan Jaksic - Author and director of Stanford University's Bing Overseas Studies Program in Santiago, Chile; presenting on the impact and perceptions of American independence within the Spanish Empire.
- Dr. Jane Landers - Professor at Vanderbilt University and director of the Slave Societies Digital Archive; discussing the role of African Americans in the U.S.–Spanish borderlands.
- Dr. Manuel Lucena-Giraldo - Research scientist at the Spanish Council for Scientific Research and visiting lecturer at IE University; examining the Spanish Empire in the 18th century.
- Hugo O'Donnell y Duque de Estrada, Duke of Tetuán - Vice President of the Spanish Commission for Military History; speaking on the diplomatic discourse between the Count of Aranda and John Jay.
- Dr. Gabriel B. Paquette – Author, Associate Provost, and Professor of History at the University of Maine; offering insights on the global context of 1776.
In addition to the dynamic presentations taking place in Constitution Hall, the lobby will host a variety of organizations sharing resources, initiatives, and educational opportunities in support of the America 250 celebration. Participating organizations include:
- The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
- George Washington’s Mount Vernon
- The National America250 Commission
- The Museum of the American Revolution
- The Military Women’s Memorial
- The American Battlefield Trust
- DAR Library and Genealogy Teams
- The DAR Insignia Store
- And many more!
We warmly invite members, guests, and the general public to attend this extraordinary in-person event. Please note: while the symposium will not be livestreamed, all sessions will be recorded and made available at a later date.
For full program details, registration information, and event timing, please visit the official Eventbrite page.
We look forward to welcoming you to this unforgettable celebration of shared history and heritage.
