In July 1776, as celebrations in Boston, Philadelphia, and New York City heralded the American Declaration of Independence, the majority of Staten Islanders remained steadfast in their support for British Colonial rule. Throughout the Revolutionary War, Staten Island was occupied by Crown forces, who used the island as a staging area for military operations in greater New York. British occupation continued through the end of the conflict in 1783, longer than any location in the 13 colonies.
Join Dr. Phillip Papas, author of That Ever Loyal Island: Staten Island and the American Revolution, and Historical Interpreters James Sarlo and Christopher Browne for an exploration of Staten Island's revolutionary history and how Historic Richmond Town uses living history to share the stories of the past. Luke Peteley of the Staten Island Advance will moderate the discussion.
About the presenters: Phillip Papas is Senior Professor of History at UCNJ, Union College of Union County, New Jersey, and author of That Ever Loyal Island: Staten Island and the American Revolution (NYU Press, 2007). His other books include Renegade Revolutionary: The Life of General Charles Lee (NYU Press, 2014), which earned Honorable Mention for the Fraunces Tavern Museum Book Award in 2015 and Port Richmond (Arcadia Publishing, 2009). Papas serves on the Board of the Conference House Association and on the Author Awards Committee for the New Jersey Studies Academic Alliance, which annually selects the best book on New Jersey history. He has been a consultant on public history projects in New York City, including on Staten Island, as well as in New Jersey, and has used the archives at Historic Richmond Town extensively for his research. Papas has contributed a chapter in Revolutionary New York City: America at 250 and worked with the New York State 250th Commission to identify important Revolutionary War sites on Staten Island for historical markers. His book That Ever Loyal Island inspired the documentary film Loyalty & Rebellion (2019), in which he appeared as an expert on the American Revolution. Papas received his Ph.D. in History from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.
James P. Sarlo is an avocational historian, and lifelong Staten Island resident. He specializes in local and military history. Mister Sarlo graduated from the College of Staten Island in 1991 with a Bachelor's in History, and Associate's in Liberal Arts. In 1996 he completed post-bachelor's studies in Elementary Education at the University of Central Florida. For the last fifteen he has worked at several Staten Island museums. He is currently employed at Historic Richmond Town as a historic interpreter and educational instructor. James is an associate member in the New Jersey Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. He is a member of the S.A.R. Battle of Brooklyn Chapter Color Guard. He participates in period reenactments throughout the metropolitan area. His film credits include, A Captain Unafraid: The story of Dynamite Johnny O'Brien, and The Witch of New York: The Mock Trial of Polly Bodine. "I do this because I love learning about history, and interrupting what I have learned for others. I know of no better way to honor the sacrifices of our ancestors."
Christopher Browne is a lifelong Staten Islander and longtime Historical Interpreter at Historic Richmond Town. With more than a decade of tinsmithing under his belt, Christopher also makes appearances as the Voorlezer, the Tavern Keeper, and more. His practice of history is inseparable from the study of the lived experiences of the Staten Islanders who came before us.
Luke Peteley, is a lifelong Staten Islander who works as a top stories reporter for the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com. He is a graduate of St. John’s University who double majored in English and Communications. Luke is also the producer and host of “A Walk Through American History on Staten Island,” a video series highlighting some of the borough’s historic events and individuals in honor of America 250.
