KINGSTON, NY — Senate House’s “Voices of Revolution: 250th Anniversary Lecture Series” will continue on Friday, September 25 at 6:30 p.m. with a talk by Dr. Robert Parkinson, professor of history at Binghamton University. He will discuss his book “Thirteen Clocks: How Race United the Colonies and Made the Declaration of Independence.” The free talk will take place at Senate House’s museum building and will last roughly 45 minutes, with a period for questions and answers from the author to follow.

Parkinson’s book explores how the disparate 13 colonies were able to unite as one to declare independence from Great Britain. His research covers the role that race and fear played in that project, through figures like John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. Parkinson has held fellowships at the Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture, the Rockefeller Library at Colonial Williamsburg, the David Library of the American Revolution and more. His works include “Tyrants and Rogues: Understanding the Declaration of Independence,” published in 2026.

Senate House’s Voices of the Revolution: 250th Lecture Series highlights diverse perspectives on the Revolutionary period from authors, scholars and more. The series will wrap up for the year on October 30 with a presentation by Joseph Diamond on his archeological work.

Senate House was the 18th century home of the Van Gaasbeek family and the meeting place of the first New York State Senate in 1777. The site includes the historic house, grounds and museum building with multiple exhibits. It is located at 296 Fair St.

For further information, call 845/338-2786, visit the New York State Parks website at parks.ny.gov or find it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/senatehousestatehistoricsite.