You’ve heard the story of the Founding Fathers and the American Revolution time and again, but what do you know about Wethersfield’s Silas Deane? For more than two centuries, Deane’s reputation has been clouded by allegations of malfeasance and profiteering at the expense of the Continental Congress. Many called him a traitor. But what if everything you think you know about Silas Deane is wrong? This fascinating discussion, led by Dr. Susan Holly, Senior Historian with the U.S. Department of State’s Office of the Historian, will dispel the mystery. Dr. Holly’s presentation will be followed by an open discussion moderated by State Historian Emeritus and Webb Deane Stevens Museum Scholar-in-Residence Dr. Walter W. Woodward.
Reception: 5:30 pm / Program: 6-8 pm. Get tickets here. The program will be held in the Webb Barn, located at the rear of the Museum campus.
The Curious Case of Silas Deane is underwritten by the U.S. Department of State and The Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Connecticut.
About Dr. Susan Holly
Dr. Susan Holly is a senior historian with the United States Department of State’s Office of the Historian and has been researching the origins of early American diplomacy for a new documentary compilation scheduled for release in 2026. She previously served as executive producer for a DVD and curriculum series on various topics in diplomacy for high school audiences, wrote a short history of U.S.-China relations and other materials for the opening of the new U.S. Embassy in Beijing, compiled volumes on Global Issues and a retrospective history on the Eisenhower era coup in Guatemala for the Foreign Relations of the United States. Before joining the office, she served in the Bureau of Public Affairs as an editor, speechwriter, and Department spokesperson for several international delegations.
Dr. Holly earned degrees in history and journalism from Marquette University, followed by a M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Essex in the United Kingdom. Other publications include a book on the Iran-Iraq War for Lloyd’s of London Press, as well as numerous newspaper articles. Her resume also includes participation in an elephant race, where she learned elephants could run fast.