Tinker Swiss Cottage strives to promote education through many methods including tours, exhibits, workshops, and lectures. This summer, we hope to offer you lectures that explore different historical and cultural themes. 
​All lectures will take place in the lower level of the Barn and are open to the public.  

**Please note: There are no physical tickets. Once you purchase your seat, you will be placed onto a reservation form and will need to check in at the Barn upon arrival. ​

"From Revolution to Rockford: The Tinker & Dorr Families and America's 250-Year Story"
​- Dr. Abigail Buchanan
    May 17th       2:00pm

This event will take place in the Lower Level of the Barn on Sunday, May 17th from 2-4pm.

Seating is limited, so reserve your spot today! ​​
5/17 Lecture
Join Tinker Swiss Cottage's Director of Education & Volunteer Management, Dr. Abigail Buchanan, for a captivating journey of the Tinker and Dorr families and their 250-year journey from the frontlines of Connecticut to the heart of Rockford.

When we visualize the American Revolution, we often see the grand tableaus of history; however, revolutions are not fought only on the battlefield. This lecture steps away from the battlefield to explore the grueling daily realities of the 1770s through the eyes of the families who lived through the war. We will explore how the war was not just a military event but a family experience. 

These intimate personal moments tell the story of direct ancestors of Robert Tinker and Mary Dorr Manny Tinker: Amos Tinker III, Nathan Woods Sr., and Matthew Dorr. By examining birth records, militia musters, and post-war migrations, we ground the abstract ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in the lived experiences of real people. 

"African Americans in Early Rockford (1834-1871)"
​- Amanda Becker
    June 28th       2:00pm

This event will take place in the Lower Level of the Barn on Sunday, June 28th from 2-4pm.

Seating is limited, so reserve your spot today! 
6/28 Lecture
Early African Americans in Rockford is based on the research of Dr. John Molyneaux and his recently released second edition of his book on Early African Americans in Rockford. 

Lewis Lemon is well known as a co-founder of Rockford...but there were many other influential African Americans in Rockford, such as businessman Isaac Wilson, barbers Reuben Armstrong & the James Williams families, the Anna Williams trial, and the attempted lynching of an African American man at the courthouse. Without this research, the story of early Rockford would not be complete. ​