Teacher Workshop - Loyalists to Patriots: Stories from the American Revolution

The Albany Institute of History & Art is hosting a teacher workshop, Loyalists to Patriots: Stories from the American Revolution, on Thursday, September 3, 2026, from 10AM–12PM. This workshop is held in conjunction with the museum's upcoming exhibition, Albany c. 1776, running from October 31, 2026, through May 2027.

Discover the stories of Capital Region residents through the collections held at the Albany Institute. Walking through the galleries, we will encounter a member of the Sons of Liberty, an aide-de-camp to the traitor Benedict Arnold, a signer of both the Olive Branch Petition and the Declaration of Independence, and a soldier in General Peter Yates's militia.

All participants will receive an instructional portfolio. Each packet pairs a museum object with related primary sources, concluding with critical-thinking questions that require students to examine both. The portfolio also includes an 18th-century map of Albany, an activity sheet on how to read a painting, and a creative writing exercise on crafting satire. Because most of our featured images are accessible via our online Collections Database, we will demonstrate how art and artifacts can be effectively used as primary sources in your classroom.

Teachers will earn two hours of CTLE credit. By linking primary sources, material culture, and art, we will explore the local history of the American Revolution—highlighting the pivotal roles Albany citizens played in the lead-up to the war and its immediate aftermath—and discuss how to bring these compelling local stories into classrooms across the Capital Region.

Register via the following link here.

Questions? Contact Megan Brown, Director of Education, at brownm@albanyinstitute.org.

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