Program Announced for September Symposium in Washington: Spain and the Birth of American Democracy: A History Symposium

 Event Hosted by The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute (QSSI) in collaboration with Fundación Ramón Areces (FRA) Highlights Spain's Contributions to the American Revolution

QSSI Received the DAR President General's Medallion Award for Exemplary Collaborating Organization and Impactful Historical Work

WASHINGTON, July 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The academic program was announced today for Spain and the Birth of American Democracy: A History Symposium which will take place in just two months. The free two-day event will offer academic lectures and booth displays featuring international experts, professors, historians, authors, History Pulitzer Prize winners and finalists, and other authorities on Spanish-American history that profile the latest research, news and findings associated with specific historical events and the impact of Spain's involvement in the American Revolution.

The two-day event is hosted by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in conjunction with the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute (QSSI) and the Fundación Ramón Areces (FRA) and will be presented at the DAR's Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. on Friday, Sept. 19 and Saturday, Sept. 20. The Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain in the United States is also lending support, joining the DAR, the QSSI and the FRA.

The symposium marks the official U.S. launch of the QSSI's America&Spain250 initiative and will constitute a cornerstone event in the DAR's upcoming America 250 celebrations, all of which mark the semiquincentennial of America's founding.

Additionally, at DAR's 134^th Continental Congress in late June, the QSSI received the DAR President General's Medallion, a prestigious award bestowed annually to a select DAR historical partner of the highest integrity and impact. Begonia Santos, president and CEO of the QSSI, accepted the award on behalf of the chair of the board.

"The DAR's commitment to promoting historic preservation, education, and patriotism, the excellence with which DAR members carry themselves and carry out their duties in fulfilment of this commitment, is an inspiration to all of us," said Begonia Santos. "It is thus truly an honor that you consider the work of the QSSI worthy of your recognition."

In September, Spain and the Birth of American Democracy: A History Symposium will open with a presentation by Gonzalo M. Quintero Saravia, PhD, SJD entitled "Spain in the American Revolution." Quintero Saravia is the recognized world expert on Bernardo de Gálvez, the Spanish Patriot and hero who had a pivotal impact in the Revolutionary War. The symposium will close with "The Erasure of Spain from the United States' History" presented by Richard L. Kagan, PhD, the QSSI's academic director and professor emeritus of history at Johns Hopkins University. Throughout the two-day event other history and research luminaries will make presentations, including (alphabetically):

• Thomas E. Chávez, author, historian at University of New Mexico and the winner of the first award from The Fundación Xavier de Salas;
• Kathleen DuVal, professor at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, a Guggenheim Fellow and author; winner of 2025 Pulitzer Prize in History for her book "Native Nations: A Millennium in North America";
• Larrie D. Ferreiro, author, naval architect, historian at George Mason University and 2017 Pulitzer Prize in History finalist;
• Ivan Jaksic, author and director of Stanford University's Bing Overseas Studies Program in Santiago, Chile;
• Jane Landers, professor and director of Vanderbilt Slave Societies Digital Archive;
• Manuel Lucena-Giraldo, research scientist in the Spanish Council for Scientific Research and visiting professor and lecturer at IE University;
• Hugo O'Donnell y Duque de Estrada (Duke of Tetuán), vice president of the Spanish Commission for Military History;
• Gabriel B. Paquette, associate provost and professor of history at the University of Maine, and author;
• Elisa Vargas Vargas, PhD, historian, researcher, lecturer and multidisciplinary scholar.

In addition to session presentations, other organizations will host displays located around Constitution Hall so symposium guests can interact and learn about the various ways the 250^th Anniversary of the United States is being celebrated throughout the country. Confirmed organizations exhibiting include the Military Women's Memorial, the National A250 Commission, and The American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati.   

 "Historic preservation and education are foundational to the DAR and we are beyond excited to offer rich learnings at the September symposium at no cost to our members and the general public," said Ginnie Storage, DAR President General. "Spain's involvement in our Revolution has generally been underrepresented. Many people just do not know of Spain's secret aid to the colonies and the role of the Spanish Navy alongside the French against the British. It's our honor to offer this seminar. It is one of the first large-scale events in our America 250! planning, the sum total of which will illuminate all Patriots who fought for our country's freedom, including those from Spain."

All events at the symposium will be free and open to the public, although advance registration will be required. Please register for the symposium using the Eventbrite page here. This is the second such symposium hosted by the QSSI and the FRA under the America&Spain250 initiative; the first event was held in May 2024 in Madrid.

To learn more about the participation of Spain in the American Revolution, visit the educational platform "Spanish Influence on American History" developed by the QSSI in partnership with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and the Royal Academy of History of Spain containing primary sources, lesson plans, videos by historians, and more.

The DAR provides a variety of resources to help people research their Spanish Patriots through the DAR Library and DAR member volunteer genealogists who specialize in Spanish research. DAR's other America 250! initiatives, including service projects, various scholarships, the E Pluribus Unum Educational Initiative highlighting underrepresented Revolutionary War Patriots, as well as other national and local events will also be part of the organization's contributions to the America 250 celebrations. Find out more about DAR's plan to honor the country's founding at www.dar.org/America250.

Updates on schedule, sessions, and events for the Spain and the Birth of American Democracy symposium will be posted on the Eventbrite page, as well as www.dar.org and www.queensofiaspanishinstitute.org. All presentations will be transcribed and translated into Spanish; they will be made available at a later date so the learnings may be shared widely. The symposium will not be live streamed.

About the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute (QSSI)

The Queen Sofía Spanish Institute (QSSI) was founded in 1954 to stimulate interest in the United States in the culture, art, literature and history of Spanish-speaking countries, and to promote among Spanish-speaking people knowledge and understanding of the ideals, culture and customs of the people of the United States.

The QSSI is named after its patroness, Her Majesty Queen Sofía, mother of the current King of Spain, Felipe VI. The QSSI is governed by a Board of Trustees and, as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit New York-based charitable organization, is supported through the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations. For more information, visit www.queensofiaspanishinstitute.org.

About the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) was founded in 1890 to preserve the memory and spirit of those who contributed to securing American independence. As one of the largest patriotic women's service organizations in the world, DAR has nearly 190,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters around the world. DAR members promote the three pillars of historic preservation, education and patriotism via commemorative events, scholarships and educational initiatives, citizenship programs, service to veterans, meaningful community service and more. The DAR is also a renowned genealogical repository which includes the DAR Library, one of the largest genealogical research centers in the United States, and the DAR Genealogical Research System (GRS), a free online database of information amassed by the DAR. For additional information about DAR and its relevant mission, visit www.dar.org.

Media Contacts:

Daughters of the American Revolution
Bren Landon
202-572-0563
[email protected] 

Queen Sofía Spanish Institute
Celia Maldonado     
212.628.0420          
[email protected]  

SOURCE Daughters of the American Revolution