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The Invention of Rum: A View from Rhode Island with Jordan B. Smith

  • June 11, 2026 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

  • John Brown House Museum

    52 Power Street
    Providence, Rhode Island 02906
Ticket Price $5.72-$56.57 Register Now
Description

On Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 5:30 pm, the John Brown House Museum, a Rhode Island Historical Society museum, will host scholar Jordan B. Smith to present the talk The Invention of Rum: A View From Rhode Island. This engaging lecture will share a new account of how rum was invented, made, sold, and consumed, and how that history connected Rhode Island to other parts of the Atlantic world. Smith will introduce attendees to a commodity that transformed cultures of making and drinking in large part due to its ubiquity and affordability. Moreover, he will illustrate how rum’s emergence as the quintessential Atlantic commodity tied together myriad innovations to inspire a broader reimagining of what commodities were and how they were made. This talk builds on Smith’s 2025 book, The Invention of Rum: Creating the Quintessential Atlantic Commodity.

Jordan B. Smith teaches early American and Atlantic history at Widener University, where he is an associate professor of history and the pre-law advisor. He is the author of The Invention of Rum: Creating the Quintessential Atlantic Commodity (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2025). Jordan received his BA in History from Carleton College and his MA and PhD from Georgetown University. His essays have appeared in Early American Studies, Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, and Commonplace. Smith and his family live in South Philadelphia.

General admission costs $10 per person and $5 for RIHS members. A combo book and admission ticket is available, and a book signing will follow the event. Doors open at 4:30pm for a book signing and reception, where a rum-inspired drink will be available.

Date & Time

Thu, Jun 11, 2026 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Venue Details

John Brown House Museum

52 Power Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02906 John Brown House Museum
Rhode Island Historical Society

The Rhode Island Historical Society, the state's oldest and only statewide historical organization, is dedicated to honoring, interpreting and sharing Rhode Island's past to enrich the present and inspire the future. Founded in 1822, the RIHS is an advocate for history as a means to develop empathy and 21st  -century skills, using its historical materials and knowledge to explore topics of timeless relevance and public interest. As a Smithsonian Affiliate, it is dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible public programming and educational opportunities for all Rhode Islanders through its four sites: the John Brown House Museum, the Museum of Work & Culture, the Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center and the Aldrich House.


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