"Before Penn" presented by Hal Taylor
A Delaware River Heritage Lecture Sponsored by the Delaware River Greenway Partnership (DRGP)
It would almost seem to students of American history that the Pilgrims alighted from the Mayflower and then the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed. But that’s obviously not the case. It is rarely taught that a dramatic but bloodless conflict for control of the Delaware Valley by Europeans amounted to at least eight nationality changes from the era of the original inhabitants to a final takeover by the English in 1664. Generations of settlers carved out lives for themselves in a strange new land enduring incredible hardships and endless work, all during European political turmoil, long before the American Revolution was even considered. “Before Penn” tells the colorful, complex, and little-known early history of the Delaware Valley in a thoroughly researched narrative enhanced by original illustrations, created in a “throwback style”, reminiscent of the Golden Age of Illustration.
Bio
A long-time graphic artist, Hal Taylor has been inspired by the Delaware River to combine art, history, and writing. Hal has been a typographer and hand lettering artist for advertising and design agencies and an adjunct professor at Drexel University in Philadelphia. His published works include Before Penn, The Illustrated Delaware River, Artifacts, The Book of Wedges, and a new work, For a Song.
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Please enjoy the video of Hal Taylor's presentation below.