Historic Rock Ford, 881 Rockford Road, Lancaster, has announced three upcoming programs, all of which will be held in the Langmuir Education Room on the first floor of the Rock Ford Barn.

Samuel C. Slaymaker will present "The Patriots Next Door: Revolutionary War Veterans at Woodward Hill Cemetery" on Wednesday, May 20, at 6:30 p.m. as part of the Untold Stories Lecture Series.

Slaymaker was executive director of the Rock Ford Foundation from 2005 to 2024 and now serves as director emeritus, while contributing extensively to local historical and community boards. He holds a history degree from Trinity College, a Juris Doctor from the Dickinson School of Law, and a Master of Arts in American history from Millersville University. He moved from a legal career to leadership in historical preservation, serving as executive director of the James Buchanan Foundation for the Preservation of Wheatland prior to being appointed at Rock Ford.

Admission is for the lecture only and does not include the Snyder Gallery or Hand Mansion.

The other two programs are part of the Fashion Lecture Series. "What Were They Wearing? Lancastrians (and Others) at the Time of the Revolution" will be presented by Robert S. DuPlessis on Sunday, May 17, at 2 p.m. Although only settled in the 1720s, by 1760 Lancaster was already the largest inland town in British North America and had become an important commercial center for the buying of furs and skins supplied by Native Americans, as well as for agricultural and metal goods that settlers produced. DuPlessis will examine how this bustling trade affected the material lives of residents of the borough and its rural hinterland.

DuPlessis is the Isaac H. Clothier Professor of History Emeritus at Swarthmore College. He studies consumption, material culture, trade, and Atlantic economies between the 15th and early 19th centuries. His research has been supported by the Guggenheim, Camargo, and Fulbright foundations; the National Endowment for the Humanities; the National Humanities Center; and other entities.

Prior to the lecture, attendees may visit the Snyder Gallery and the 2026 Focus Exhibit. The Snyder Gallery closes at 4 PM.

In addition, Michele Quigley will present "The 1790s Series: A Visual Representation of a Remarkable Period in History" on Wednesday, May 27, at 6 p.m. "The 1790s Series" is a photographic fine art series that celebrates and showcases the elegance and diversity of women's dress in the 1790s. It was inspired by the works of artists like Vigee Le Brun.

Quigley is an international award-winning portrait and fine art photographer. She is also a historical costumer, sewist, speaker, and educator. She is a Lancaster County native and lives in Lancaster with her husband and children.

Admission is for the lecture only and does not include the Snyder Gallery or Hand Mansion.

To purchase tickets to any of the events, visit http://www.historicrockford.org/special-events.