Coffee Nation: How One Commodity Transformed the Early United States (A talk by Michelle Craig McDonald)

In person attendees: 94 George Street, Providence

Virtual attendees: Register here. 

The image shows the cover of the book Coffee Nation.

Join us on February 12, 2026 at 5 p.m. as we welcome historian Michelle Craig McDonald to talk about the history of coffee based on her new book Coffee Nation: How One Commodity Transformed the Early United States. 

Please note that registration is required to attend this event in person. The event can also be accessed via Zoom. Register here for in-person and here for Zoom.

About the author

Michelle Craig McDonald is the Director of the Library & Museum at the American Philosophical Society. She has worked for nearly three decades as an educator and administrator in university settings as well as museums and historic sites.

Her research focuses on trade and consumer behavior in North America and the Caribbean during the 18th and 19th centuries—especially the history of coffee.