America 250 Fall 2026 Lecture Series:The Historical Significance of Charles Thomson and Timothy Matlack in the American Revolution

Charles Thomson and Timothy Matlack were two of the most essential figures of the American Revolution. They worked side-by-side in Philadelphia. Thomson was the Secretary of the Continental Congress from 1774 to 1789, he was the only officer to serve throughout the entire duration of the Congress. Matlack was clerk for the Pennsylvania Assembly who was hired by Thomson to serve as his assistant. He is historically recognized as the person who handwrote the Declaration of Independence onto the official parchment that was signed by the delegates beginning in August 1776. This discussion examines the contributions of Thomson and Matlack, whose administrative and intellectual work was essential to the American Revolution yet largely overlooked in traditional stories. By tracing their intertwined careers, Teti will highlight how the Revolution depended not only on celebrated leaders but also on the steady, often invisible labor that made independence possible.