Explore articles from The Beacon, the Thomas Paine Historical Association’s bi-monthly journal. Each issue features multiple original articles written by a diverse group of leading Thomas Paine scholars, historians, and experts. Together, these contributions examine Paine’s life, writings, and enduring influence while connecting his ideas on liberty, democracy, and human rights to the political and social issues of today.
In December 1776, Paine’s electric lead, “These are the times that try men’s souls,” was spurred by the Continental Army repeatedly evading near-death experiences. Less than a year after Common Sense inflamed patriotic fervor, the thrill of the Declaration of Independence dissipated, and Washington despaired. The Army had evacuated from Brooklyn under cover of fog, escaped from
Lisa Burton, the new President of the Thomas Paine Historical Association as of July 1st, is a respected community leader in Westchester.
In April 2026, the Thetford Grammar School, where Thomas Paine was a pupil from 1744 to 1749, announced its closure effective August 31, 2026.
On June 30, 2026, Princeton University Press will publish Thomas Paine: Collected Writings, a six-volume scholarly edition of Paine’s works and correspondence.
![A 1793 Dalton No. 208 (300] penny labled "Thomas Paine" and described as "an excellent profile, made of white metal". The image can be found in "Thomas Paine Fights for Freedom in Three Worlds: The New, The Old, The Next". by Richard Gimbel - American Antiquarian Society](https://thomaspaine.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-16-225456.png)
Paine talked about compiling a complete edition of his own works, and it is clear from his correspondence that he always saw this as a signature achievement.
The absence of surviving proto-drafts of the Declaration ofIndependence should not foreclose inquiry into its earliest stages of formation.
Common Sense moved many towards declaring independence from Britain. But the Pennsylvania Assembly was controlled by those advocating continued dependence on Britain.
Like many other writers in 18th-century England, Thomas Paine used the familiar valediction “Your humble and obedientservant,” or some variation thereof.
The enthusiasm and engagement of younger scholars in Lewes suggests that scholarship about Thomas Paine and exploration of the context and impact of his work will continue to yield new insights well into the future.
Thomas Paine at 250: Insights from a Conference in Lewes, England Read Post »
The TPHA Cartoon collection offers viewers a vivid journey of how Paine’s public image has morphed over the last 250 years. Although there were some positive portrayals of Paine early on, his many enemies, both in Britain and America, eventually took aim at him with vitriolic, often violent imagery, seeking to defame him and attack
Poison Pens: Turning the Corner from Damnation to Praise Read Post »
The Lewes Railway posters were hung in late December 2025, badged as a Thomas Paine Historical Association project with my having recently joined its Board.
In celebration of the 250th anniversary, a historic marker was recently placed at the Paine Monument adjacent to the TPHA Headquarters on North Avenue in New Rochelle, NY.
A Sign for the Times: The Many Sides of the Paine Monument Read Post »
