About Us

The Thomas Paine National Historical Association

To educate the world about the life, works, and legacy of Thomas Paine.

        983 North Avenue
        New Rochelle, NY 10804-3609
        

tpnhamail@gmail.com

Board

Scott Cleary

Bedford, NY

TPNHA Secretary, Professor of English, Iona College

Michael Munisteri

Connecticut

TPNHA Treasurer, Senior Finance Associate, Bridgewater Associates, retired

Gary Berton

Walton, NY

President

Josh Klein

New York, NY

Professor of Criminal Justice, Iona College

Frances Chiu

Connecticut

Professor of Literature and History, New School, NYC, and Board of Anthem Press Gothic Studies

Jonathan Scheick

New Jersey

Professor of Psychology, Brookdale C.C., clinician.

Roderick Bradford

San Diego, CA

Editor of The Truth Seeker Magazine and documentarian.

Judah Freed

Denver, CO

Journaist, Award winning author

Adrian Tawfik

Woodbury, NY

Founder and editor of Democracy Chronicles website

Barbara Crane

New Rochelle, NY

community organizer, retired

Greg McMurray

New York City

Writer, Paine scholar

Edmund Smith

Connecticut

Retired Science teacher

John Heidenreich

New Rochelle

Chemistry teacher

History

Read a full history of the Association.

Founded January 29, 1884 in New York City, TPNHA is among the oldest historical associations in the United States, and the single most respected source for accurate information about Thomas Paine. Our mission is designed to ensure Paine’s rightful place in history as a preeminent founder of the United States of America, and the key political theorist in the age of democratic revolutions around the world. In the course of his lifetime, Paine was the most influential political, philosophical, and social figure in the entire world.

The TPNHA Board from 1894, standing in front of the Paine Monument on North Avenue in New Rochelle, NY. On the right is Thaddeus Wakeman, a freethinker, professor and noted philosopher, who took the lead in the creation of TPNHA. Also in the picture, in the rear wearing a hat, is Wilson MacDonald, the sculptor of the Paine bust on top of the Monument.

Dr. Moncure Conway, a noted writer and abolitionist, was elected the association’s first president after incorporation in 1906. Conway is credited with writing the first comprehensive biography of Paine in 1892.

In 1925, under the leadership of President William van der Weyde and Vice-President Thomas Alva Edison, the Association undertook the initiative to build the Thomas Paine Memorial Building to honor Paine and serve as the headquarters and gathering place for the Association.

Read a full history of the Association.