Historian Daniel K. Richter Examines Indigenous History in Pennsylvania in New Book
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Asia Tabb
aired; July 24, 2026
Pennsylvania’s history didn’t begin with William Penn. Thousands of years before European settlement, Indigenous peoples had already established thriving communities, trade networks and cultural traditions across the region.
On The Spark, historian Daniel K. Richter discussed his newly revised book, Native Americans and Pennsylvania, which offers an updated look at the Commonwealth’s Indigenous history from its earliest inhabitants to the present day.
Richter, professor emeritus of American History at the University of Pennsylvania, said the book centers Indigenous voices and experiences while examining how Native communities shaped Pennsylvania long before colonization. It also explores how European settlers adopted existing trade routes and relationships while developing policies and beliefs that displaced Indigenous peoples and influenced later U.S. government actions.
Listen to the podcast.