A collaborative project of archaeologists, historians, and members of the local and descendant communities has been underway since 2002 to further research the social history of this demographically integrated town and to enhance its focus in our national memory and heritage. Participating organizations include the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Springfield, the Illinois State Museum, DePaul University, the University of Maryland's Center for Heritage Resource Studies, the University of Central Florida's Public History Program, and the New Philadelphia Association. Sprague's Kinderhook Lodge has also provided generous support.

The images below show our Team Y excavating a house site at New Philadelphia, Illinois, in 2006 (photographs by Gary Andrashko, Joe Conover, Pat Likes, and Christopher Valvano). Team excavators include Emily Helton, Adeola Adegbola, Hillary Livingston, and Jason Jacoby.