Declarations: Printing a New Nation was made possible thanks to private support.
Two hundred and fifty years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, visitors to the Central Library enjoyed the rare opportunity to step into that historic summer.
For the first time ever, the Boston Public Library’s eight printings of the Declaration were on display together in a public exhibition, Declarations: Printing a New Nation. Made possible by the Irene Haney Creative Enrichment Fund through the Boston Public Library Fund, the exhibition invited visitors to consider the Declaration not as a singular, iconic artifact, but instead as something circulated and debated in real time.
For Quincy resident Mary Quinn, the exhibition expanded her understanding of America’s founding. “You grow up thinking the signing of the Declaration of Independence settled everything,” she said. “Seeing the BPL’s eight copies gave me the chance to imagine the uncertainty Bostonians felt realizing that this was the beginning of a brand-new country.”
As of July 15, more than 30,500 visitors experienced the exhibition. This level of enthusiasm comes as no surprise to BPL President David Leonard. “The Library’s collections belong to all of us, and you can see how much engaging with these original materials in person means on this historic occasion,” he said. “I’m deeply grateful to Bill and Maura Haney, who understand the importance of bringing our collections to life, and whose generous support through the Irene Haney Creative Enrichment Fund made this extraordinary exhibition possible.”