Created Equal: The Premises and Promises of the Declaration of Independence
University of Chicago Library, Special Collections Research Center Gallery, 1st Floor September 8 through December 11, 2026
The story of the making of the Declaration of Independence often centers on its revolutionary authors, prominent politicians such as John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and (above all) Thomas Jefferson. But the Declaration we know today is equally a product of generations of readers, individuals, and groups who discovered divergent meanings among its self-evident truths.
What story, then, best suits our moment?
This exhibition, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the document in 2026, invites visitors to experience the diverse responses to the Declaration in the age of the American Revolution, consider unfolding understandings over time, and explore conflicting interpretations individuals and groups have proposed at significant moments in history.
Digital exhibit link
Information for Your Visit:
University of Chicago Regenstein Library
1100 E. 57th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
Special Collections (1st floor): Weekdays 9am-4:45 pm
https://www.lib.uchicago.edu/libraries/libraries-hours/
Free and open to all
https://www.lib.uchicago.edu/
For more information, contact: Patti Gibbons, pgibbons@uchicago.edu
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