DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ON VIEW AT THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ONE OF THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY'S GREATEST TREASURES, A FULL TEXT VERSION OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE HANDWRITTEN BY THOMAS JEFFERSON WILL BE ON VIEW THROUGH 31.JULY AT THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY'S STEPHEN A SCHARZMAN BUILDING IN THE SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM II GALLERY. THE DISPLAY WILL BE OPEN FOR A SPECIAL VIEWING OVER THE INDEPENDENCE WEEKEND, 3-5.JULY. THE EXHIBITION ALSO INCLUDES EARLY PRINTINGS OF THE DECLARATION AS WELL AS A LETTER FROM BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TO GEORGE WASHINGTON MENTIONING THAT THE DECLARATION WAS BEING DRAFTED. IN THE DAYS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING RATIFICATION ON 4.JULY.1776, JEFFERSON MADE SEVERAL COPIES OF THE TEXT THAT HAD BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, UNDERLINING THE PASSAGES TO WHICH CHANGES HAD BEN MADE. JEFFERSON WAS DISTRESSED BY THE ALTERATIONS MADE, MOST NOTABLY THE REMOVAL OF HIS LENGTHY CONDEMNATION OF SLAVERY. THE LIBRARY'S COPY IS ONE OF THE TWO KNOWN TO SURVIVE INTACT. IT IS SHOWN TOGETHER WITH THE FIRST PHILADELPHIA PRINTING AND THE FIRST NEW YORK PRINTING OF THE FINAL VERSION ISSUED BY CONGRESS. THESE VERSIONS ARE COMPLEMENTED BY THE EARLIEST NEWSPAPER PRINTINGS; THE SECOND OFFICIAL VERSION ORDERED BY CONGRESS, PUBLISHED BY A WOMAN PRINTER IN BALTIMORE.