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Oct 16, 2026

Friday

  • Ages of Liberty Exhibit Opening 6pm to 7pm @ Bracken Library, Ball State University 2nd Floor 1100 N McKinley Ave, Muncie, IN 47306

    Come visit the Ball State University Archives and Special Collections at Bracken Library, room 210 on October 16th at 6:00pm for the opening of a new exhibit honoring the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Hear about how cultural movements like the Enlightenment, the growth of print culture, and a revolutionary atmosphere influenced the Declaration's authors, then view the amazing 18th century rare books, newspapers, and original letters from several Founding Fathers that are on display, all while enjoying delicious cookies.

     

    In 1776, a committee of five members of the Continental Congress drafted the Declaration of Independence, one of the most foundational and important political documents in the history of western society. But the Declaration did not spring from the minds of the writers out of nothing. Like any great work, it was profoundly influenced by the cultural movements of the time. The writers were inspired by a century of Enlightenment philosophy advocating reason, liberalism, and natural rights. They were also inundated with a media landscape of print information that was expanding in a way never seen before. These ingredients, along with unrest and unfair treatment, created an atmosphere of revolution — where political change actually felt possible.

     

    Ages of Liberty seeks to explore the 18th century cultural "ages" of Revolution, Enlightenment, and Print which were all important ingredients in creating the atmosphere where the Declaration of Independence was written and signed. The exhibit features six original signed documents from American Founders Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Lafayette. The Age of Revolution section also includes other revolutionary rare books and documents. The Age of Enlightenment section displays works of philosophy, medicine, and education, as well as Diderot's famous Encyclopédie. The Age of Print section showcases newspapers, magazines, novels, poetry, and more, including an original Poor Richard's Almanack, a first-edition Gulliver's Travels, and Bible leaves from the first ever printed Bibles in the American Colonies.

Oct 25, 2026

Sunday

Nov 13, 2026

Friday

Nov 22, 2026

Sunday

Apr 27, 2027

Tuesday