Treasures of The New York Public Library

Americana

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Early Californian.<br><br><br />
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Dorothea Lange. Photograph from the <i>American Country Woman</i> series. Gelatin silver prints, 1931-56.<br><br />
The New York Public Library, The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs, Photography Collection.<br><br><br />
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"If you die, you're dead. That's all.": Dorothea Lange's American Country Woman Series

Page 1 of the autograph manuscript of the Declaration of Independence, which Jefferson prepared for a friend in Virginia after Congress had approved the text on July 2, 1776.<br><br><br />
<hr>Thomas Jefferson. Declaration of Independence. Autograph manuscript. Philadelphia, July 4-10, 1776.<br><br />
The New York Public Library, Manuscripts and Archives Division, Emmet Collection (no. 1524).<br><br><br />
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Thomas Jefferson's Autograph Copy of the Declaration of Independence

Many people first learned of the Declaration of Independence through their local newspapers, which appeared weekly or more frequently.<br><br><br />
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<i>The New-York Gazette, and The Weekly Mercury</i>, no. 1292, July 15, 1776. New York: Hugh Gaine, Hanover-Square.<br><br />
The New York Public Library, Rare Book Division.<br><br><br />
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In the Papers: The Declaration of Independence in The New-York Gazette

Acquired by Benjamin Franklin in 1729, <i>The Pennsylvania Gazette</i> was one of the most important newspapers of the American colonial and revolutionary periods. On July 10, 1776, the Declaration of Independence filled the first two columns of the front page.<br><br><br />
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<i>The Pennsylvania Gazette</i>, no. 2481, July 10, 1776. Philadelphia: Hall & Sellers, at the New Printing-Office, near the Market.<br><br />
The New York Public Library, Rare Book Division.<br><br><br />
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The Pennsylvania Gazette: "Containing the Freshest Advices, Foreign and Domestic"

Page 335: <i>The Pennsylvania Evening Post</i>, vol. II, no. 228, July 6, 1776. Philadelphia: Benjamin Towne, in Front-street, near the London Coffee-house.<br><br />
The New York Public Library, Rare Book Division.<br><br><br />
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Spreading the Word: The Declaration of Independence Makes the Papers

At the head of the title, extracted from the minutes of the New York Convention: "Resolved unanimously, that the reasons assigned by the Continental Congress, for declaring the United Colonies free and independent states, are cogent and conclusive, and that while we lament the cruel necessity which has rendered that measure unavoidable, we approve the same, and will at the risque of our lives and fortunes, join with the other Colonies in supporting it."<br><br><br />
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United States Congress. Declaration of Independence. New York: John Holt, after July 9, 1776.<br><br />
The New York Public Library, Rare Book Division, Emmet Collection.<br><br><br />
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The Declaration of Independence in New York

Congress authorized this, the first printing of the Declaration, with the following resolution: "œThat the committee appointed to prepare the declaration superintend & correct the press; That copies of the declaration be sent to the several Assemblies, Conventions & Committees or Councils of Safety and to the several Commanding Officers of the Continental troops that it be proclaimed in each of the United States & at the head of the army."<br><br><br />
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United States Congress. Declaration of Independence. Philadelphia: John Dunlap, July 4-5, 1776.<br><br />
The New York Public Library, Rare Book Division, Emmet Collection (no. 1528).<br><br><br />
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"When in the Course of Human Events": The First Printing of the Declaration of Independence

Inspired by heroes like Crispus Attucks, thousands of American blacks fought on the side of the colonists during the War of Independence, while others responded to Lord Dunmore's call and joined the British.<br><br><br />
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<i>Boston Massacre, March 5th, 1770</i>. Color lithograph by J.H. Bufford after W. Champney, 1856. Published by Henry O. Smith, Boston.<br><br />
The New York Public Library, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division.<br><br><br />
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The Boston Massacre: Martyrs to American Independence

In the storming of Fort Wagner, the commander of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry and 116 of his men were killed. About 40,000 black soldiers died during the Civil War "” 30,000 of infection or disease.<br><br><br />
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<i>Storming Fort Wagner</i>. Color lithograph, July 5, 1890. Published by Kurz & Allison, Chicago.<br><br />
The New York Public Library, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division.<br><br><br />
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Slaves to Soldiers: Storming Fort Wagner

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