Ball State University Libraries invites the community to the opening of Ages of Liberty, an exhibit presented by University Libraries’ Archives and Special Collections, at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, at Bracken Library. The event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served.
The exhibit features six original documents signed by American Founders Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and the Marquis de Lafayette.
“Ages of Liberty seeks to explore the 18th-century cultural ‘ages’ of Revolution, Enlightenment, and Print, which were important ingredients in creating the atmosphere where the Declaration of Independence was written and signed,” said Russell Knapp, archives specialist at University Libraries.
Mr. Knapp will deliver opening remarks at approximately 6 p.m., sharing the story of how five of the six letters featured in the exhibit were rediscovered earlier this year within the pages of a first edition of Washington Irving’s Life of George Washington. Additional historical materials will also be displayed during the event, including a Declaration of Independence Signers Board featuring cut-out signatures from 48 of the 56 signers.
The Age of Revolution section features rare books and documents from the Revolutionary era. The Age of Enlightenment section includes works on philosophy, medicine, and education, as well as Diderot’s famous Encyclopédie. The Age of Print section showcases newspapers, magazines, novels, poetry, and other materials, including an original Poor Richard’s Almanack, a first edition of Gulliver’s Travels, and Bible leaves from the earliest Bibles printed in the American colonies.
The Declaration of Independence was shaped by the cultural movements of the time. Its authors, a committee of five members of the Continental Congress, drew inspiration from Enlightenment philosophy emphasizing reason, liberalism, and natural rights. They were also influenced by a rapidly expanding print media landscape. Together with growing unrest and grievances against British rule, these forces helped create an environment in which revolutionary political change became possible.
Additional information about Ages of Liberty and other community programming offered by University Libraries for the 2026–27 academic year is available online.