The United States at 250: The Declaration and Beyond
The Newberry's collection contains a wealth of primary sources for the study of early American history, including perspectives of Indigenous and enslaved people as well as colonists, settlers, and citizens. For the American Revolution, the collection is particularly notable for maps and political pamphlets, but also includes letters, diaries, newspapers and other periodicals, rare books, and broadsides. The context for, and development of, the founding documents of the United States is another great strength at the Newberry, especially in the Rudy L. Ruggles Collection.
This digital gallery is a companion to the Newberry exhibition Free and Independent: The Declaration of Independence and the Words That Made the United States (2026).
Curated by:Will Hansen, Roger and Julie Baskes Vice President for Collections and Library Services, Newberry Library
In Congress, July 4, 1776. A declaration by the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress assembled. ...
I do promise to bear faith and true allegiance to His Majesty King George the third Menaguashe near Fort Howe Saint John, N.B., 1778 Sept. 24
Scrapbook of newspaper clippings : the Federalist nos. 1-33
A short narrative of the horrid massacre in Boston : perpetrated in the evening of the fifth day of March, 1770, by soldiers of the XXIXth regiment ;...
A list of the prisoners now in His Majestys goal i.e., gaol in Boston in said county of Suffolk : manuscript, 1775 January 3
Samuel Ruggles invoice to Connecticut Colony for expenses incurred while transporting a mixed race woman from Connecticut to Dover, New York :...
Ticonderoga journal, Feb. 19- May 26, 1776
Notes on the establisment sic of a money unit, and of a coinage for the United States
La destruction de la statue royale a Nouvelle Yorck
A short narrative of the horrid massacre in Boston : perpetrated in the evening of the fifth day of March 1770
Carte des possessions angloises dans l'Amérique Septentrionale pour servir d'intelligence à la guerre presente
The Crisis. no. I-XCI, Jan. 21, 1775 - Oct. 12, 1776
William Sheldon essay on immigration policy in the United States : manuscript
Memoir of Paul Cuffe : a man of colour
Common sense : addressed to the inhabitants of America, on the following interesting subjects. I. Of the origin and design of government in general,...
Draught of a fundamental constitution for the commonwealth of Virginia
Treaty proceedings Easton, Pa., 1777 Jan. 30-Feb. 6
Federalist essay no. 3
Common sense : with the whole appendix: the address to the Quakers: also, the large additions, and a dialogue between the ghost of General...
The Boston-gazette, and country journal : containing the freshest advices, foreign and domestic : Monday, March 12, 1770
Paul Allen essay on immigration and citizenship in the United States : manuscript
The journal of Major George Washington : sent by the Hon. Robert Dinwiddie, Esq; His Majesty's lieutenant-governor, and commander in chief of...
Boston, December 17, 1773 : at a meeting of the people of Boston, and the neighboring towns at the Old South Meeting House in Boston, on Tuesday...
Notes on the state of Virginia : written in the year 1781, somewhat corrected and enlarged in the winter of 1782, for the use of a foreigner of...
A Plan of the town and harbour of Boston ... shewing ... the late engagement between the King's troops & the provincials ...
A Plan of the action at Bunkers Hill on the 17th of June 1775 ...
Journal of the proceedings of the Congress, held at Philadelphia, September 5, 1774
A few lines from a school master to his schoollars in verse : manuscript
Minutes of treaty kept by General Robt. V. Rensilear with the Indians in Schenectady, 28. Augt. 1780
A congratulatory poem on the late successes of the British arms, particularly the triumphant evacuation of Boston. To which is added an Ode to Mr....
An act for establishing religious freedom