The John Carter Brown Library is hosting a year-long public exhibition titled, 1776 Across the Americas: A Hemispheric History from the Collections of the John Carter Brown Library, now on view in the Bromsen Room during Reading Room hours. Curated by Beatrice and Julio Mario Santo Domingo Director and Librarian Karin Wulf and JCB 2026 Postdoc Program Coordinator Kathleen Telling, the exhibition is part of the Library's “2026 and Beyond” initiative, which explores themes of democratic revolutions, freedom of religion, and how libraries shape historical knowledge.
In regard to the exhibition, the curators explain that, “The John Carter Brown Library’s collections cannot represent a comprehensive or holistic perspective on 1776 in any one place, not least the full hemisphere. But the collections of the JCB provide a unique vantage on how largely printed materials–from books and pamphlets to broadsides and maps–were produced in that year and reflected diverse experiences.Throughout this exhibit, items of intimate and local consequence are juxtaposed with those of imperial, national and international significance and tell the story of 1776 across the Americas through our remarkable collections.”
Stay tuned for a digital version, coming soon! Learn more about the in-person exhibition: