“Liberty on the Anvil” explores how challenge and debate shaped and expanded the meaning of liberty in Pennsylvania from William Penn’s 1701 Charter of Privileges to the present. “This exhibit happens to be built around themes relevant to the present crisis,” said Sharon Ann Holt, the Society’s Director of Publications and Programs. “Through its founding charters, Pennsylvania made active and pioneering commitments to diversity in its population, to religious liberty, and to protecting citizens from unjust uses of governmental power. Understanding this legacy may help people now as they struggle to reaffirm our national ideals and respond fruitfully to the attacks.” Holt continued, “The exhibit also argues that contention and debate about values and strategies are, and have always been, central to the work of sustaining liberty. We can take heart that our liberties and our institutions have survived, and even gained strength from, earlier assaults based on fear and hatred. People seeking ways to affirm and recommit to basic values will find food for thought in the founding charters, and even more in the active contentious processes of building today’s commonwealth that the charters made possible.”

The free admission applies to the exhibit only. Children under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

Hours of admission are:

9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
1-8 p.m. Wednesday 
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday 

Founded in 1824 in Philadelphia, The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is one of the oldest historical societies in the United States and holds historical materials of national importance. It is one of the largest family history libraries in the nation, has excellent printed collections on local and regional history, and is renowned for its 17th-, 18th-, and 19th-century manuscript holdings.