The Living Declaration

CPL partners with Library of America and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum to commemorate America's 250th Anniversary with The Living Declaration, a discussion and celebration of the Declaration of Independence. The event will celebrate the release of the new book, The Living Declaration: A Biography Of America's Founding Text, which weaves together sixty-eight essential writings by a broad spectrum of American and international figures.

Join us for pre-event music from the Old Town School of Folk Music musicians BUDS & SHOOTS, celebrating the American songbook, from 5:15 - 6:00 p.m. Stirring old-time fiddle tunes, anthems, and bits of Americana patriotic melodies will be performed on banjo, fiddle and guitar by three members of BUDS & SHOOTS.

At 6:00 p.m., the keynote features author Ted Widmer in conversation with Christina Shutt, Executive Director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. They will discuss divergent readings of the Declaration, its role in the sectional crisis and Civil War, and Lincoln’s interpretation of equality. Professional actors from The Goodman Theatre will perform staged readings of selections from the book.

Ted Widmer is a prize-winning historian, author, and contributor to The New Yorker, The Guardian, the Boston Globe, and The New York Times. Christina Shutt is executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and has led community outreach and national award–winning exhibitions.

Support for this program was provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities, Les Levi, and David Bruce Smith/Grateful American Foundation.

How to attend: Doors to the Winter Garden open at 5:00 p.m. Seating is first come, first served (400 capacity). Books will be available for purchase.