Photos courtesy of Jonathan Blanc/The New York Public Library
To celebrate America’s 250th anniversary next year, the New York Public Library will publicly display its rare copy of the Declaration of Independence. On view at the Stephen A. Scharzman Building from July 1 to July 3, 2026, the draft is one of the few surviving “fair copies” handwritten by Thomas Jefferson. As part of a systemwide commemoration of the nation’s semiquincentennial, the display of the document joins the library’s exhibition “Revolution: 1776 and Beyond,” which will explore New York’s role in the American Revolution and its impact on global revolutions that followed.
Held by the library’s Manuscripts and Archives Division, Jefferson’s draft manuscript is most notable for containing a lengthy condemnation of the slave trade, which was ultimately removed to appease delegates from Georgia and South Carolina.
Completed on July 1, 1776, and revised before its ratification three days later, the “fair-copy” document presents the unaltered text as Jefferson, slaveholder himself, originally wrote it. It is one of only four surviving intact copies, as 6sqft previously reported.
According to the NYPL, Jefferson was so aggravated by the exclusion of his censure of the slave trade that after Congress ratified the document, he handwrote copies of the version submitted to Congress, with the parts removed underlined, and sent them to friends. It is believed, but not proven, the copy the library holds is the one Jefferson sent to George Wythe, his former law professor.
Starting in June 2026, New Yorkers can reserve tickets to see the document. To meet the expected demand, the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building will extend its hours during the exhibition.
The NYPL will also dedicate all of its galleries in the Schwarzman Building to “Revolution: 1776 and Beyond,” opening in June 2026, with some galleries remaining on view through January 10, 2027. The exhibition will explore New York’s role in the first months of the American Revolution and highlight how patriots, loyalists, conservatives, women, enslaved people, and Indigenous communities experienced this tumultuous period.
Featuring hundreds of items from the library’s collections, the exhibition will showcase correspondence between Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, iconic ACT UP posters, and works by artists such as Jenny Holzer, Kara Walker, and Kerry James Marshall.
The installation will also trace the global revolutions that followed, examine the central role of protest in American history, and highlight contemporary artworks responding to questions of liberty, land, and citizenship.
“As one of the nation’s foremost collectors and premier research destinations, the Library holds some of our nation’s most treasured founding documents,” Anthony W. Marx, president and CEO of NYPL, said. “We are proud to offer not only a rare opportunity to see the Declaration of Independence, but also an entire exhibition that explores the enduring ideals outlined in this consequential document.”
“At this critical juncture in our nation’s history, libraries are well-positioned to help the public better understand where we stand, how we got here, and the democratic ideals we are constantly striving for.”
Until then, check out The Bill of Rights and George Washington’s Farewell Address, both currently on display for free at the library’s Polonsky Exhibition.
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