Name: Readings of the Declaration of Independence, Frederick Douglass’s 1852 Oration, and Other Key Docume
Start: 2026-07-08T16:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-07-08T18:00:00-04:00
Location: 121 Wall St, New Haven, CT, United States, Connecticut 06511

$Readings of the Declaration of Independence, Frederick Douglass\u2019s 1852 Oration, and Other Key Docume$

In commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the establishment of the United States, the Beinecke Library continues its tradition of public readings on July 8 at 4pm at the library. It will include a reading of the Declaration of Independence of July 4, 1776, of the oration by Frederick Douglass given on July 5, 1852, in Rochester, New York, in which he asked: “What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July?”, and of other key documents.
This year's reading is special, with the marking of America 250, and is being organized in conjunction with the America 250 | CT Commission and the New Haven America 250 Commission.
This event features the full readings of the Declaration of Independence, Douglass’s oration, the 1848 Declaration of Sentiments, and excerpts from "The Life of William Grimes" and from "Indian Nullification" by William Apes. The event runs just over 90 minutes with no intermission. All who attend are kindly asked to stay for the duration in respect to the readers and your fellow audience members.
A number of the documents are on view as part of the exhibition, "Unfurling the Flag: Reflections on American Patriotism," including the first printing of the Declaration made on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia. All who attend are encouraged to see these documents before the reading begins, or to view them later, with the exhibition continuing on view through September 27.
All who attend will be invited to enter fully into the spirit of the occasion, with respect for the founders, for Douglass, and for fellow audience members. There were no electronics when the Declaration was first read aloud in 1776 to the public on July 8, and Douglass did not face competition with digital devices during his oration in 1852. All present for the readings will be kindly invited to silence and stow mobile phones, cameras, and other electronic devices, as their use would distract the readers and audience.
Please note that seating is available on a first-come, first-seated basis. The event is in person and will not be streamed or recorded for later publication. If you are unable to attend, we invite you to enjoy video of readings of the Declaration of Independence, the Declaration of Sentiments, and Douglass’s Oration on the Beinecke Library YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2RblcHw