In 2026 the U.S. will celebrate the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. ZSR Library Special Collections and Archives marks this semiquincentennial year with an exhibit of materials from our collection of Revolutionary War-era publications.

The history of the Revolution is inseparable from the history of print culture in 18^th-century America. Before any shots were fired, the American War of Independence was fought on paper, as polemics and propaganda circulated in newspapers, magazines, books, and pamphlets. During the war both sides used printed texts and maps to strategize and communicate with allies. In the aftermath of the conflict, the new nation took shape in the output of American authors and publishers. Featuring printed texts from Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, Phillis Wheatley Peters, and many others, Reading the Revolution offers visitors a first-hand look at the lives of readers, writers, printers, and publishers in the century of revolution.

For more information about this exhibit, please contact archives@wfu.edu.