Princeton Hosts Revolutionary-Era Exhibit for America's 250th Anniversary

The university's library is displaying its collection of artifacts and stories connected to Princeton's role in the American Revolution.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 10:15am

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Princeton University Library is hosting an exhibit called "Nursery of Rebellion: Princeton and the American Revolution" to commemorate America's 250th anniversary. The exhibit will feature items from the university's collection that connect Princeton and the surrounding community to the Revolutionary War era, including copies of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution, a signed first edition of Phillis Wheatley's "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral," an invitation to celebrate the victory at Yorktown, and a cannonball found near the Princeton battlefield.

Why it matters

As one of the nation's oldest universities, Princeton played a significant role in the American Revolution, serving as a center of revolutionary thought and youthful activism. This exhibit aims to share the university's specific stories and experiences from that pivotal period in American history.

The details

The "Nursery of Rebellion" exhibit will open on April 15 at the Ellen and Leonard Milberg Gallery at Princeton University's Firestone Library and run through July 12, 2026. In addition to the Revolutionary War artifacts, the exhibit will also feature a separate display called "Real and Remembered: Princetonians Caught Between Study and Revolution" that will be on view from May 2026 through April 2027 at the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library. The university collaborated with the National Archives, New Jersey State Archives, and Princeton Historical Society to source additional items for the exhibit.

  • The "Nursery of Rebellion" exhibit will open on April 15, 2026 and run through July 12, 2026.
  • The "Real and Remembered" exhibit will be on display from May 2026 through April 2027.

The players

Princeton University Library

The library is hosting the "Nursery of Rebellion" exhibit featuring its collection of Revolutionary War-era artifacts and stories.

Phillis Wheatley

An enslaved poet whose signed first edition of "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral" is on display in the exhibit. She is considered the first African American author of a published book.

Michael Blaakman

An associate history professor at Princeton University who helped curate the exhibit to share Princeton-specific stories and experiences from the Revolutionary War era.

Gabriel Swift

The librarian for early American collections at Princeton University Library who assisted in assembling the exhibit.

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What they’re saying

“Especially stories of how people experience the revolution, not just as a moment of political promise or a set of ideas or abstract theories about liberty and freedom in the future, but first and foremost as a war that had really serious consequences for their lives.”

— Michael Blaakman, Associate History Professor, Princeton University

“This is the equivalent of copyrights. We have the attestation of Phillis Wheatley, her hand signing the so-called copyright page showing that, 'Yes, I wrote this book.'”

— Gabriel Swift, Librarian for Early American Collections, Princeton University Library

What’s next

The "Real and Remembered" exhibit commemorating the nation's independence will be on display at the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library from May 2026 through April 2027.

The takeaway

This exhibit highlights Princeton University's central role in the American Revolution, showcasing how the institution served as a hub of revolutionary thought and activism during a pivotal period in the nation's history. By sharing these stories and artifacts, the university aims to provide a deeper understanding of the Revolution's local impact and lasting legacy.