Seth Kaller, Inc.

Inspired by History

Dallas Summer Musicals Hamilton Exhibit Press Release

HISTORIC DOCUMENTS OF FREEDOM ON DISPLAY AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK DURING DALLAS ENGAGEMENT OF HAMILTON

DISPLAY INCLUDES RARE ORIGINAL COPY OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, GEORGE WASHINGTON’S FIRST PRESIDENTIAL THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION, AND LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS OF HAMILTON, ADAMS, JEFFERSON, THE SCHUYLER SISTERS, ET AL.

Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM), in partnership with the Dallas Public Library and Seth Kaller, Inc., welcome the public to see a collection of Revolutionary War and Founding Era documents on display at the Music Hall at Fair Park during the Dallas engagement of HAMILTON through May 5.

“We’re so proud to partner with the Dallas Public Library and Seth Kaller, Inc. to add this unique element to Dallas’ HAMILTON experience,” said DSM President Ken Novice. “We encourage everyone, whether you have a ticket to the show or not, to come down to the Music Hall and see this exciting display of our nation’s history.”

The centerpiece of the display will be the Dallas Public Library’s rare, July 4, 1776 broadside of the Declaration of Independence. On July 4th, the Continental Congress in Philadelphia gave John Dunlap the task of printing the first copies of the Declaration of Independence. His broadsides (single printed pages with text only on one side) were distributed starting on July 5th to every colony, to major cities, and to the Continental Army. As the first publication of the Declaration, the Dunlap broadsides were relied on by other printers who continued to spread the word of Independence.

There are only 27 Dunlap copies known to survive. The Dallas Public Library’s example is the only one in the western United States and one of the few that are in fine condition. Exhibit partner Seth Kaller, a leading expert on Documents of Freedom, points out that the unsigned Dunlap broadsides preceded the signed “National Treasure” document, which wasn’t penned until August, after New York changed its vote to make the Declaration Unanimous. Two items Kaller added to the exhibit relate to General George Washington’s receipt of Dunlap copies in New York on July 9th, ordering it to be proclaimed that day to his army, and also ordering a copy to be sent to Artemas Ward at the head of the army in Boston.

In addition to the Declaration, Seth Kaller, Inc. and University Archives have lent amazing original documents and artifacts from their unique Revolutionary War and Founding Collection, including:

  • One of Hamilton’s most revealing love letters to Elizabeth Schuyler, “a little sorceress” who bewitched and rendered him “restless and unsatisfied with all about me”
  • A first edition of the “Reynolds Pamphlet” that survived Eliza’s fire
  • Original letters and documents of Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Hamilton, including his letter rallying to defeat Jefferson at all costs
  • Alexander Hamilton Jr.’s annotated copy of the Federalist Papers

 

“We are so excited to share a small portion of our Hamilton collection with the people of Dallas,” said Kaller. “I’ve seen first-hand how inspiring the show is from educational and patriotic perspectives. And I believe that ten and twenty years from now, when new collectors are asked what sparked their interest in history, many will answer, HAMILTON.”   

Kaller’s Revolutionary War and Founding Collection consists of more than 1,000 original historic letters, documents, imprints and artifacts, offered together for $2.6 million. (Texts and stories of many of the letters can be seen in the collection’s electronic catalog, on www.AHamilton.com) The Dallas exhibit includes 30 pieces from that collection, along with a few documents lent from private collectors.  

The highlight of the private loans is George Washington’s first Presidential Thanksgiving Proclamation, signed on October 3, 1789. Following a request of Congress (on the day the House passed the Bill of Rights), Washington asks the people of the new nation to set aside Thursday November 26, 1789, to give thanks “for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness… for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge.”  

According to Kaller, “The Declaration of Independence would not be celebrated today but for the eventual establishment of a government that, however incompletely, strived towards the ideals of our founding document. Following the Declaration, the Thanksgiving Proclamation is one of the greatest documents from the next stage in the development of our nation.” 

The Thanksgiving Proclamation was on loan to The National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, where it was displayed right next to Washington’s famous “to bigotry no sanction” letter. Kaller arranged with the document’s owner and the museum to allow it to be removed temporarily to be able to share it with the people of Dallas through May 5th.

The unique collection will be on display, free of charge, in the lobby of the Music Hall at Fair Park (909 First Avenue) from April 2 through May 5 during regular box office hours and during each HAMILTON performance.