Revolution 250, a nonprofit organization of partners working to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, on June 29 handed off to the Massachusetts State House the final hand-printed copies of the Declaration of Independence produced as part of its effort to distribute reproductions to all 351 Massachusetts towns and cities by July 4, announced the organization’s executive director, Jonathan Lane.
The reproductions were printed one sheet at a time, using custom-made type set with approximately 10,000 pieces on a cotton-linen blend paper by historian and printer Gary Gregory at the Museum of Printing in Haverhill, using 18th-century techniques to recreate a labor-intensive process similar to that used in 1776.
Dozens of copies already have been delivered throughout the state, according to Revolution 250, echoing the original journey of the Declaration. It was 250 years ago, weeks after the Declaration was adopted on July 4, 1776, that more than 300 printed copies of the Declaration were sent to parishes throughout the Commonwealth, where they were read aloud to residents by their ministers and recorded into official town records. Revolution 250 is aware of more than 100 original copies from 1776 that remain preserved today.
Photo courtesy of Revolution 250. Jonathan Lane (center) and the historical reenactors on the front steps of the Massachusetts State House with a copy of the Declaration of Independence.The original printing and distribution of the Declaration in Massachusetts was authorized by the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, executed by Ezekiel Russel, a Salem printer, and distributed by the authority of the Provincial Congress in July 1776.
"The Declaration gave a clear rationale for the decision to declare independence, and also a base on which to build a new republic and nation," said Robert Allison, Revolution 250 Chair and President of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts. "The Declaration binds Massachusetts together with the people of the other states in this new venture in world history, a nation formed on the idea that all people are created equal, and that people create governments to secure the people's rights. The people of Massachusetts joined in pledging their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to make these ideas into reality."
The project, called “Declaration Delivery Day,” involved 10 years of planning, educating, creating content, collaborating, and celebrating, according to the organization.
“250 years ago, copies of the Declaration of Independence carried a revolutionary message from town to town across Massachusetts, informing ordinary citizens about the birth of a new nation,” said Mr. Lane. He noted that in recreating that journey, “[W]e are not only honoring the people who first shared these historic words, but also reminding ourselves that the principles of liberty and civic engagement remain as important now as they were in 1776. It was a privilege to place these reproductions into the hands of our state representatives and help continue this historic tradition.”
Image courtesy of Revolution 250. The Declaration Delivery Day logo highlights the project’s goal of delivering one hand-printed Declaration of Independence reproduction to every Massachusetts city and town.
Sunny, with a high of 103 and low of 78 degrees. Sunny in the morning, clear overnight.
Such a poor business plan. Always was.
You're raising cattle on the land you could be utilizing for vegetables? Land that's more valuable (ROI) to growing vegetables vs. having insufficient land for raising enough cattle to make a go (profit) for your "passion". Not following.
Ignorant and pathetic response Sam Elliot. You know nothing about the business plans considered or the ROI on many agricultural contemplations.
I am not sure why someone has chosen to label the Bean Family’s effort to farm land in Westwood as “a poor business plan”.
