Major Historical Documents At The University Of Hartford

WEST HARTFORD — The Emancipation Proclamation, The Louisiana Purchase Treaty and The Civil Rights Act of 1964, recently voted by the public as three of the top ten most important documents in US history, will be among the dozens of original documents on display in “American Originals: Treasures from the National Archives,” an exhibition that will open on February 6 at The Museum of American Political Life at the University of Hartford.

The top ten documents, including the three that will be on display in West Hartford, were selected as part of a national initiative titled “The People’s Vote: 100 Documents that Shaped America,” cosponsored by the National Archives, National History Day, and U.S. News & World Report. All of the documents in “American Originals” were drawn from the vast holdings of the National Archives, which preserves and makes available to the public those records of the united States government that have permanent value.

United Technologies Corp is the major underwriter of the “American Originals” exhibition in the Hartford area that will be on display through May 16. The University of Hartford is the final stop on the three-year national tour of the exhibition, and is the only location in New England where visitors can see “American Originals” and the only college campus to host this exhibition.

The highlight of the exhibition will be a special four-day public display of pages from The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 that marked a major milestone in the final destruction of slavery in the United States. The Emancipation Proclamation will be on display from Thursday, March 25 to Sunday, March 28. The National Archives only permits the document to be viewed for a limited time due to the document’s fragility.

As a complement to “American Originals,” visitors will have an opportunity to view “Connecticut Originals,” a showcase of approximately 80 items representing ideas, personalities and inventions that Connecticut has introduced to the world.

On display will be a selection of memorabilia from the campaign of former Connecticut Governor Ella Grasso; a selection of Timex wrist watches, including the first Mickey Mouse watch; and an array of Pez dispensers, among dozens of other items.

In addition, an eight-panel mural (one panel for each of the state’s counties) by Bloomfield artist Michael Borders representing Connecticut’s 350-year-long record of industrial history will be on display. The mural — which took Mr Borders 25 years to complete — will debut at the exhibition.

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. Special hours for view The Emancipation Proclamation will be 9 am to 4 pm on March 25 and 28, and 9 am to 8 pm on March 26 and 27. For additional information the museum can be contacted at 860-768-4090.