Revisiting the Founding Era

In preparation for America’s Semiquincentennial, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History in 2018 launched a four-year national public programming initiative to promote community conversations in public libraries, using historical documents to spark conversations about the Founding Era’s enduring ideas and themes.

The NEH grant-supported initiative, Revisiting the Founding Era, a partnership between Gilder Lehrman, the American Library Association, and the National Constitution Center, included distribution of a reader of primary source documents from the Founding Era, funding for public programs at participating libraries, training for library staff on leading community conversations, and supplementary educational resources.

The initiative’s website features a range of webinars and videos, including an interactive timeline of key Founding Era events from the French Indian War in 1763 and to Thomas Jefferson’s election in 1800.