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Trenton displays copy of Declaration of Independence
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TRENTON - When, in the course of human events, a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence comes to Trenton, a decent respect to the nation's history impels hundreds of people to see it.
And so it was Wednesday, when several hundred people visited the state library in the capital complex to see the so-called "Dunlap broadside" declaration on New Jersey Day, the 345th anniversary of the founding of the state as a British colony.
The declaration is one of 25 copies known to exist out of about 200 that were printed by Philadelphia printer John Dunlap to spread the word of the 1776 revolt.
It is not the familiar, hand-lettered document signed with a flourish by John Hancock that remains in the National Archives. Instead, it is an off-white sheet on which the colonies' grievances are printed, as is the name of Hancock, then-president of Congress.
The document was famously found behind a painting a person bought for its nice frame at a flea market in 1989 for $4. Most recently, sitcom writer Norman Lear and his wife, Lyn, bought it for $8.1 million in 2000 and dedicated it to public display.
The state earned the right to showcase the document - from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday and today in the state museum at 205 W. State St. in Trenton - through its heightened involvement in the 2008 National Student/Parent Mock Election campaign.
Gov. Jon S. Corzine told the mix of schoolchildren, teachers and curious onlookers that democracy can only thrive with participation.
"Today we mark New Jersey's 345th anniversary and reflect on the state's unique role in contributing to the growth and progress of America," Corzine said. "Having an original copy of the Declaration of Independence here on display reinforces this fact, and showcases the civic pride of New Jersey schoolchildren for their impressive interest in the Democratic process."
Also on display is the royal grant issued June 24, 1664, by James, Duke of York, to John Lord Berkeley and Sir George Cartaret, the original proprietors of the Colony of New Jersey.
Among the several hundreds who filed slowly past the documents were children in Christina Guzman's 5th-grade class from the Upper Freehold Regional School District.
The district ended classes June 17, making Wednesday a rare summer vacation class field trip. However, her 11-year-old students Ashley Mruk, Madison Nevins and Morgan Gravatt all thought it was worth it.
"I thought it was, like, really cool that we still have a real copy from history that we got to learn about in school and actually got a chance to come here in the summer and see it," Nevins said. "I was, like, really excited because this was my first time seeing it."
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Posted in NEW JERSEY on Thursday, June 25, 2009 3:10 am
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