Upton, MA
Join the Upton Historical Society on Wednesday, Sept. 10, at 6:30 p.m. at the Upton Community Center for a special program commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Joan Burrell of the Upton Historical Society will discuss Elisha Fish, Upton’s first pastor, who had an influence on the Declaration of Independence.
Last November, students at Nipmuc Regional High School were given a rare opportunity to examine the original handwritten 1776 copies of the Declaration of Independence as recorded in the town record books of Mendon and Upton—the first time the two historic documents had been in the same room since the beginning of the American Revolution.
Through their research, students compared these surviving handwritten copies, revealing how national events were recorded and experienced at the local level in 1776. During the program, they will share their findings and explore how our neighboring towns responded during the earliest days of independence.
The evening will also feature special guest speaker Andrew Volpe, an artist, printer, and living history presenter based in Worcester, MA. In addition to studying intaglio/ copperplate printing from 1450-1800, he works with the Museum of Printing in Haverhill, MA, giving presentations, tours and demos, and with the Printing Office of Edes & Gill, where he replicates prints of Paul Revere. He is a member of the American Printing History Association and the American Antiquarian Society.
Mr. Volpe will be presenting “Printing Revolution: Declaration Edition”, which explores how printing technology, printed materials (e.g. newspapers, broadsides) and the legal battles fought for Freedom of the Press helped build support for American Independence. Attendees will be able to view originals and exact replicas of printed materials relating to the talk, including several versions of the Declaration of Independence.
Come discover how the story of American independence unfolded right here in our own communities. All are welcome to attend!
