A nationally recognized expert in historic American documents will bring rare early printings and select replicas of the nation’s founding texts here this fall, offering a close-up experience typically reserved for major museums and institutions.
Seth Kaller will present “The Promise of Liberty” on Oct. 22, featuring early printings and replicas of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights — produced shortly after their adoption — along with the Emancipation Proclamation, George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation, Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, and materials related to Abraham Lincoln and women’s suffrage.
The program is presented by the Lake Bluff 250 Committee and Lake Bluff History Museum as a gift to the Lake Bluff and Lake Forest communities in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary. Kaller aims to inspire a sense of unity and pride that cuts across political divides, while encouraging gratitude for the liberties Americans have and igniting a renewed commitment to defend and expand those freedoms.
He will present three times on Oct. 22 at Lake Forest High School — twice during the school day for area eighth grade and high school students, and once in the evening for the general public. The presentation will take place in the auditorium, with documents displayed in cases in the school library. Admission is free, but advance reservations are required. Link to purchase tickets will be available in August on this website.
Kaller is a leading expert in historic American documents who has handled museum-quality materials now held by institutions including the Smithsonian Institution and several presidential libraries. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes and national broadcast media, and he has handled some of the few surviving signed copies of Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
His presentations are typically hosted by major museums and national institutions, making his visit here a rare opportunity for local audiences to view these documents up close.
The program came to Lake Bluff through the efforts of Mike Buoscio, a volunteer with the Museum and 250 Committee. After learning of a similar presentation at the Peoria Riverfront Museum, Buoscio contacted Kaller directly, who agreed to bring the program to the community.