Revolution at Penn? examines the formation of the university, the debates that divided the school during the American Revolution, and the compromises that reorganized it as the University of Pennsylvania in 1791.
Hosted by: Kislak Center
Penn was at the center of early Philadelphia, long before the Ivy League and the ivory tower. Born out of the innovative and lofty ideals of Benjamin Franklin and leading Philadelphians, Penn could not escape the fractious political world of 18th century Pennsylvania.
Revolution at Penn? examines conflicts around the formation, structure, and mission of the university in the era of the American Revolution: from debates about its mission in the 1750s and 1760s, to a devastating schism that tore the school apart in 1779, to eventual compromise and reorganization as the University of Pennsylvania in 1791. Political pamphlets, broadsides, maps, prints, manuscripts, and a full-scale replica of a colonial coffee house evoke the contentious era and provoke new questions about the place of universities in America, then and now.
Revolution at Penn? is organized by the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts and features the collections of the University Archives and the Kislak Center.
Funding for this exhibition is provided in part by the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial.
Exhibit extended through August 29, 2025! This exhibition is free and open to the public and located in the Goldstein Gallery on the 6th floor of the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and during special events.
Penn faculty, staff, and students must swipe their PennCard for access. Visitors from outside the Penn community must present a current, valid government or school-issued photo ID that contains an expiration date. Find more information to plan your visit.
Featured image: Engraving of an orator, hand-colored. From The Universal Asylum and Columbian Magazine, July 1790, Plate 3 (Rare Book Collection, AP2 .A2 U6 vol. 5)
The University of Pennsylvania, located in the heart of the city, was at the center of the dramatic events of 1776 and the Revolution that followed. 250 years later, partners across the university are exploring how history can help us better understand the present and create a sustainable and inclusive future.
Starting near the site of the University of Pennsylvania's original college campus at 5th and Arch Streets, this walking tour of Old City will bring to life stories of the places and people associated with Penn in the 18th century.
In conjunction with the exhibit Revolution at Penn?, learn about the significance of Philadelphia’s coffeehouses as major sites of political activity and debate in the decade leading up to the Declaration of Independence.
Join us for a virtual exploration of Revolution at Penn?, an exhibit examining the formation of the University during the American Revolution.