The number 250 appears above a red ribbon with the word Anniversary on it.

Declarations of Independence

As part of Grinnell College’s community of inquiry, all are invited to participate in Declarations of Independence, a series of events and community dialogues to mark 250 years since the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

Speaker Series

Additional events and opportunities for dialogue are being added as they are confirmed.  Please refer to the campus calendar for a list of all events and community dialogues.  

Discussions and Discovery

Democracy and AI Summit

Date and Time to be announced.

In conjunction with reading Rewiring Democracy:  How AI Will Transform our Politics, Government, and Citizenship by Bruce Schneier and Nathen E. Sanders, join alums and guest speakers to explore how AI impacts civic life and what we can do about it. 

George Washington's Mount Vernon

Coming in November

Join Sarah Purcell '92 and Allison Wickens '94, Vice President for Education at Mount Vernon.

The American Revolution at 250 Poster Session

Thursday, December 10, 2:30 p.m.

Professor of History Sarah Purcell's '92 history seminar examines the founding of the United States upon its 250th anniversary to assess the question: What do battles over the meaning of the American Revolution accomplish? Students will present their work at this interactive poster session. 

 

Gatherings

Declaration Dinners

Join President Harris for dinner to delve into the following phrases from the Declaration of Independence and their lasting or changing meanings. 

Sign up here.

Blue banner features the Grinnell College logo and the words Declarations of Independence 250 anniversary"
"We hold these truths to be self evident... ...life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness... ...Let these facts be submitted to a candid world"

September 22

How is a truth held to be "self-evident"?

October 5

Why/Are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness "unalienable Rights"?

November 11

Where do you perceive or experience the "consent of the governed"?

December 9

What is a "candid world"?

 

Grinnell Faculty Panel

Join faculty to explore teaching and research relationships to foundational texts of democracy in the United States.  Watch the Campus Memo for dates and times.

Rosenfield Lunchtime Sessions

Join the Rosenfield Program for lunchtime discussions focused on experiences of democracy and the text of the Declaration of Independence.  Watch the Campus Memo for topics, dates, and times.Cover to Cover:  Declarations of Independence

Cover to Cover

Join President Anne Harris for a Cover to Cover Series focused on fundamental texts and evolving experiences of democracy.

Sign Up

The President's Bookshelf

We use cookies to enable essential services and functionality on our site, enhance your user experience, provide better service through personalized content, collect data on how visitors interact with our site, and enable advertising services.

To accept the use of cookies and continue on to the site, click "I Agree." For more information about our use of cookies and how to opt out, please refer to our website privacy policy.