This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Philadelphia Fourth of July history and misremembered tale
A historical account corrects a popular legend about the first Fourth of July. It explains the declaration’s long process in 1776, notes July 2 as the vote date, and details Philadelphia celebrations in 1777, including reading the declaration, bells, artillery, and Hessian music. It cites John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and local figures in Philadelphia.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Philadelphia
Congress
Assembly of Congress
Independence Hall
United Colonies
Americas
Righta
Lexington and Concord
Achegnies
Lee
Thomas Jefferson
Virginia
John Adams
Massachusetts
Benjamin Franklin
Pennsylvania
Roger Sherman
Connecticut
Robert L. Livingston
New York
Jefferson
America
God
John Hancock
McKean
Orst
The
Philosophical Society
Rittenhouse
John Nixon
Alte
Charles Biddle
Chrat Church
Association
Pennsylvania Gazette
John Dunlap
United States
Trenton
Georgia
Corps of Artillery
North Carolina