Be a witness to history! As the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, travel back in time by seeing the documents that were “in the room where it happened.” Indigenous Independence: America at 250 highlights the rare books, manuscripts, and art from our collection that view the American Revolution as more than a sudden break with Great Britain. Instead, they illustrate the long history of struggle between American colonists and Native Nations, bearing witness to the fact that the American Revolution was a battle over lands and independence for both Native peoples and American colonists.
Walk the hallway galleries of the Helmerich Center for American Research to see copies of important treaties between Indigenous nations and Great Britain, peace medals that marked these pivotal diplomatic events, and historic maps that reference the Native peoples and places that defined these moments.
For three special, time-ticketed events, you will also have the opportunity to see Gilcrease’s certified copy of the Declaration of Independence signed by Silas Deane and Benjamin Franklin, in addition to original documents carried by Paul Revere in 1775 and penned by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson regarding the new nation’s diplomatic relations with Native America.
For questions, contact Leslie Taylor, Guest Services Representative, at leslie-taylor@utulsa.edu or 918-596-2700.
America 250 programming is made possible through the generous support from Donald J. and Chris Hoose, Donald M. and Patricia M. Hardin, and the Leuschen Endowment for Research and Education.
*In addition to the document viewing dates, visitors are welcome to view “Indigenous Independence" from June 12 through Aug. 7. The Helmerich Center will be open Monday-Friday 10am-5pm, with extended hours on Thursdays until 7pm. (excluding holidays) We will offer guided tours at 10am and 2pm.