The Historical Society of Pennsylvania has partnered with its neighbor, the Library Company of Philadelphia, to bring you the online exhibition, John Brown: 150 Years from the Raid. This exhibition will explore Brown, the raid on Harpers Ferry, his death, and the national reaction.  In this exhibition you will find items from both institutions, which can be further explored on site.  The exhibit contains correspondences between Brown and various individuals, some of which are coded or written under an alias.  It also includes reactionary pamphlets, broadsides, and graphics that relate to Brown. 

This exhbition will be accompanied by a lecture and show-and-tell on December 2, which marks the 150th anniversary of the hanging of John Brown. After his death, John Brown’s body traveled through Philadelphia. The mayor worried about riots in the streets, so a plan was devised to sneak Brown’s body away safely. Learn about this story and commemorate the anniversary of this pivotal moment in the struggle for civil rights. The guest speaker will be Dr. Louis A. DeCaro Jr., author of Fire from the Midst of You: A Religious Life of John Brown. After the lecture, guests can view original documents from the collections of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and the Library Company of Philadelphia, including John Brown’s will. View our calendar of events.

Click here to enter the exhibition