Member Preview of Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia Special Exhibit

Join us on Friday, Feb. 10, for the Members-only preview of our new exhibition Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia. Dr. Julie Winch will be signing copies of her groundbreaking biography, A Gentleman of Color: The Life of James Forten, from 12:30-2 p.m. Members will enjoy refreshments in our member lounge as well as timed access to the exhibition before it opens to the public on Saturday, Feb. 11. Make your timed reservation today!

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About Black Founders

When James Forten walked the streets of 1770s Philadelphia as a young man, he was surrounded by the sights and sounds of revolutionary transformation. He heard the words of the Declaration of Independence read aloud for the first time in 1776 before setting sail to fight for independence in 1781. Born a free man of African descent, Forten built upon his coming-of-age in a revolutionary city and his wartime experience to forge himself into a changemaker in Philadelphia and the young United States, becoming a successful businessman, philanthropist, and stalwart abolitionist.

In our upcoming special exhibition Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia, open at the Museum from Feb. 11-Nov. 26, 2023, visitors will be introduced to Forten and his descendants as they navigated the American Revolution and cross-racial relationships in Philadelphia to become leaders in the abolition movement in the lead-up to the Civil War and the women's suffrage movement. Using objects, documents, and immersive environments, Black Founders will explore the Forten family’s roles in the Revolutionary War, business in Philadelphia, and abolition and voting rights from 1776 to 1876.

The unique journey and exceptional story of this family of Revolutionaries explores the legacy of the American Revolution, the history of the American experiment of liberty, equality, and self-government, and the ongoing work to improve the nation’s dedication to the principle that “all men are created equal.”