Morven Museum Examines New Jersey Signers of Declaration of Independence

In Princeton, New Jersey, the Morven Museum & Garden will host an exhibition titled "Five Independent Souls: The Signers from New Jersey." This display focuses on the five delegates—Abraham Clark, John Hart, Francis Hopkinson, Richard Stockton, and John Witherspoon—who endorsed the Declaration of Independence. It will explore the irony of their fight for freedom while they enslaved others and marginalized Indigenous peoples. The exhibition runs from May 3, 2026, to January 17, 2027, featuring manuscripts, art, furniture, and personal artifacts from various institutions, such as the American Antiquarian Society and the National Gallery of Art. A key highlight is the early illustration "Congress Voting Independence," predating John Trumbull's version by thirty years. Curated by Elizabeth Allan and Jesse Gordon Simons, the exhibit is backed by the New Jersey Historic Trust and the Historical Commission.