“The New Jersey Signers: Five Independent Leaders”

**Announcement: Five Independent Souls Exhibition at Morven Museum & Garden**

An upcoming exhibition at Morven Museum & Garden in Princeton invites visitors to delve into the complex history of New Jersey’s signers of the Declaration of Independence and the hidden stories of those they enslaved. Titled **”Five Independent Souls: The Signers from New Jersey,”** this exhibition opens on May 3, 2026, and will be on display until January 17, 2027.

Situated in Princeton, the Morven Museum & Garden stands as both a historical site and a canvas for this groundbreaking exhibition. Morven, constructed for Richard Stockton, experienced a tumultuous past as it was once seized by British forces after Stockton’s imprisonment during the Revolutionary War.

Curated by Elizabeth Allan and Jesse Gordon Simons, the exhibit uncovers the intertwined lives of Abraham Clark, John Hart, Francis Hopkinson, Richard Stockton, and John Witherspoon. While these men advocated for the revolutionary ideals of liberty and equality, they simultaneously perpetuated the enslavement of others. The exhibition not only highlights their pivotal roles but also sheds light on the men, women, and children they enslaved and explores the broader impact of American independence on New Jersey’s indigenous communities.

Visitors will experience over 100 historic artifacts, ranging from manuscripts and paintings to furniture and personal items. These items have been graciously loaned by prestigious institutions such as the American Antiquarian Society, the American Philosophical Society, Historical Society of Philadelphia/Atwater Kent Collection at Drexel University, and many more. One of the notable artifacts on display is the **”Congress Voting Independence,”** recognized as the earliest American depiction of the vote for Independence, offering an authentic glimpse into the Assembly Room of Independence Hall. This piece significantly predates John Trumbull’s more famous rendition by thirty years.

The exhibition receives generous support from the New Jersey Historic Trust and the New Jersey Historical Commission. Visitors and history enthusiasts are encouraged to plan their visit to this profound historical exhibition by visiting [morven.org](https://www.morven.org/exhibitions/five-independent-souls?utm_source=Hyperallergic&utm_medium=announcementpost_4.30.26&utm_campaign=FiveIndependentSouls).