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A look back at the Class of 1776
Excerpt of Trustees minutes page 96.

“Upon the Report of the Examiners, the following candidates approved of as qualified by their standing and proficiency to be admitted to the Degree of Bachelor of Arts, are James Abercrombie, John Leeds Bos[z]man, John Clopton, William Cock[e], Thomas Duncan Smith, William Thomas, and Ralph Wiltshire; and a mandate was ordered to be made out for conferring on them their Degree of Bachelor of Arts on the 10th of June next.”

(Image: Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania Minute Books, volume 2, 1768-1779; University Archives)

A look back at the Class of 1776

At the time, the seven graduates of the class received Bachelor of Arts degrees in a private ceremony open only to faculty, trustees, and graduates—due to what was described as the “unsettled state of affairs.”
Making paper for the Declaration’s anniversary
Kelly He makes paper at Historic Rittenhouse Town

Kelly He lifts the mould and deckle to drain water from the paper pulp.

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Making paper for the Declaration’s anniversary

Learn the five steps to making paper as it was done in the Revolutionary era, part of a Common Press semiquincentennial project, alongside a class from the Weitzman School of Design.

5 min. read

History course brings Philadelphia’s ‘Revolutionary Stories’ to life
David Sun

Second-year David Sun examines primary source documents at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania for his Revolutionary Stories project.

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History course brings Philadelphia’s ‘Revolutionary Stories’ to life

In a partnership with the Historical Society of Pennsylvania expanding students access to primary source documents, undergraduates examine the lives of regular Revolutionary-era Philadelphians.

4 min. read

A look inside the political economy of early America
A 1700s etching of Boston

A 1700s etching of Boston, seen from the southeast, by engraver John Carwitham.

(Image: Library of Congress)

A look inside the political economy of early America

Penn economist Fernando Arteaga shares insights into the factors that led to the American Revolution and the later institutions that created the strong U.S. national economy.

3 min. read

A look at Revolutionary War nursing
Meg Roberts and Jessica Martucci looking at the Nursing the Revolution exhibition wall.

Curator Jessica Martucci, left, and guest curator Meg Roberts discuss the “Nursing the Revolution” exhibit at the Bates Center for the Study of the History of Nursing.

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A look at Revolutionary War nursing

A new exhibit at Penn’s Barbara Bates Center for the Study of the History of Nursing documents the long trajectory of nursing in America, going back to the Revolutionary War.

3 min. read

America’s first hospital to open museum at Pennsylvania Hospital’s historic Pine Street building
Pennsylvania Hospital exterior.

Since its founding in 1751, Pennsylvania Hospital has been a leader in patient care. Today, it is nationally recognized for programs in neurosurgery, obstetrics and high-risk maternal and fetal services, neonatology, behavioral health, and orthopaedics.

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America’s first hospital to open museum at Pennsylvania Hospital’s historic Pine Street building

Pennsylvania Hospital marks its 275th anniversary with exhibits that connect Penn Medicine’s medical history to modern breakthroughs.

2 min. read

Exploring the Declaration through ink and type
A hand preparing letterpress off a small paper with text.

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Exploring the Declaration through ink and type

A typesetting workshop at Penn’s Common Press invited participants to reinterpret lines from the Declaration of Independence as part of the Typography of Independence project and Penn’s America 250 programming.
Connecting with America’s 250th anniversary
The Declaration of Independence at the National Archives

The Declaration of Independence on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

(Image: Mark Schiefelbein via AP Images)

Connecting with America’s 250th anniversary

Ahead of the main event on July 4, 2026, marking the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Penn students, faculty, and staff will have multiple early opportunities to engage with America’s 250th anniversary.

3 min. read