The constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery and the relief of free Negroes, unlawfully held in bondage : begun in the year 1774 and enlarged on the twenty-third of April 1787 : to which are added the acts of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, for the gradual abolition of slavery.

After nearly 60 years of collecting, Sid Lapidus ’59 has presented to the Library more than 2700 volumes representing the fruits of his enthusiasm. Broadly conceived, the collection charts the definition and re-definiton of rights and liberties endemic to Western political traditions. The main focus is texts and documents relating to the American Revolution, its run-up dating back to the Commonwealth men, and coming down to documents of the early Federal government.