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Hurry, You’ll Have Five Hours Tuesday to See an Original, Handwritten Draft of the Constitution

Sep. 17, 2012 12:10pm Jonathon M. Seidl

PHILADELPHIA (TheBlaze/AP) — Did you know today is a holiday? While you may not get the day off, September 17 is officially recognized as Constitution Day. The holiday marks the official day the founding document was signed in 1787.

In honor of the document’s 225th anniversary, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania is putting six original drafts and copies of the Constitution of the United States on display.

Constitution Day | Historical Society Will Display Original Copies

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 15: A copy of former President George Washington's personal copy of the Constitution and Bill of Rights is viewed at Christie's auction house on June 15, 2012 in New York City. Credit: Getty Images

The historical society will put the copies and drafts on display for five hours on Tuesday. Among the items is one of 11 original printings remaining. The Historical society explains:

Among the many treasures of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania are two handwritten drafts and four printed documents that trace the genesis of the new form of government proposed by the Constitutional Convention. These six treasured documents, taken together, show how the Constitution evolved and how the final proposal was presented to the convention delegates, to Congress and the state legislatures, and to the American people, setting the stage for a remarkable public debate that demonstrated that human beings using reason and choice could decide what kind of government they wanted.

Historical society President Kim Sajet tells The Philadelphia Inquirer the drafts and copies are only displayed on special occasions. They’re usually locked in a vault at the society’s building.

In this Friday, March 23, 2012 photo, Pat Denzer holds a copy of the U.S. Constitution to his chest as he attend a Religious Freedom protest in downtown San Antonio. Credit: AP

A number of Philadelphia’s other historical sites are hosting events for the anniversary, including the National Constitution Center.

The Constitution was officially adopted on Sept. 17, 1787, replacing the Articles of Confederation.

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Comments (22)

DeOppressoLiber
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 5:39pm
Sign up for Hillsdale Collage Constitution 201: Progressives vs Constitution

http://constitution.hillsdale.edu/page.aspx?pid=1010

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drphil69
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 2:30pm
Ummm… if I want to view the handwritten draft tomorrow… WHERE AND WHEN?

Seriously, with “Hurry, You’ll Have Five Hours Tuesday to See an Original, Handwritten Draft of the Constitution” as a headline, HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY NOT TELL US WHERE AND WHAT HOURS?!?

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- Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 2:34pm
  Hurry, you have less than two months to live under what is left of the constitution!
  
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- CLEAR THOUGHT
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 4:31pm
  Hear you go!:
  
  1300 Locust Street on Tuesday, September 18, from 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  
  Just go to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania website, click on the link to the story and viola!
  You’ll feel much more independent and resourcefull to boot!
  
  Report this comment
cdn1979
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 1:17pm
what constitutional rights have been violated by the president. The answer is none. Why do you keep saying he is against the constitution? that argument makes no sense outside of this crazy little blaze bubble you all live in.

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- paprtowl
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 1:23pm
  4th amendment,9th amendment,10th amendment, soon to be the 1st and 2nd amendments.
  
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- rangerskippy
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 1:47pm
  show me in the constitution where the federal government has the right to punish you for not purchasing health care? Roberts may have inserted his head in his own ****, but the rest of us conservatives know there is nothing constitutional about it.
  
  Check Obama’s voting record on gun ownership from his senator days, and you will realize that he is just bidding his time to take away gun rights.
  
  Report this comment
- justangry
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 2:15pm
  He signed the NDAA, which nullified the 6th and 7th amendments.
  Extended the Patriot Act, which violates the 4th amendment.
  The protest chill bill attacks the 1st amendment by not allowing peaceful assembly and a right to protest.
  The ACA is a violation of the 9th and 10th amendments.
  Signed executive orders that well violate all the rest of rights.
  
  Of course the GOP hates the Constitution too.
  
  Report this comment
- justangry
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 2:20pm
  Oh and he’s MURDERING American citizens with drones. Of course most of the people here like that too.
  
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- drphil69
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 2:27pm
  Uhh… obama routinely ‘decides’ that current laws, duly enacted by Congress and signed into law by past Presidents, are ‘unconstitutional’ so HE DECIDES NOT TO ENFORCE THEM…
  
  1. DOMA – Defense of Marriage Act – Signed into law by Bill Clinton. Obama announced he would not enforce it.
  2. Amnesty for ILLEGALS – NOT passed by Congress.
  3. Obamacare – ‘Waivers’ given to Friends of Obama, Friends of Pelosi, and Friends of Reid.
  4. Welfare to Work – Signed into law by Bill Clinton. Obama is granting waivers to this which allows the states to do whatever they want.
  
  KEEP DRINKING THE COOLAID – ITS ALL YOU HAVE LEFT!!
  
  Report this comment
MiCurmudgeon
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 12:55pm
What is scary is that one of the biggest violator of the Constitution once taught about the Constitution.

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- Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 2:06pm
  George Bush taught constitutional law?
  
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huey6367
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 12:53pm
You mean Obama hasn’t used them all for toilet paper yet?

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- CatB
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 1:16pm
  That is why they are kept locked in the building and only brought out on special occasions. Limit the access of the regime.
  
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KingCanon
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 12:22pm
Coming to a town near who?

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historyguy48
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 12:20pm
What’s a constitution? Are you referring to that living, breathing, piece of paper some old guys in wigs wrote using feathers torn off of a duck? Why bother, our political leaders couldn’t care less about it as they’ve shown repeatedly throughout the years.

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- Nick Grundman
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 12:53pm
  That is why the Tea Party was born. We are fighting to get candidates into office that know and revere the Constitution. Our only hope is to vote Republican and demand that they live up to their oaths.
  
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Individualism
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 12:19pm
the constitution starting from 1913 has been suffering like so called Jesus did on the cross in passion of christ.

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Apple Bite
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 12:15pm
If this Administration makes it back into office, NONE of it will survive…

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- GoodCook
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 12:19pm
  So true!
  
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- cykonas
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 5:47pm
  I’m not sure the outcome will be any different if Romney/Ryan make it into power. Peace.
  
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- lvamervet
  Posted on September 18, 2012 at 11:39am
  @CYKONAS….. Your not sure? Are you willing to take the chance.
  Romney/Ryan …. Will follow the Constitution even if it takes pressure from the people.
  obama…… Will never follow the Constitution nor will he listen to the people. He is a Socialist/Communist/Marxist/ take your pick. This pretend president will do anything he wants and the Congress or the SCOUS will never stop him. He should go to Hollywood …. He fits in there.
  
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