On October 27th, 2013, the exhibit “Alexander Hamilton: First Secretary of Treasury” opened at the Perkin Gallery at the Pequot Library in Southport, Connecticut. To mark the exhibit opening, a special talk was given by Richard H. Clarida from Columbia University on Alexander Hamilton.
Exhibit “Alexander Hamilton: First Secretary of Treasury”
The biographical exhibit on Alexander Hamilton is made up of prints of original writings, documents, reproduced paintings, and engravings directly from the Library of Congress archives. The selections not only cover Alexander Hamilton’s financial programs and important state documents, but also his personal life and his contemporaries.
“Alexander Hamilton: First Secretary of Treasury” first debuted in 1989 to celebrate the bicentennial of Hamilton’s appointment as Secretary of the Treasury. The exhibit re-debuted this past April at the Union League Club in New York City. This upcoming year, 2014, marks the 225th anniversary of Alexander Hamilton becoming the first US Secretary of Treasury.
Exhibit Opening
AHA Society Chair Mariana Oller attended the exhibit opening on October 27th as a representative of The Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society. The opening included a special program, “Washington and Wall Street 2013: What Would Mr. Hamilton Think.” This talk was given by Richard Clarida, a professor of economics at Columbia University and former assistant secretary of the U.S. Treasury.
Mariana Oller expressed how wonderful it was to see a crowd of over one hundred people in attendance. “The people in the audience were interested and engaged in the talk and asked a number questions afterward,” remarked Oller.
Exhibit Sponsorship and Artifacts
This exhibition is made possible by the Museum of American Finance and Diana and John Herzog. The original curator of the exhibit is Joanne Freeman, Professor of History and American Studies at Yale University.
The Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society is also participating in the exhibit with the creation of an special activity sheet. The activity sheet provides an interactive way to explore the exhibit for both youth and adults alike. It is available for free at the library, but can also be downloaded here.
John Herzog, the founder of the Museum of American Finance and a local patron of the Pequot Library, brought the exhibit to the library. In additional to the Library of Congress prints, a display case of many of Mr. Herzog’s personal collection of original Hamilton documents are on display, including:
- A rare manuscript check
- A copy of the first Report on Public Credit, US Printing Office #1
- A bond made out to John Hancock, with authorization to redeem signed by Alexander Hamilton
- A Baron von Steuben signed note, endorsed by Alexander Hamilton on the back
- Book, A collection of facts and documents, relating to the death of Alexander Hamilton by William Coleman, 1804
- Report on the subject of a national bank, by Alexander Hamilton, 1790
Don’t miss out on the chance to see these rare artifacts and special exhibit. And don’t forget to grab the exhibit accompaniment sheet produced by the AHA Society!
Exhibition Details
Location: Perkin Gallery, Pequot Library, Southport, CT
720 Pequot Ave, Southport, CT 06890
Dates of exhibition: October 27th, 2013 – January 6th, 2014
Exhibit is free. The Perkin Gallery is open during normal library hours (M-F 10-6, Sat 10-4, Sun 12-4).
Learn more from the Pequot Library website.
