Quincy 400: “American Treasures” with Stephen Puleo
Quincy 400 Lecture Series: American Treasures with Stephen Puleo
Tuesday, June 10 from 7 – 8 PM
Community Meeting Room, Main Library, 40 Washington St., Quincy, MA
The City of Quincy proudly marks 400 years of rich history, community, and culture since its settlement in 1625. Known as the birthplace of two U.S. Presidents, John Adams and John Quincy Adams, Quincy has been at the forefront of shaping American democracy and innovation. This milestone is an opportunity to honor our past, celebrate our present, and envision a bright future together.
The Thomas Crane Public Library invites the public to partake in an exciting year-long series of activities and events commemorating Quincy’s remarkable legacy. Join us on Tuesday, June 10 from 7 – 8 PM in the Community Meeting Room at the Main Library on 40 Washington St., Quincy, for our next Quincy 400 Lecture Series: American Treasures with Stephen Puleo. Author and historian Stephen Puleo will discuss his book American Treasures, which explores the secret efforts to save the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Gettysburg Address.
On December 26, 1941, Secret Service Agent Harry E. Neal stood on a platform at Washington’s Union Station, watching a train chug off into the dark and feeling at once relieved and inexorably anxious. These were dire times. Hitler’s armies were plowing across Europe, seizing or destroying the Continent’s historic artifacts at will, and three weeks earlier Japan unleashed its devastating attack on Pearl Harbor. American officials now feared an enemy attack on Washington, D.C.
So, President Franklin D. Roosevelt set about hiding the country’s valuables. On the train speeding away from Neal sat four plain-wrapped cases containing the documentary history of America – including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Gettysburg Address – guarded by a battery of agents and bound for safekeeping in the nation’s most impenetrable hiding place.
American Treasures charts the creation and little-known journeys of these priceless American documents. From the risky and audacious adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 to our modern Fourth of July celebrations, shows how the ideas captured in these documents underscore the nation’s strengths and hopes, and embody its fundamental values of liberty and equality.
Stephen Puleo weaves exciting stories of freedom under fire—from the smuggling of the Declaration and Constitution out of Washington days before the British burned the capital in 1814, to their covert relocation during WWII—crafting a sweeping history of a nation united to preserve its democracy and the values embodied in its founding documents.
Stephen Puleo is an author, historian, teacher, public speaker, and communications professional. He is the author of eight books, including his most recent, The Great Abolitionist: Charles Sumner and the Fight for a More Perfect Union, published by St. Martin’s Press in April, 2024.
Books will be available for purchase courtesy of The Next Chapter Books and More.
This year promises a wide array of programs and activities designed to celebrate 400 years of the people and ideas that have shaped not only Quincy but also the fabric of America. Additionally, we’ll have a year-round Quincy 400 display with rotating subjects/themes each month as well as Quincy 400 trivia sheets and Quincy 400 bingo! All are available at the Main Library. Bingo sheets are available at all Quincy Library branches. Stay tuned for more events to come!
Join us as we commemorate Quincy’s vibrant legacy and celebrate the shared pride of our community. Together, let’s honor our history and look forward to the next chapter.
This program is made possible by generous donations to the Friends of the Thomas Crane Public Library.