Liberty and Freedom
Bill of Rights Tour Continues in Fall
Governor Michael Easley with the Bill of Rights
North Carolina’s copy of the Bill of Rights, taken from the State Capitol in 1865, and recovered in an undercover operation in 2003, continues its journey across the state this fall during“Liberty and Freedom: North Carolinas Tour of the Bill of Rights.” Each stop on the tour will feature speakers who will highlight a different amendment.
The Bill of Rights will be on display at the North Carolina Museum of History in downtown Raleigh Sept. 17-23, which is also Constitution Week. A symposium at the Museum will examine various aspects of the Bill of Rights on Sept. 17.
Sept. 17 Symposium Schedule
2 p.m. Exhibit opens
2:30 p.m. Welcome
Dr. Jeffrey J.Crow, Deputy Secretary, Archives and History, North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources
2:40 p.m. “Origins of the Bill of Rights”
Charlene Bickford, editor of the Papers of the First Federal Congress at George Washington University.
3:30 p.m. “The Odyssey of North Carolina’s “Original Copy of the Bill of Rights”
Dale Talbert and Karen Blum, North Carolina Attorney General’s Office
5 p.m. Exhibit closes
6:30 p.m. Exhibit reopens
7 p.m. “Non-Enumerated Rights in the Bill of Rights”
Walter E. Dellinger III, Douglas B. Maggs, Professor of Law at Duke University School of Law
8 p.m. Reception
9 p.m. Exhibit closes
Charlotte, home of the Mecklenburg Resolves, will showcase the Right to Assemble/Petition, Oct. 5-7. The Bill of Rights will be on display at the library and performing arts center ImaginOn. Julius Chambers will speak Oct. 5 at 7 p.m.
Asheville, in conjunction with the annual meeting of the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association, will host Right to a Jury Trial and Due Process, Nov. 8-10. The Bill of Rights will be on display at UNC-Asheville’s Ramsey Library. Willis P. Whichard will speak Nov. 9 at 7 p.m.
Greensboro, site of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse will feature the Right to Bear Arms, Nov. 30 to Dec. 2. The Bill of Rights will be on display at the Greensboro Historical Museum. Don Higginbotham will speak Dec. 2 at 3 p.m.
Previous stops on the tour included:
Fayetteville, home of the state’s oldest newspaper still being published, featured Freedom of the Press, Feb. 9-11. The Bill of Rights was on display at the Airborne and Special Ops Museum. The speaker was William S. Price, Jr.
Wilmington, home of the oldest synagogue in the state highlighted Freedom of Religion, Mar. 9-11. The Bill of Rights was on display at the Louise Wells Cameron Art Museum. The speaker was Alan D. Watson.
Edenton, home of North Carolina’s oldest courthouse, hosted Freedom of Speech, Apr. 19-21. The Bill of Rights was on display at the Chowan County Courthouse in Edenton. Historic Edenton is one of 27 North Carolina State Historic Sites. The speaker was Freddie Parker.
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Treasure: Lost (video)
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