Account of the Grand Federal Procession, Philadelphia, July 4, 1788 ; to Which is Added, a Letter on the Same Subject.

Published just twelve years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence and less than two weeks following the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, this is the earliest record of a July 4th celebration in Lehigh’s collection. Much like modern day parades, the 1788 celebration involved a long procession of nearly 90 groups including military units, civil servants, students, and craft and tradespeople from a variety of industries. Many of these groups were recorded as carrying ornately decorated flags representing their business or association. This procession took place in Philadelphia, where the Declaration and Constitution were written and citizens clearly felt they had made direct contributions to the creation of the new nation. The author of this account had been a delegate to the Second Continental Congress, a signer of the Declaration, and helped to ratify the Constitution.

Francis Hopkinson (1737-1791).
Account of the Grand Federal Procession, Philadelphia, July 4, 1788. [Philadelphia]: M. Carey, Printer, [1788].

Lehigh University Catalog Record:https://asa.lib.lehigh.edu/asa/Record/259487