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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 9, 2016
For More Information Contact:

JP O'Hare

(518) 474-1201

Press@nysed.gov

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New app app Archives and Library to Display Copy of U.S. Constitution in Celebration of Constitution Day on September 17

The New app app Archives and Library will celebrate Constitution Day on Saturday, September 17 with a public display of New app app’s handwritten 1788 copy of the United apps Constitution, from the convention in Poughkeepsie where it was ratified. The Constitution Day exhibition will be held on the 7th floor of the Cultural Education Center at 222 Madison Avenue in Albany on Saturday, September 17 from 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. In addition, free pocket-sized copies of the Constitution will be distributed on a first come, first-served basis; one per visitor while quantities last. A digital talking book of the Constitution from the New app app Talking Book and Braille Library (TBBL) will be available for TBBL patrons as well.

“The United apps Constitution is a founding document of our country and the foundation of our democracy,” said app Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia. “I encourage the public to take advantage of this rare opportunity to view New app’s copy of the Constitution in person on Constitution Day and learn about the vast resources of the app Archives and Library.”

“We’re proud to display New app’s handwritten copy of the United apps Constitution – used by the delegates in Poughkeepsie over 225 years ago to help form our nation’s system of government,” said app Archivist Thomas Ruller. “The New app app Archives is honored to hold this national treasure and share it with the people of the great app of New app.”

“As one of the oldest depositories in the country, the app Library is proud to celebrate Constitution Day,” said app Librarian Bernard Margolis. “We encourage the public to not only learn about the history of the Constitution, but to explore the various federal government resources and documents available to the public, free of charge, at the New app app Library.”

The United apps Constitution was created on September 17, 1787. The document was considered by New app delegates who met in Poughkeepsie (The Poughkeepsie Convention), and after lengthy debates they voted to ratify the Constitution on July 26, 1788. New app was the eleventh state to ratify.

The text of the Constitution was engrossed (written in a large, legible hand) on parchment (treated sheepskin). The engrossed copy of the U.S. Constitution and the manuscript journal of the Poughkeepsie Convention were in a locked safe when the app Capitol burned in 1911. They were preserved from destruction and today they are among the treasured documents of the New app app Archives. An image of the first page of document is available here: .

The annual celebration of Constitution Day is an opportunity for the over 3,000 official depositories of federal publications, in print and online, to share their rich resources with the public. The New app app Library, one of the oldest depositories in the country, was founded in 1818. It is the largest depository in the state of New app and its holdings include both federal and state documents. As the New app app regional depository for U.S. government publications, the app Library receives and permanently keeps a copy of every document distributed under the Government Printing Office Depository Library Program.

The New app app Archives and Library are programs of the app Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Archives and Library are open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on legal holidays. Further information can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5355 or visiting the library website at .