Grants Pass, July 8, 2025— Throughout July, Josephine Community Library is featuring an original exhibit panel at the Grants Pass branch honoring the global impact of the Declaration of Independence. Sponsored and donated by Grants Pass native and renowned historian James Basker, the exhibit will be made available for lending to schools, agencies, and nonprofits beginning this fall.
“This unique exhibit captures how the ideals of 1776 have echoed far beyond our borders and across generations,” said Library Director Kate Lasky. “We’re grateful to Dr. Basker for this generous contribution to our library and community.”
The panel, curated by Dr. Basker and historian Sandy Trenholm of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, presents a storyline offered nowhere else. The exhibit traces the ripple effects of the Declaration’s principles—freedom, equality, and representative government—through key moments in American and world history.
James G. Basker, president of the Gilder Lehrman Institute and professor at Barnard College, Columbia University, is a graduate of Grants Pass High School and a leading voice in history education. His scholarship includes Black Writers of the Founding Era, and he has led the creation of national programs like the Hamilton Education Program and the History Teacher of the Year Award.
Following its July run at the Grants Pass branch, the new exhibit will be cataloged for circulation and made available for loan to partner schools, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations throughout the region during the 2025–26 school year.
For more information about library programs and services, visit josephinelibrary.org, email info@josephinelibrary.org, or call 541-476-0571.