November 17 | 6:30pm | 213 Water Street | Free
Attend this special reception marking the final weeks of the landmark exhibition The Promise of Liberty: Words That Shaped a Nation, featuring the New York launch of Mark J. Noonan’s latest book, Revolutionary Ink: New York Printers and the Promise of Democracy, 1693–1804. The book talk offers a fresh perspective on themes explored in the exhibition, bringing the stories of New York’s printers to life and highlighting specific objects on view that illuminate their role in shaping the ideas and political debates of a new nation.
During this presentation, Noonan brings the people behind the printed page into focus, exploring how the printers of colonial New York spread Enlightenment ideals, championed freedom of the press, and influenced political debates throughout the 18th century. Often overshadowed by the famous authors whose works they printed, there is no argument these printers played a vital role in circulating revolutionary ideas and shaping the early republic.
Discover the stories of figures such as John Peter Zenger’s whose trial for seditious libel—recounted in The Trial of John Peter Zenger—laid foundational precedent for freedom of the press, and printer Thomas Greenleaf, who was connected to contentious debates over the ratification of the Constitution in New York and The Federalist: A Collection on of Essays Written in Favor of the New Constitution. Their presses did more than spread political ideas: they encouraged civic engagement, promoted the arts and sciences, and challenged restrictions on the press.
Noonan also investigates key contradictions of the era. While revolutionary rhetoric celebrated liberty and equality, those rights were far from universal. This event examines the contributions of women and others working outside established publishing networks, highlighting the gap between the era’s democratic ideals and the realities of who could exercise them.
Following the presentation will be a reception with light refreshments. Come early to explore The Promise of Liberty starting at 6pm, or stay late, it will be open until 8:30pm. Don’t miss one of your final chances to see extraordinary documents and printed materials that helped shape the nation!
About the Author
Mark J. Noonan is Professor of English at New York City College of Technology (City Tech), of the City University of New York. His new book, Revolutionary Ink: New York Printers and the Promise of Democracy, 1693-1804 (Cambridge University Press, 2026) explores the careers of New York printers whose presses disseminated Enlightenment ideals that fueled the American Revolution and framed the political debates of the early republic. Previously, he authored Reading the Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine: American Literature and Culture, 1870-1893 (Kent State UP, 2010). He has served as Director of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) summer institute City of Print and President of the Research Society of American Periodicals.
Acknowledgements
The Promise of Liberty: Words That Shaped a Nation and accompanying events are organized in cooperation with Sail4th 250 and made possible through the generous support of Citadel founder and CEO Kenneth C. Griffin and his civic engagement initiative Griffin Catalyst.
Additional support for this exhibition and Sail4th 250 is provided by Bulova and Jefferson’s Bourbon.
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