In 2020, we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing Black men the right to vote. On February 14, the birthday of Frederick Douglass, join us for a deep dive into the movement that led to Black freedom, civil rights, and hope for Reconstruction.

On February 14, the National Constitution Center will host the inaugural event of Philadelphia’s Frances Project.

The inaugural event, Before the Fifteenth, takes an in-depth look at the fight for freedom and equality that began in the 1850s and continued to the passage of the 15th Amendment. The event includes a curator’s tour of the National Constitution Center’s newest exhibit, Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality, featuring remarkable artifacts and rare documents from one of the largest private Civil War collections in America—the Civil War Museum of Philadelphia—and other partners. The 3,000 square foot exhibit brings to life the stories of Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, Harriet Tubman, and other figures central to the conflict over slavery.

Following the tour, guests will experience FOURTEEN, a moving theatrical performance that sheds light on the Reconstruction era and the ratification of the 14th Amendment. Through dramatic interpretation of original texts, including the words of Frederick Douglass and Frances Harper, the performance brings to life the leaders, influential figures, and everyday Americans who were central to the era. A discussion with the National Constitution Center team will follow the performance.

​The tour and play will feature Frances Harper's definitive speech, "The Great Problem to be Solved," in which she sets the stakes for Reconstruction.

The event will take place at the National Constitution Center from 1 – 3 p.m. on Friday, February 14, in honor of the birthday of abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

There is no cost to attend, but advanced registration is required.

In association with the Commonwealth Monument Project, the Frances Project is a Philadelphia-based celebration designed to spotlight the life and work of Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, a key African American writer, abolitionist, and suffragist, during the 2020 election year—the same year we commemorate the 150th anniversary of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment.

The National Constitution Center is one of several Philadelphia cultural institutions who will host events in 2020 exploring Harper’s poetry, novels, and speeches, as well as her work to expand equal rights for African Americans and women.