Considering its historic importance, the Mayflower Compact could be considered one of the most overlooked documents in American history. Signed on Nov. 11, 1620, by the male passengers of the Mayflower ship, the Mayflower Compact set a governing framework for the colonists.
“Join In! The Rise of Self-Governance and American Organizing from the Mayflower Compact to the Modern Day” is a traveling exhibit exploring how American voluntary associations and civil societies are created, built, and sustained over time. It will be available for viewing at the Minnesota State Law Library through March 31.
Using content and commentary from the Law Library of Congress’ collections, the exhibit explores the longstanding tendency of Americans to join together for a common purpose — to shape their society through fellowship, charitable and mutual aid, labor unions, emergency services, political reform, and community associations — and the tools they adopted to do so.
The exhibit is part of the 400th anniversary celebration of the Mayflower Compact, which was the first framework of government written and enacted in what became the United States.
Minnesota State Law Librarian Liz Reppe is the person responsible for bringing the exhibit to Minnesota. She contacted the exhibit managers about bringing it to the state law library last May. “We had to reserve it pretty far in advance.”
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