Foundations of Democracy: Freedom of Religion and Conscience 

The JCB is located in Rhode Island, the first colony to allow individuals to practice the religion of their choice. As such, the theme of freedom of religion and freedom of conscience is an essential consideration for our work around 2026. Part of JCB’s collection is the letter that George Washington wrote to the Touro Synagogue in 1790 confirming the centrality of liberty of conscience. It is an icon of both our state’s and our nation’s history.

2026 and Beyond’s featured collections, research, and programming will emphasize the diversity of the early Americas and highlight its histories of both tolerance and extreme intolerance. From an uncatalogued set of Hebrew language materials and rich Portuguese and Spanish language materials about Jews and Jewish life in the early Americas to a wealth of materials about both Catholic missionary efforts and Indigenous reactions and resistance, these collections and related programs will help support fresh programs for both academic and public audiences.