LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster, will host a new program, "Thaddeus Stevens and the Legacies of Reconstruction," to spotlight a new collecting initiative as part of its Collections Up Close series. The program will take place on Saturday, April 20, with presentations at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Thaddeus Stevens fought for civil rights and democracy in the 19th century, but his impact has been felt far beyond the three constitutional amendments that he helped pass during the Reconstruction Era. LancasterHistory's Mabel Rosenheck, director of education and exhibition planning, and Naomi Subotnick, research and curatorial assistant, will lead a guided tour of LancasterHistory's latest exhibition, "Thieves & Vagabonds," as well as a pop-up exhibit of new historic artifact acquisitions that together explore social movements from the 19th century to today.

The Collections Up Close series, known for its conversational format, allows LancasterHistory staff members and visiting experts to showcase significant documents, photographs, and artifacts from LancasterHistory's collections. These sessions aim to uncover the stories behind these items and their contribution to understanding Lancaster County's significant role in American history.

"Thaddeus Stevens and the Legacies of Reconstruction" is part of a new initiative by LancasterHistory to collect materials that tell the story of freedom, equality, and democracy in Lancaster and around the nation from America's founding to today. The "Legacies of Reconstruction" collection will be held at LancasterHistory alongside 2 million other documents, photographs, books, and artifacts that help tell the stories that make up the diverse local community. The project's aim is to bring these stories into dialogue with people, organizations, and movements of national significance and foster conversations about the meaning of freedom and equality today.

LancasterHistory has begun the process of acquiring new materials related to this history. Among the recent acquisitions are an 1870 invitation to a ball celebrating the ratification of the 15th Amendment, a 1946 NAACP registration form, and a 1980s "Disabled Americans Rally for Equality" button.

To learn more about LancasterHistory's new collecting initiative or about donating or lending an item, visit http://www.lancasterhistory.org/research/donate-objects/.

The event is free and open to the public, but it requires advance registration due to limited capacity. To reserve tickets, visit http://www.lancasterhistory.org/events/ or call 717-392-4633.