In the eighteenth century, St. John de Crevecoeur became one of the first people to ask in print: "What then is the American, this new man?" He was not the last. It is difficult to define one identity for the citizens of a nation dedicated to respecting differences. Paradoxically, perhaps the most distinctive qualities of our national life and character may be the result of our attempts to achieve unity from diversity.

The exhibits and projects on this site invite visitors to construct their own understanding of what it means to be an American by reflecting on some of the ways in which people have attempted to define the national character and mission.

The Search for a National Symbol

The Search for "The" American Identity

The Search for an American Voice

The E Pluribus Unum Project is funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and directed by Dr. John McClymer, Department of History, and Dr. Lucia Knoles, Department of English, Assumption College. Visitors are encouraged to send inquiries or suggestions.