Declaration of Independence, Magna Carta and Other Important Historical Documents Marked for Move to Kosciusko County, Ind.

WINONA LAKE, Ind., June 11 /PRNewswire/ -- A collaborative partnership among community, cultural and educational organizations will bring the headquarters of The Remnant Trust, and its permanent collection of historical documents, to Winona Lake and create a new cultural and educational community resource.  

The Remnant Trust is a public education foundation that shares a collection of more than 1,100 original and first edition works dealing with the topics of liberty and dignity, including the Emancipation Proclamation, an edition of the Magna Carta from 1542, and writings from historically significant authors such as Thomas Paine, John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, John Milton and Ralph Waldo Emerson.  

Through a $170,900 grant from OrthoWorx, a $50,000 grant from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, and the donated use, maintenance and utilities of the former Billy Sunday Museum by Grace College, The Remnant Trust will be moving its headquarters from Jeffersonville to Winona Lake.  The funding will be used to retrofit the museum with precise temperature and humidity controls as well as a security system.  In addition, as part of the grant from OrthoWorx, the Trust will develop educational programming and increase accessibility of its collections as a community resource.  The Remnant Trust encourages those exposed to the works to touch, feel and read the originals and OrthoWorx will focus on developing interactive learning experiences for children and adults in furtherance of this goal.  

"This is one of the finest private collections of books and manuscripts on liberty and human dignity in the entire world," said Dr. Dane Miller, Founder of Biomet and a Remnant Trust Board Member.  "It is an honor to see its new home located in Winona Lake, Indiana."

"As part of OrthoWorx's initiatives to enhance our community amenities and educational programming, having this amazing collection of historical documents accessible in Winona Lake is an important step in achieving those goals," said Dr. Cheryl Blanchard, OrthoWorx Chairman of the Board.  "The educational component is very important -- creating an environment that will facilitate hands-on learning experiences will provide tremendous opportunities to our local students.  Housing this collection of important works nearby provides us with a valuable educational and cultural resource that will enrich our entire community."

The Trust makes its collection available to colleges, universities, and other organizations for use by students, faculty, scholars and the general public.  Historically, Grace College has been one of the institutions that have displayed the Trust's works and played an integral role in the relocation efforts.  "The collections of the Remnant Trust have provided an educational enrichment opportunity to our students and faculty over the past several years," said Dr. Ron Manahan, President of Grace College and Board Member of OrthoWorx.  "Grace College looks forward to sharing our experiences with the broader community through this tremendous partnership."

"This is a wonderful opportunity for area students and the general public to have regular exposure to precious historical documents that were instrumental in shaping our democracy and society," said Suzie Light, Executive Director of the Kosciusko County Community Foundation and Board Member of OrthoWorx.  

The Remnant Trust expects to begin renovations this summer and anticipates the facility will be open in the fourth quarter of this year.

About OrthoWorx

OrthoWorx (www.orthoworxindiana.com) is a Warsaw-based, industry, community and education initiative established to advance and support growth and innovation within the region's uniquely concentrated, globally significant orthopedics device sector. Founded in 2009, the initiative engages and enhances the broader community interests that both serve and depend upon the sector's continued growth by targeting an integrated set of educational, workforce, cultural, communication, branding, logistical and entrepreneurial efforts.    

About Kosciusko County Community Foundation

The Kosciusko County Community Foundation (www.kcfoundation.org) is a public charity that has been matching the dreams of donors with community needs through endowment building and grant making since 1968. Among the key elements of the Community Foundation's mission is its role as a catalyst and convener to address community needs.

About Grace College

Grace College is an evangelical Christian liberal arts college, offering 50 undergraduate majors, a graduate program in counseling and interpersonal relations, and graduate seminary degree programs in Grace Theological Seminary.  Located in the northern Indiana community of Winona Lake, Grace College enrollment totals more than 1,650 college and seminary students, representing approximately 40 states and 20 foreign countries.

About The Remnant Trust

The Remnant Trust is a public educational foundation that shares an actively growing collection of original and first edition works dealing with the topics of liberty and dignity with some pieces dating as early as 3000 B.C.  The Trust makes this collection available to colleges, universities and other organizations for use by students, faculty, scholars and the general public.

SOURCE OrthoWorx