Although Philadelphia has a reputation for religious tolerance and freedom, there were often limits placed on those who did not conform to dominant, white, Protestant norms and expectations. William Penn’s colony was unique in the extent to which religious and political freedoms were granted. Penn has also been lauded for his peaceful diplomatic approach to relating to the region’s first residents. However, the first slave ship arrived in Philadelphia just two years after Penn’s arrival, Penn’s sons used deceptive practices to dispossess the Lenape of their land. Although Jews were allowed to practice their faith, they were banned from holding public office because of their faith. Religious and racial minorities struggled to assert their agency in Philadelphia’s civic life, and their experiences in the City of Brotherly Love show the limits of America’s founding value that “all men are created equal.” The institute will demonstrate how the presence and activities of these groups help to expand the boundaries of notions of freedom.