For over a decade, Michael Scurr has dedicated his Thursday mornings to volunteering at Britain’s National Archives, meticulously cataloging documents to assist future historians and researchers.

However, last May brought an unexpected twist for the former insurance executive when he unearthed something extraordinary among the letters of an 18th-century Royal Navy captain.

Amidst a report concerning the capture of the American privateer Dalton on Christmas Eve in 1776 was an inconspicuously labeled enclosure referred to only as “another paper.” As Scurr delicately unfolded the document, he was astounded to see the word “Declaration” prominently displayed at the top.

“I thought, oh, right, OK, this sure looks like a Declaration of Independence,” Scurr shared with The Associated Press, his excitement palpable. “How thrilling is this?”

The document spreads the news of independence

Following Scurr’s discovery, experts at the National Archives identified the document as a rare early version of America’s founding Declaration, printed mere days after the original was endorsed on July 4, 1776. This copy was intended to circulate the momentous news that 13 North American colonies had broken away from British rule.

It is one of just 11 original copies of the so-called Exeter printing of the declaration that are known to exist, and the only one identified outside the United States, the National Archives said on Thursday as it unveiled the find ahead of this weekend’s 250th anniversary of American independence. This version was printed in Exeter, New Hampshire, July 16 to 19, 1776.

But it isn’t just the age of the document that makes it important. It is also the fact that it was captured from a ship under the direction of the recently formed Continental Congress, with orders signed by its president, John Hancock, said Amanda Bevan, head of the National Archives’ project to catalog the correspondence of Royal Navy captains during the American Revolution.

While the public has heard about the dreadful conditions faced by the Continental Army at places like Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, little attention has been given to the Americans who went to sea to disrupt British trade and battle the mighty Royal Navy, Bevan said.

Discovery offers a nod to what was at stake

Finding a copy of the Declaration of Independence on board ship also suggests how it might have been used, Bevan said. She believes the Dalton’s captain would have read out his orders, as was customary, and also the declaration itself.

“They know why they’re fighting, but this puts it in a language which makes it greater than them,’’ Bevan said. “They’re not fighting because they’re aggrieved in particular. They’re fighting for an ideal. And I think that just to find the declaration in a theater of war where people are committing themselves to fight for their country on the wide ocean is really something special.”

As a privateer, the 18-gun Dalton was a privately owned vessel that fought under the auspices of the Continental Congress to supplement the tiny navy of the new nation.

Captain Thomas Fitzherbert, commander of the 64-gun HMS Raisonnable, chased the Dalton for seven hours on Christmas Eve 1776 before capturing her off the coast of Portugal. The Dalton’s 120-man crew was imprisoned in Plymouth, England, under harsh conditions.

Charles Hebert, who was just 19 when he was captured, described hunger, illness and repeated punishment in the journals he kept during more than two years of captivity before his release in a prisoner exchange.

Despite it all, many survived.

The joy of discovery is shared by Americans

Historians in the United States are also excited about the National Archives’ discovery.

This copy of the Declaration of Independence provides a direct link to the Dalton’s captain, who carried news of American independence to the world, said Matthew Skic, director of collections and exhibitions at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia.

“It’s not just a document, it’s an artifact,” he said. “It’s a tangible connection to the past, because holding that piece of paper in the archivist’s hand today is a way to transport us back to 1776. The baton being passed, in a way.”

The discovery is also proof that there’s still more for historians to uncover, Skic said.

“Even though 250 years has gone by, we still do not know everything about the American Revolution, and there are still finds left to be discovered.”

The American flag is an iconic symbol, but did you know its design could have turned out completely different?

In 1958, as discussions about adding two more states to the union were buzzing across the nation, the Eisenhower administration was inundated with numerous proposals for a potential 50-star flag.

“Many individuals began submitting their concepts for the new flag’s appearance,” explained Dr. Jim Ginther, who serves as the supervisory archivist at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene, Kansas. This institution has preserved all of the proposals from that time.

“There was suddenly a renewed public enthusiasm regarding the flag’s design. Starting in July 1958, designs started pouring into the White House from the public, along with the Army’s Quartermaster Corps, from both across the United States and internationally.”

The story of the 50-star flag is told in the first episode of the new series, “Crazy American History with Eric Shawn,” now streaming on Fox Nation.

One star was added to the flag in January 1959 when Alaska joined the union as the 49th state. 

The 50th star was added with the admission of Hawaii as a state, and that new flag was officially raised for the first time July 4, 1960, at Fort McHenry, in Baltimore, site of the War of 1812 bombardment that inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

But in the two years before President Eisenhower settled on the new design for the Stars and Stripes, flag fever gripped the nation.

The White House eventually received more than 1,900 designs, many from school children as part of their lessons from the classroom publication “My Weekly Reader.”  

Adults from across the country, and even overseas, submitted their proposals.

“Some of them are coming in as simple as pencil drawings, some of them are as fancy as Draftsman’s drawing. Some of them are sewn flags made out of cloth. Some of them are crayon drawings,” Ginther noted.

The Eisenhower administration used the opportunity to educate Americans about the flag and responded to every submission with a letter from a top White House official.

“Several publications are produced by the government about the history of the flag, about flag etiquette, about various other aspects of use of the flag that they begin to send back out to the public, along with these letters thanking them for their submissions to educate the public about the flag.”

The Continental Congress enacted the flag on June 14, 1777, which is now observed as flag day. 

Betsy Ross is credited with designing the first flag with the 13 stars in a circle for the original 13 colonies. 

The guidelines call for a design of alternating red and white stripes with a blue field for the stars. 

But Ginther noted that the way the stars were to be laid out was never specified, which means some of the designs can appear to be curious and compelling. 

But a massive change was not to be. 

“The flag is symbolic,” said Ginther.

“Radical change in it is going to be difficult. People are used to that symbol. It comes out in the deliberations over the flags, in the documentation,” he said. “Radically changing the flag is going to be expensive, so we have to take that into consideration as well. And then you have to consider that particularly, our military, has a vested sentimental interest, in that they have fought and bled under that flag.

“There is reason, perhaps, why you might not want a radical change, even though many people in the country were interested in submitting designs. There is also an argument to be made for not being very radical in a redesign of the flag as a symbol of the nation.”

In the end, President Eisenhower selected a similar design to the historical tradition, adding the two stars in alternating rows of six and five stars, on the blue field where it has been so familiar ever since. 

It is the flag that represents our freedoms and the American ideals on our nation’s 250th birthday. 

Watch “The Fifty-Star Flag,” the first episode of the new Fox Nation series “Crazy American History” for more on President Eisenhower and the flag.

The website of the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home tells more about the flag and the president: https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/

On Thursday, Selena Gomez caught the attention of many while she simultaneously promoted her cosmetics line during her journey to attend best friend Taylor Swift’s wedding rehearsal dinner.

The 33-year-old Gomez mingled with a bevy of other stars at the opulent gathering, celebrating Swift’s upcoming wedding to Travis Kelce.

While heading to the intimate dinner for around 100 guests, she posted a video taken en route to the Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden, where the event was hosted.

Nevertheless, Gomez, who is rumored to be part of Swift’s bridal party, made headlines by choosing this significant occasion to spotlight a lipstick from her Rare Beauty line.

The video featured her elegantly applying the lipstick in the back seat of a car, dressed in a stunning black gown. Following this, she uploaded a close-up photo flaunting a new lip product from her collection that is slated for future release.

The move drew some criticism, given her best friend’s wedding has been shrouded in secrecy, and using the ceremony for promotion could risk Swift’s ire. 

‘Using other women’s success for relevancy…. stay away from her,’ one fan wrote.

‘Yesss use your best friends wedding to sell makeup,’ another added. 

‘Selena applying Rare Beauty lipstick in the car on the way to her bestie’s wedding rehearsal is the most on-brand thing ever,’ someone else quipped.

‘Taylor getting Rare Beauty PR boxes as her wedding gift,’ someone else joked. 

Though Gomez did not share a full view of her gown, she happily showed off her picture perfect glam.

The star’s raven tresses were slicked back, and she accessorized with diamond earrings and a matching ring from Fernando Jorge, with the pieces reportedly totaling $40,000. 

Gomez’s video was especially notable seeing as sources previously claimed to the Daily Mail that guests – including family and close friends – were required to sign an NDA before receiving any information about the wedding.

For added protection, Swift and Kelce have also individually watermarked each invitation using guests’ first and last names repeatedly across the design, making any leaked invite instantly traceable, revealed TMZ.

Swift and Kelce are set to officially tie the knot at Madison Square Garden in NYC on July 3, with more than 1000 guests in attendance.

Aside from Gomez, their more intimate rehearsal dinner was attended by stars Swift’s collaborator Jack Antonoff, 42, and Adam Sandler, 59, who were spotted heading to the festivities.

Meanwhile Lena Dunham, 40, was filmed being driven to the soiree – ahead of an awkward reunion with her ex Antonoff.

Gigi Hadid, 31, who is rumored to be one of Swift’s bridesmaids headed to the ceremony with boyfriend Bradley Cooper, 51, with the suited actor seen smiling as he headed off in photos obtained by PageSix.

Football stars including George Kittle, Andrew Whitworth and Ross Travis also joined the glittering line-up, alongside sport power couple, Erin Andrews and Jarrett Stoll.

On Tuesday, the Daily Mail definitively confirmed that Swift’s wedding would be taking place in New York City after a key member of her entourage was spotted at the venue.

The rehearsal dinner is said by a source to require ‘cocktail attire,’ and only family members have been invited for the pre-wedding event.

While it’s assumed that members of Swift’s squad – of which Hadid is a member – are likely to constitute her bridal party, few details have so far leaked about which of her friends will play a major part in her and Kelce’s wedding.

LeBron James’ chapter with the Los Angeles Lakers has come to an end. The NBA superstar has notified the team, where he’s spent the last eight seasons, of his decision to sign with a new franchise during free agency.

Despite a public display of mutual respect between both parties following James’ announcement, it’s evident that the relationship between James and the Lakers had its troubles. If everything had been seamless, James might have chosen to conclude his illustrious NBA career in Los Angeles.

Fans and analysts alike are curious about when the rift between James and the Lakers began. On July 2, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that the “disconnect” originated when the Lakers traded Russell Westbrook after a disappointing 2021-22 season, a breach from which their relationship never fully healed.

Back in July 2021, the Lakers acquired Westbrook, in a trade that sent Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell, and the 22nd overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft to the Washington Wizards.

James was reportedly influential in bringing Westbrook to Los Angeles. Alongside Anthony Davis, James believed that Westbrook’s addition would transform the Lakers into championship contenders once more, following their early exit from the 2021 NBA playoffs.

But it didn’t happen. Westbrook struggled alongside James and Davis, failing to produce his typical offensive output and committing too many turnovers. Westbrook was subject to a ton of scrutiny because of this, especially after the Lakers finished the 2021-22 season at 33-49 and missed the playoffs.

Westbrook started coming off the bench for LA during the 2022-23 campaign. While this produced better results than him spending most of his time in a lineup with James, the Lakers’ on-court cohesion never came close to what everyone expected when Westbrook came to LA. He was then traded to the Jazz in February 2023.

ESPN’s Baxter Holmes reported in January that Jeanie Buss (the Lakers’ president and controlling owner in 2021) was frustrated that James failed to take accountability for the Westbrook trade not working because the Lakers apparently made the move to appease him.

Now it appears that this frustration was never quite solved, despite James staying in LA until now.

Leading the celebrity brigade to the lavish pre-wedding rehearsal dinner for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were none other than Swift’s close companions Selena Gomez, Lena Dunham, and Jack Antonoff.

The beloved duo, both aged 36, are gearing up for a grand wedding ceremony at Madison Square Garden in New York City on July 3, expecting an audience of over 1,000 guests.

A cozier pre-wedding celebration is planned for their dearest 100 friends and family members at the Infosys Theater within MSG, scheduled for Thursday.

Selena Gomez gave fans a sneak peek of her elegant attire, a black feathered ballgown, as she touched up her lipstick in the car, making her way to the event.

In contrast, Jack Antonoff, Swift’s long-term creative partner, looked dapper in a nicely tailored suit, while Adam Sandler, 58, Kelce’s co-star from Happy Gilmore 2, discreetly entered the venue through a side door.

Lena Dunham, 40, was seen in a car heading to MSG – ahead of an awkward reunion with her ex Antonoff. 

Gigi Hadid, 31, who is rumored to be one of Swift’s bridesmaids headed to the ceremony with boyfriend Bradley Cooper, 51, with the suited actor seen smiling as he headed off in photos obtained by PageSix. 

On Tuesday, the Daily Mail definitively confirmed that Swift’s wedding would be taking place in New York City after a key member of her entourage was spotted at the venue.

The rehearsal dinner is said by a source to require ‘cocktail attire,’ and only family members have been invited for the pre-wedding event.

While it’s assumed that members of Swift’s squad – of which Hadid is a member – are likely to constitute her bridal party, few details have so far leaked about which of her friends will play a major part in her and Kelce’s wedding.

Ahead of the Mirrorball singer’s visit to her runway star friend, other close pals have been spotted congregating on the East Coast. 

Her friend and mentee, 26-year-old Sabrina Carpenter, was spotted enjoying a meal at Emmett’s on Grove in the West Village on Tuesday evening.

A video posted to X showed the beaming songstress chatting with friends ahead of the wedding.

Carpenter was Swift’s opening act for 13 concerts on the 2023 Latin American leg of her blockbuster Eras Tour, before rejoining her the following year for a dozen shows split evenly between Australia and Singapore.

Two of Swift’s male pals were also spotted around New York State in recent days.

Her longtime friend and fellow singer–songwriter, Ed Sheeran, 35, was spotted enjoying the company of The National guitarist–turned–superstar record producer Aaron Dessner, 50, while in Upstate New York.

Dessner produced and co-wrote much of Swift’s Folklore and Evermore albums (both 2020), as well as bonus tracks on the deluxe 3am edition of 2022’s Midnights, before returning to work with her on much of The Tortured Poet’s Department (2024).

Taylor Swift’s wedding: Read all the top stories

Sheeran and Dessner, who have previously worked together, were pictured dining at Buona Sera on the Lake in Malta, New York.

The restaurant is only about 60 miles from Dessner’s recording space, Long Pond Studio, where Swift and Sheeran have both worked with him. 

In addition to Hadid, other stars believed to be on the guest list include her sister Bella, her boyfriend Bradley Cooper, Swift’s longtime BFF Selena Gomez, Emma Stone, Lena Dunham and Zoe Kravitz.

Kelce’s football coach, Andy Reid, has already confirmed he will be attending the couple’s nuptials.

Also expected to attend are Kelce’s brother, Jason Kelce, and his teammate Patrick Mahomes, who previously revealed that he was responsible for inviting Kelce to the fateful Eras Tour concert at which he tried – unsuccessfully – to give Swift a friendship bracelet that listed his phone number.

Swift and Kelce’s wedding guests have also been left in the dark about the exact ceremony location ahead of the couple’s anticipated nuptials.

A source claimed to Us Weekly last week that lucky guests who scored an invitation to the big day have not yet been informed of the specific location.

‘Taylor and Travis told guests to be in NYC. No other location was provided,’ the insider told the outlet.

Those who received an invite were told to be in NYC on Thursday and Friday with no other information being provided.

Swift and Kelce are ‘putting their guests on hold for a couple days,’ the source said, before claiming that they have spent ‘millions’ on the wedding.

The A-list couple is allegedly planning on hosting a smaller gathering at Madison Square Garden on July 2, followed by a larger affair with roughly 1,000 attendees the next night, per the New York Times .

An insider informed the Daily Mail in early June that Swift and Kelce had embraced the idea of a ‘spectacle’ wedding and selected Madison Square Garden as the venue.

Sources also previously claimed to the Daily Mail that guests who received an invitation are being required to sign an NDA before receiving information about the wedding.

Those who RSVP are then sent a link to the agreement, which requires guests not to disclose information about the wedding.

In August, Kelce proposed to Swift, and she shared photos from the intimate engagement on Instagram with the caption: ‘Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.’

The Football star had turned his backyard in Kansas City into a secret garden wonderland, which offered a romantic atmosphere.