Autographs of Historic Individuals
For a complete description and an image of any autograph listed below, please click on its Full Description link.
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ANTHONY BENEZET. Document Signed, no place, June 1778. A scarce receipt signed by this Quaker reformer who was one of the first and most influential abolitionists in America. Full Description
ALICE STONE BLACKWELL. Typed Letter Signed, Boston MA, 4 October 1919. A warm letter of thanks from this American reformer in which she mentions both her own and her parents’ contributions to the long fight for woman suffrage, which was finally on the verge of success. Full Description
BENJAMIN N. CARDOZO. Autograph Letter Signed to Honorable Bernard L. Shientag, Albany [NY], 20 February 1931. The eminent jurist, who would be named to the U. S. Supreme Court in 1932, writes to a judicial colleague about his new book, Law and Literature. Full Description
GUY CARLETON, first Baron Dorchester. Autograph Letter Signed to Lord Townshend, London, 9 May 1772. Writing while Governor of Quebec, this British army officer thanks a supporter for his congratulations on a recent promotion. Full Description
CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT. Typed Letter Signed to Mrs. Frank Vanderlip, New Rochelle, NY, 29 January 1933. The leader of the U. S. woman suffrage movement who won passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, Catt writes to a former colleague in that effort, praising her continued involvement in public affairs. Full Description
RUFUS CHOATE. Autograph Letter Signed to Gorham Parsons, Salem [MA] 28 May 1833. The leading trial attorney in the U.S. in his day, Choate explains why he cannot take a case. Full Description
WINSTON S. CHURCHILL. Typed Letter Signed, London, 18 March 1938. Just days after Hitler's annexation of Austria, Churchill asserts that a change by the British to the policies of resistance and rearmament that he has been advocating might still prevent war. Full Description
PETER COOPER. Autograph Letter Signed to Frederick Graff, New York [NY], [19?] January 1841, plus integral address leaf that contains an Autograph Draft Letter of reply by FREDERICK GRAFF. This American businessman, inventor, and philanthropist writes about problems with New York City’s water works in a letter that exemplifies both his technical expertise and his support for civic improvements. Full Description
DAVID DAVIS. Letter Signed to Mr. Aument, Washington [DC], 25 July 1882. Formerly a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Davis writes as a U.S. Senator from Illinois, apologizing for having to cancel his visit to an event back home because of the extended session of Congress. Full Description
EDWARD VII, King of Great Britain & Ireland. Signature as Prince of Wales, with seven related signatures, no place, no date [probably Philadelphia PA, October 1860]. The signatures of the Prince of Wales – the future Edward VII – and the members of his party during his historic visit to the U.S., the first ever by a member of the British royal family. Full Description
DAVID G. FARRAGUT. Autograph Letter Signed to Paul Langdon, Brooklyn [NY], 1 January 1859, also containing an Autograph Note Signed with initials by Farragut's wife. A long, detailed letter by the Union naval hero about his latest assignment, the command of a new Navy steamer, the Brooklyn, and about his dealings with Washington politicians. Full Description
FELIX FRANKFURTER. Typed Letter Signed, Washington DC, 16 March 1945. The Supreme Court Justice explains that his judicial office precludes his taking any actions that would be viewed as political. Full Description
(FRENCH & INDIAN WAR). JAMES DE LANCEY. Autograph Letter Signed as acting Governor of New York to Jacob Glen, New York [NY], 2 September 1754. This New York colonial governor responds to an enemy attack at the start of the French & Indian War by appointing new militia officers. Full Description
GEORGE IV, KING OF GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND. Autograph Letter Signed “GR” as King to Albert [Conyngham], “Royal Lodge” [Windsor], 31 March 1828. A warm, personal letter in which the King sends a gift and good wishes to the son of his mistress, Lady Conyngham, and declares himself to be “the best & sincerest of your Friends.” Full Description
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, 1847. Partly Engraved Document Signed by the President and Professors of Georgetown College, no place [Georgetown], 27 July 1847. An uncommon 19th century diploma awarded to a graduate of Georgetown College. Full Description
JOHN HANCOCK. Partly Printed Document Signed as President of the Continental Congress, no place [Philadelphia PA], 10 June 1777. Containing an Autograph Note Signed by JOHN LANSING. An unusual Revolutionary War military commission in which Hancock appoints an assistant deputy quartermaster general in the Continental Army at the specific command of Major General Philip Schuyler. Full Description
WILLIAM H. HERNDON. Autograph Letter Signed to [Jesse W.] Weik, Springfield, IL, 9 April 1887. Abraham Lincoln’s longtime law partner, Herndon writes here to the co-author of his famous biography of Lincoln, discussing some publicity they had received and the prospects for their work. Full Description
THEODORE HERZL. Typed Letter Signed “Herzl”, Vienna, 27 January 1902. The founder of the organized Zionist movement follows up on the recommendations of a recent Zionist Congress. Full Description
FRANCIS HOPKINSON. Document Signed as Judge of the Court of Admiralty of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA, 6 September 1786. With two related Documents Signed by CLEMENT BIDDLE. A Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Hopkinson issues an Admiralty Court writ ordering the seizure of a ship whose two mariners have alleged nonpayment of their wages. Clement Biddle, a former Continental Army officer, has signed two related documents as marshal of the Admiralty Court. Full Description
O. O. HOWARD. Letter Signed to the Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle, Governor’s Island NY, 23 April 1891. This Union general, who had fought under William T. Sherman, pays tribute to his former commander, recalling especially the start of the Atlanta campaign. Full Description
JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON. Autograph Letter Signed, Washington, DC, 16 December 1890. The controversial Confederate general explains the loss of some of his pre-Civil War papers and expresses his hope of revisiting Texas. Full Description
ROBERT F. KENNEDY. Autograph Letter Signed as U.S. Attorney General to Bill Mauldin, no place [Washington DC], no date [November 1963-September 1964]. A handwritten letter of thanks from the Attorney General to the Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist, Bill Mauldin. Full Description
ROBERT E. LEE. Autograph Letter Signed, West Point [NY], 8 May 1854. Writing as Superintendent of West Point, the future Confederate general gives advice to a young cadet, to whom he was related, who was on leave due to illness. Full Description
ROBERT E. LEE. Autograph Letter Signed to W. Eugene Webster, U.S. Military Academy, West Point [NY], 21 June 1854. The future Confederate general writes as Superintendent of West Point to a cadet forced to resign because of ill health. Full Description
FERDINAND DE LESSEPS. Autograph Letter Signed to Edwin de Leon, Marseille, 19 May 1861. In French, with translation. The French diplomat who built the Suez Canal writes to a former American consul in Egypt about plans to meet in Paris. Full Description
DOUGLAS MacARTHUR. Typed Letter Signed to the Reverend G. Bromley Oxnam, Tokyo, Japan, 14 March 1950. A remarkable letter by this American general, written while head of the occupation forces in post-World War II Japan: MacArthur explains his reasons for banning American supporters and foes of birth control from Japan and outlines his larger approach to Allied policy during the occupation. Full Description
THOMAS L. McKENNEY. Autograph Check Signed, Philadelphia [PA], 2 October 1816. A handwritten check signed by this pioneer in the study of Native Americans who would become the first director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and who would produce, with James Hall, the celebrated History of the Indian Tribes of North America. Full Description
ROBERT MORRIS. Partly Printed Document Signed, Philadelphia [PA], 28 April 1787. A Signer of the Declaration of Independence and of the Constitution, Morris here issues a bill of exchange payable in London. Full Description
WILLIAM PENN. Document Signed, no place [England], 11 October 1681. A receipt for the sale of land in Pennsylvania, signed by the Quaker leader, in England, during the first year of his proprietorship. Full Description
WILLIAM PEPPERRELL. Autograph Document Signed, Kittery [ME], 31 August 1736. A Massachusetts colonial official and soldier, best-remembered for leading the successful expedition against the French at Louisbourg, Pepperrell here issues a warrant for the arrest of a man charged with assault. Full Description
GEORGE ROSS. Autograph Letter Signed to Jasper Yeates, no place [probably Lancaster PA], no date [docketed 30 March 1773]. A scarce letter from this Signer of the Declaration of Independence in which he reports to a fellow attorney on a deceptive claim being made in a lawsuit. Full Description
RICHARD RUSH. Autograph Letter Signed to J. R. Thompson, “Sydenham, near Philadelphia” [PA], 14 November 1852. The former U.S. minister to Great Britain, Rush discusses his letter to the editor, just published in The Southern Literary Messenger, reminiscing about the recently-deceased Duke of Wellington. Full Description
WINFIELD SCOTT. Autograph Document Signed, Washington [DC], 17 June 1852. With an Autograph Document Signed by THOMAS WILLIAMS, Fort Mackinac MI, 28 June 1852. The American general, whose career spanned the first half of the nineteenth century, has penned directions for the delivery of a bust of himself, carved by American sculptor Chauncey Ives, on a bill of lading for the bust. His subordinate, future Union general Thomas Williams, has written additional instructions on the document. Full Description
PAUL J. SEMMES. Autograph Letter Signed to his wife, no place [probably Virginia], 4 November [no year, probably 1861]. A Civil War-date letter from this Confederate general, who would be mortally wounded at Gettysburg, advising his wife to sell land and slaves to pay various taxes and debts. Full Description
GEORGE H. THOMAS. Partly Printed Document Signed, no place, January 1863. A Civil War-date report approved by this important Union general known as the "Rock of Chickamauga." Full Description
CORNELIUS VANDERBILT (1794-1877). Document Signed, New York [NY], 19 April 1839. The “Commodore”, who made his fortune in steamships and railroads, signs a performance bond resulting from a lawsuit he filed over some real estate. Full Description
BUSHROD WASHINGTON. Autograph Letter Signed to Henry Tazewell, Fredericksburg [VA], 3 July 1785. At the very start of his legal career, this future U.S. Supreme Court Justice seeks help from an influential politician to secure a local court clerkship. Full Description
ARTHUR WELLESLEY, DUKE OF WELLINGTON. Two Letters: a Letter Signed, Viseu [Portugal], 24 January 1810, and an Autograph Letter Signed, Viseu [Portugal], 22 February 1810, both to Vice Admiral George Berkeley. The celebrated British general writes to a naval commander during the Peninsular War, trying to remedy a chronic logistical problem. Full Description
WILLIAM WILLIAMS. Autograph Letter Signed, Lebanon [CT], 7 May 1765. A Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Williams provides insight into colonial taxation in this letter, explaining why certain individuals in his home town are unable to pay their taxes. His letter is also signed by future Connecticut Governor, JONATHAN TRUMBULL. Full Description
(WORLD WAR II – Allied Victory in Italy). Sir William Duthie Morgan. Signed Photograph, no place, no date. A scarce signed photo of the official ceremony, on April 29, 1945, at which German forces in Italy unconditionally surrendered, signed by the British officer who presided at the surrender on behalf of the Allies. Full Description
BRIGHAM YOUNG. Letter Signed, Great Salt Lake City [UT], 28 April 1859. A long, informative letter from the leader of the Mormon church who organized the migration to Utah, giving a fellow Mormon instructions on the purchase and shipment of supplies, a report on some federal authorities in Utah, and news of Mormon affairs. Full Description
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