WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT
As US President he signs the diploma of Mary Bass Michaels, recipient of a Master's Degree from Gallaudet College, also signed by College President Percival Hall
Document signed: "Wm H Taft" as President of the US, "Percival Hall" as President of Gallaudet College, 20¼x15½, Washington, D.C., 1911 June 21. By the authority of the United States and of the Columbia Institution for the Deaf, Taft signs diploma attesting that Mary Bass Michaels has completed a Master's Degree at Gallaudet College. WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT (1857-1930) was Governor of the Philippines (1901-1904), Secretary of War (1904-1909), 27th of the United States (1909-1913) and Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court (1921-1930). His bruising convention battle with former ally and patron Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 split the Republican Party, allowing the election of Democrat Woodrow Wilson. Taft as President was caught in the middle between progressives and conservatives and constrained by a more limited view of Presidential powers than TR had possessed, but historians tend to view his term of office more positively than did most of his contemporaries. His skills as Chief Justice are widely recognized. In the years between his Presidency and his appointment as chief justice, Taft taught at Yale Law School. PERCIVAL HALL (1872-1953) was the second President of Gallaudet College (now University), 1910-1945. Though his own hearing was unimpaired, Hall took an early interest in the education of deaf persons, teaching at Gallaudet before becoming its President. He was also a strong advocate for the civil rights of deaf persons. Heavily creased with vertical creases from having been rolled. Slightly soiled. Otherwise, fine condition.