ON HIS LAST DAY IN THE WHITE HOUSE, A REFLECTIVE TRUMAN THANKS A TRUSTED AIDE WHO PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN HIS FAMOUS UPSET VICTORY OF 1948. HARRY TRUMAN Typed Letter signed: "Harry Truman", 1p, 7x8¾ with blank integral leaf. Washington, D.C., 1953 January 19. On White House letterhead to Donald S. Dawson, Administrative Assistant to the President, The White House. In full: "I want you to know, before I leave the White House, how grateful I am for your extremely loyal assistance. I remember very well how, in my search for a topnotch personnel advisor in the Government, I found a fellow Missourian in you. You have demonstrated consistently your knowledge and ability in the Government personnel field and deserve the thanks of all of us for your efforts to promote the merit system in the United States Government. You are entitled to pride for your assistance to me in the selection of individuals for Presidential appointments, your efforts to modernize the federal compensation system, especially the Classification Act of 1949 and the Executive Pay Bill, your read more...

GEORGE WASHINGTON Washington handwrote and signed this document, showing that he paid £100 for his neighbor's wheat, only five months after being selected to be a delegate at the Continental Congress. This document has his full name of "George Washington" instead of his more common signature of "G. Washington", which makes it especially rare. Autograph document signed in text: "George Washington". 1 page, 7¼x4¼. [Fairfax County, Virginia, 1774 December 23]. In Full: "Then Received from George Washington the Currt Sum of One hundred pounds in part payment for Wheat sold him by" to which the seller has signed: "Thomas Triplett". Penned at top left (unknown hand, possibly Triplett's): "Receivd Decr 23d 1774". THOMAS TRIPLETT was a descendent of French Huguenots who came to America to escape religious persecution. Triplett grew wheat on his plantation in Fairfax County, not far from Washington's Mount Vernon plantation. read more...

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON As the Whig Party candidate for President, Harrison devotes 3 pages to defending his conduct at the Battle of the Thames (War of 1812). He is so anxious to vindicate his military record that he is traveling to Cincinnati to have copies of depositions made and published! Harrison's signature is rare, especially so close to the date of his brief Presidency! Autograph Letter signed: "W. H. Harrison", 3 pages with integral address leaf, 7¼x12½. North Bend (Ohio), 1840 February 14. To Moses B. Corwin, House of Representatives of Ohio. In full: "Your letter of the 10th was brought to me yesterday from Cincinnati. I had seen an article in the journal that Flood was charged with having written in his place, an assertion that I was not in the sortie of the Thames. I immediately addressed a note to him which I enclosed to General [Joseph] Vance demanding to know whether he had made such an assertion and the ground upon which it was made. In answer to my letter to him, the general expressed an opinion that I gave too much importance to the matter and declined delivering my note to Flood until he would hear from me again. read more...

JAMES MADISON, CO-SIGNED BY: JAMES MONROE, JOHN GILL, JAMES H. MCCULLOCH 21x16½ ship's papers for the brig Julia, bound from Baltimore to Lisbon in 1812, signed by Madison as U.S. president and Monroe as Secretary of State Four language ships papers signed "James Madison" as U.S. President, "James Monroe" as Secretary of State, "James M McCulloch" and "John Gill Not. Pub".1 page, 21x16½, with paper 2 ¾-inch Great Seal of the United States and Gill's paper 1¾-inch notary seal affixed on left. Issued at Baltimore, Maryland, Oct. 15, 1812. Four language ship's papers (French, Spanish, English, Dutch) issued to: "Tristram Luce master or commander of the Brig called Julia... lying at present in the port of Baltimore bound for Lisbon and laden with Flour, Indian Corn and Bread for Lisbon..." Brigs were sailing ships with two masts and square sails. The rear sail is the mainsail and has a small fore-and-aft sail to improve maneuverability. Brigs were developed during the 17th century but saw their heyday in the 19th century. read more...

HIS FIRST PAYCHECK AS PRESIDENT, BEARING HIS ENDORSEMENT CALVIN COOLIDGE Partly Printed Paycheck Endorsed on verso: "Deposit/Calvin Coolidge" as 30th U.S. President, 8½x3¼. Washington, D.C., 1923 August 31. "Treasurer of the United States/Pay Five Thousand Eight Hundred Thirty Three 33/100 ### Dollars/$5,833.33/To The Order of Calvin Coolidge President of the United States/The White House/Washington DC." Coolidge's annual salary as President was $75,000. His monthly salary was $6,250. THIS CHECK REPRESENTS HIS SALARY FOR AUGUST 1923, HIS FIRST MONTH AS PRESIDENT. President Harding had died on August 2, 1923 and at 2:30 A.M. August 3rd, John Coolidge, a notary public, swore in his son as President of the United States. If one divides $6,250 by 30 days, one gets a daily salary of $208.33. Harding was President on August 1st and 2nd. Multiply that by 28 days to get $5,833.33, the amount of Coolidge's check. But Coolidge was President in August for 29 days (August has 31 not 30 days), so his daily salary for August 1923, was actually $201. read more...

THOMAS JEFFERSON He extends a dinner invitation to friend and merchant William Huntington, signed in the text. Third Person Autograph Note signed in text: "Th: Jefferson asks the favor of Mr. Huntington to dine with him on Sunday the 8th. Apr. 6. 21", 1 page, 7¾x4. No place given [but probably Monticello], 1821 April 6. THOMAS JEFFERSON (1743-1826) served as third U.S. President from 1801 to1809. A former delegate to the Continental Congress from Virginia (1775-1776, 1783-1784), Jefferson drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence (1776). He then served as Governor of Virginia (1779-1781) and as a member of Virginia's state legislature (1782). Named U.S. Minister to France in 1785, Jefferson remained abroad until 1789, when he was asked by George Washington to be his Secretary of State (1790-1793). Jefferson then served as Vice President under John Adams (1797-1801) until being elected President. A man of many talents, Jefferson has been called "the Sage of Monticello". read more...

ZACHARY TAYLOR Manuscript Letter to a Cincinnati newspaper, with his scarce signature as President-elect! Manuscript Letter signed: "Z. Taylor", 1 page, 7¾x7.  Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1849 January 19. To the Editors and Publishers of the Cincinnati Gazette, in full: "I avail myself of an early occasion before leaving this place to journey north, to express to you my warm acknowledgements for your courtesy and kindness in forwarding to my address for some time past, the regular number of the 'Gazette'-I have always perused its columns with interest and pleasure.  With this acknowledgement please accept my heartfelt wishes for your health and happiness, and for continued success and usefulness to your paper. I am, Gentlemen, with Sentiments of high respect and regard your most obedient servant". The popularity of war hero Zachary Taylor (1784-1850) led to his election as the 12th U.S. President (1849-1850). A 40-year veteran of the Army, Taylor was a veteran of several campaigns against the Indians, including the Black Hawk War and the Seminole wars. read more...

KENNEDY FAMILY ARCHIVE Collection of nearly 80 personal items spanning almost a century, most of which were the personal mementoes of Mary Loretta Connelly, Joseph P. Kennedy's sister. Included are many signed letters from the family patriarch, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.; items signed by John, Robert and Ted Kennedy and spouses Jackie, Ethel and Joan; mementoes associated with the eldest Kennedy brother, Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr; items connected with Kennedy sisters Pat, Eunice, Jean and Kathleen; and souvenirs of the next generation of Kennedy's: JFK Jr., Caroline Kennedy, and their cousin Joseph Kennedy II and Ted Kennedy, Jr. Most of the items in this remarkable collection of Kennedy family history come from Kerry McCarthy, the granddaughter of Joseph P. Kennedy's sister Mary Loretta (Kennedy) Connelly, and herself a well-known and respected political activist. They have been in her family for many years. Additional well authenticated items offered here to round out the collection are JFK's clipped signature, the handwritten manuscript by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, the photographs of John F. Kennedy, Jr. and Joseph Kennedy II, and the invitation to a Kennedy Presidential Library event signed by Caroline Kennedy. read more...

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER As President of Columbia University, he signs a typed letter to Robert Cutler concerning University projects to be funded by the Harriman brothers, framed with an unsigned photo in the Gallery of History style. TLS: "Ike" as President of Columbia, with ALS: "DE" on first page of 1½ pages (separate sheets) typed letter, 7¼x9½. Columbia University, New York, 1950 December 13. To Robert Cutler, Old Colony Trust Company, Boston, about planning and financing The American Assembly, an affiliate of Columbia University founded by Eisenhower in 1950 "to illuminate issues of public policy". The ALS on the first typed page, in full: "Dear Bobby-This formal dissertation was, as is obvious, prepared by a staff assistant. If you knew how pressed I am, almost to the point of panic, you'd forgive me for not re-writing it. So far as meaning goes, it expresses my sentiments very well indeed!" The typed letter, in part: "Since our delightful Boston visit, we have gone ahead rapidly with the plans for The American Assembly…Mr. W. read more...