. Printed DS: "U.S. Grant" as President of the Soldiers Monument Association, 1p, 14x17. Galena, Ill., 1865 August 28. Not filled in. In full: "This Certifies that [blank] Is hereby Constituted a Member of the Jo Daviess Soldiers' Monument Association." Vignette of Lincoln at top center and five other smaller vignettes. Engraved by the Continental Bank Note Co., New York. At the time the Civil War broke out, former soldier Ulysses S. Grant was working in his father's hardware store in Galena, Illinois. Four years later, Lieutenant General Grant was the hero of Galena and of the Civil War, which ended on April 9, 1865. The citizens of Galena purchased a furnished home in town and presented it to Grant. He signed its deed on August 18, 1865. Other honors were heaped upon the General, including the honorary presidency of the Jo Daviess Soldiers' Monument Association, for which he signed this membership certificate (according to his memoirs) on August 28, 1865. Galena is located on the Mississippi River in Jo Daviess County, named for the Daniel Boone-like figure of Col. JOSEPH H. DAVIESS, frontier lawyer who was killed in the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. Counties in Missouri and Indiana were also named after Daviess. Fine condition.

President Wilson issues a Thanksgiving Proclamation less than a year before the start of World War I. Proclamation signed: "Woodrow Wilson" as President, 1p, 7½ x 12. Washington, D.C., 1913 October 23. In part: "The season is at hand in which it has been our long respected custom as a people to turn in praise and thanksgiving to Almighty God for his manifold mercies and blessings to us as a nation. The year that has just passed has been marked in a peculiar degree by manifestations of His gracious and beneficent providence." President Woodrow Wilson issued this ceremonial Thanksgiving proclamation on October 23, 1913, during his first year in office. Wilson referred to the blessing of peace in the nation and the world, yet in less than a year, World War I had begun. For nearly two years of his first term, President Wilson worked to maintain America's neutrality and to mediate between the warring European nations. That war would occupy most of his attention following the United States' entrance into the war in April 1917. Two vertical and two horizontal creases. Fine condition. Framed to an overall size of 30 x 21½.

Handwritten letter to Lydia "Hup" MacArthur, the widow of Peter MacArthur, who gave Reagan his first job as a 21 year old Sports Announcer in Davenport, Iowa, signed "Dutch". Autograph Letter signed: "Dutch", 1 page, 6½x4¼. No place, 1991 April 2. To "Dear Hup" [Lydia MacArthur] on card printed with his name and Presidential seal. In full: "Thank you for sending the news story. Nancy & I both enjoyed it very much. Yes we would like to have been there but our travels and chores had us elsewhere. By the way if you are writing again sometime how about sending me Myrtles address? I've somehow lost it. Again thanks and out love to you." Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) had two careers: actor and politician. His first movie was Love is on the Air (1937) and his 53rd and last film was The Killers (1964). In 1965, he wrote his autobiography, Where's the Rest of Me?, a line from his role as Drake McHugh in King's Row (1942). Reagan left his job hosting television's Death Valley Days during the 1965-1966 season, when he entered politics. Elected Governor of California in 1966, he was reelected in 1970.

The 42nd U.S. President pens this encouraging note to Senator Daniel Moynihan referring to some social and economic aspects, signed in black ink Autograph Note Signed: "Bill" in black ink as President. One page. 6¼x4¼ card. Embossed with gilt Presidential Seal and words "The President". Place: Washington, District of Columbia. Date: September 28, 1999. Addressed to: Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. In full: "Senator, If we persevere we'll get this done! - I will help in any way I can, in or out of office. Best."  A day earlier, after getting the news of a higher than expected $115 billion budget surplus, President Clinton said, in part: "This triple digit surplus is larger than projected, larger than last year's and, in fact, larger than any surplus in the history of the United States…We can give the American people an honest, credible budget that extends the life of Social Security and Medicare, meets our responsibility in education and other important areas and leaves us free to pay down that [national] debt and be on target to be debt-free in the next 15 years." This may be what President Clinton is referring to in this note.

Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and George H. W. Bush, and First Ladies Kennedy, Johnson, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Bush, signed this color photograph of the White House, which has been framed with seven unsigned photos of the occupants and two explanatory plaques. Photograph signed: "Jacqueline Kennedy", "Lady Bird Johnson", "Richard Nixon", "Gerald R. Ford", "Betty Ford", "Jimmy Carter", "Rosalynn Carter", "Ronald Reagan", "Nancy Reagan", "George Bush", and "Barbara Bush". Color, 10x8. View of the south portico of the White House. President John Adams and First Lady Abigail Adams moved into the White House on November 1, 1800. It has served as the home of the President of the United States and his family ever since. Two light surface nicks at upper blank background, not touching signatures. Fine condition. Framed to an overall size of 51½x31¾.

Partly Printed DS: "James Madison" as fourth U.S. President and "Jas Monroe" as Secretary of State, 1p, 10x15, irregularly cut. Washington, D.C., 1813 December 8. Ship's passport on vellum signed in Washington but issued out of "State of Massachusetts, District of Glouster". Cosigned: "John Kittredge Coll." as Collector for that port. In part: "By the President of the United States of America SUFFER the Schoner (sic) Dolphin Samuel Grace master or commander of the burthen of Sixty nine tons or thereabouts mounted with No guns navigated with Six men TO PASS with her Company Passengers Goods and Merchandize without any hinderance seizure or molestation the said Schooner appearing by good testimoney to belong to one or more of the Citizens of the United States and to him or them only...." On vellum. 2¼-inch white paper seal affixed at lower left margin. Scalloped upper edge affects portion of upper vignette. At the time this document was signed, the British had already successfully blockaded the Delaware River and Chesapeake Bay (December 1812), and by November 1813, the U.S. eastern seaboard south of Narragansett was under the blockade.

As President of Columbia University, he signs a typed letter to Robert Cutler concerning University projects to be funded by the Harriman brothers. 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. Averell Harriman has given us a home for the Assembly and he, together with his brother, E. Roland Harriman, are providing the funds to adapt the property and to furnish it for conference purposes.…"

The Nation's bicentennial President signs a commemorative printer's plate. Commemorative Metal Printer's Plate inscribed and signed: "To Robert L. White, best wishes,/Gerald R. Ford" as 38th President, 14¾x 6½. Printer's plate for the production of commemorative matchbooks. A sheet of completed matchbooks (two rows of seven covers per row) are displayed beneath the plate. The covers for the matchbooks, which are made of blue silk, bear gold foil impressions reading "The President and Mrs. Ford", a facsimile signature of Gerald Ford and the image of the White House. The commemorative matches were presented to the President by the Maryland Match Corporation in Washington, D.C. As the President and First Lady during America's bicentennial celebration, Gerald and Betty Ford were deluged with "birthday presents", such as this printing plate. Nearly two years earlier, upon becoming the 38th U.S. President (1974-1977) upon the resignation of Richard Nixon, Gerald R. Ford (1913-2006) attempted to bring a quick end to the Watergate Scandal by pardoning Nixon (September 8, 1974).

During his first campaign for a seat in Congress (1946), he signed this handwritten letter to a former Harvard classmate, discussing measures to secure the Italian-American vote. Rare Political Autograph Letter Signed: "Jack", 2 pages, 6x9, front and verso. To Tony (former Harvard classmate Tony Galluccio). No place, no date but during his first race for Congress in 1946. In full: "Thanks very much for your letter. It sounds like you and Joe did a good deal. It is fine with me if you and Joe take the trip in August. Just give me your schedule before you go and I will pay expenses. Be sure & let Frank know when you are going & keep him informed in a general way. I agree with you that Peter Gay would be a good man. I think it would be a good idea if you would get to know the Italian members of the legislature as well as possible. Should I write Gay or Demarco or anyone else thanking them? I hope to talk with you this weekend. Will call your house." Joe was Cambridge Councilman JOSEPH A. deGUGLIELMO, Frank was JFK's father's aide FRANK MORRISSEY (Joseph Kennedy helped finance his son's campaign); and Demarco was WILLIAM DEMARCO, Italian-American leader in the North End.

All five presidents from 1975 to 1992 - Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton - signed this engraving of the White House. White House Engraving signed: "Ronald Reagan", "Gerald R. Ford", "George Bush", "Bill Clinton" and "Jimmy Carter". B/w, 8x6 overall, oval image 4¼x1½ (one surface). White House engraving by "Bureau of Engraving and Printing." "Best wishes" also written by Jimmy Carter with spacing, perhaps initially intended to allow for Rosalynn Carter's signature. Signatures of the 38th-42nd U.S. Presidents. Republican GERALD R. FORD (1913-2006) served as the nation's 38th U.S. President from 1974-1977. Ford, who had assumed the Presidency upon the resignation of Richard M. Nixon, holds the distinction of being the only person not to be elected to either the Vice Presidency or the Presidency. Ford was denied election in his own right when he was defeated by Democrat JAMES EARL "JIMMY" CARTER (1924-2024), who was 39th U.S. President for one term (1977-1981). Republican RONALD REAGAN (1911-2004) served as 40th U.S. President from 1981-1989.

Signed illustration showing the President at his desk wearing his Masonic ring. Illustration signed: “Harry Truman” and inscribed at lower margin below image: "Best wishes to the council of personnel administration/Harry Truman". In brown ink, 16½ x 21¼. Facsimile signature at lower right margin. Harry S Truman (1884-1972) had been Vice President for only 82 days when he became the 33rd President of the U.S. (1945-1953) upon Franklin D. Roosevelt's death on April 12, 1945. Faced with the ordeal of ending WWII, Truman oversaw the surrender of Germany (May 7) and ordered the atomic bombings on Hiroshima (August 6) and Nagasaki (August 9). He fought the Cold War with the Truman Doctrine, a policy granting Greece and Turkey $400 million in economic and military aid to help them fight Communist aggression. By the end of 1945, Truman had introduced economic measures that would become part of his Fair Deal program. As a result, the minimum wage was increased from 40 to 75 cents an hour through an amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and Social Security benefits were extended to include approximately ten million more people. During his second term, Truman ordered U.S. forces into action when North Korean troops invaded American-supported South Korea.

Both sign the partly printed appointment of a District of Columbia official (1895) Partly Printed DS: "Grover Cleveland" as President and "Judson Harmon" as Attorney General, 1p, 21x16. Washington, 1895 June 28. Appointment of Henry C. Stewart, Jr. as Notary Public for the District of Columbia. Harmon was Cleveland's Attorney General from 1895-1897. Secretary of State Walter Q. Gresham had died on May 28, 1895 and was succeeded by Attorney General Richard Olney on June 10th. On June 11th, 17 days before he signed this document, Judson Harmon entered upon his duties as Attorney General. In 1908, five months after Cleveland's death, Harmon was elected Governor of Ohio; in 1910, he was reelected, defeating 45-year-old Warren G. Harding. Folds, vertical folds touch "o" in Harmon. Lightly creased. Lightly worn top edge. Full, 3-inch red seal with vertical fold. Overall, fine condition.