Historical Documents Library Page
WWII – Crickets in Normandy
Maxwell Taylor The landings which took place on the coast of Normandy on June 6, 1944, remain one of the most notable episodes of bravery throughout military history. Prior to the deployment on the beach, however, 13,000 American troops from the 82nd and 101st Airborne landed in the dark [...]
American Bible Society Certificate Signed by John Jay
John Jay (1745-1829) was an attorney, public official, diplomat, jurist. He: was member of the Continental Congress (1774-76, 1778-79) where he was President of Congress (1778-79); helped write the New York State constitution (1777); authored first manual on military discipline (1777); served as Chief-Justice of the New York Supreme Court (1777-78); was [...]
Civil War Baptism Competition
William Cogswell The author of this letter, John Munroe, enlisted as a private in the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry at the age of 19 on May 22, 1861, and served until mustered out on July 1, 1864. During the war he acted as the musician for K Company. [i] Aside [...]
Robert Smalls Honored with Medal
The following newspaper article is about the Gold Medal presented to Robert Smalls. Robert Smalls, a former slave at the time of the printing of this article, was pressed into service in the Confederacy as the quartermaster for the steamer Planter. On May 12, 1862 he was given an opportunity, as [...]
1789 Inauguration Eyewitness
The 1789 inauguration of George Washington as the first President of the United States under the Constitution was a very important event. It established several precedents for inaugurations that have withstood the test of time, including many religious activities. Congress had set up a basic procedure for the inauguration but there [...]
Attempted Capture of John Hancock and Samuel Adams
On April 18, 1775, Paul Revere and William Dawes set out to warn militias across the Massachusetts countryside of approaching British troops. These troops had been sent to Concord to confiscate the weapons there and dispatched to "bring back the bodies of Messr. Hancock and Adams." Below is a June 15-17, [...]
The Miraculous Life of Briton Hammon
In 1760 America became the first nation to publish a work of prose by a writer of African descent.[i] In fourteen pages, the slave and author Briton Hammon recounts nearly 13 years of trial, hardship, and adventure—ending in a way that would surprise most people today. Only two copies of his [...]
Proclamation – Lincoln Day – 1919, Massachusetts
This is the text of Calvin Coolidge January 30, 1919 Lincoln Day Proclamation, issued as governor of Massachusetts. Lincoln Day Proclamation January 30, 1919 THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS By His Excellency Calvin Coolidge, Governor. A PROCLAMATION Fivescore and ten years ago that Divine Providence which infinite repetition has made [...]
An Appeal to Heaven Flag
During the early days of the War for Independence—while the gun smoke still covered the fields at Lexington and Concord, and the cannons still echoed at Bunker Hill—America faced innumerable difficulties and a host of hard decisions. Unsurprisingly, the choice of a national flag remained unanswered for many months due to [...]
Official White House Christmas Ornaments
1985 - Silhouettes of Dolley Payne Madison & President James Madison 1986 Ornament 1987 Ornament 1988 - Reads: The Children of President Jackson's family request you to join them on Christmas Day at four o'clock P.M., in a frolic in the East Room. * Originally published: Dec. 15, 2016. fiogf49gjkf05
