Item 9a: A Signed Free Frank of James Madison and Daniel Brent, [1817] April 4.
Item — Box: 9, Folder: 9a
Dates
- Created: [1817] April 4.
Creator
- Madison, James, 1751-1836 (Person)
Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities
Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Autograph.
Condition Note:
Fair. Slight discoloration and vinegar smell to the page.
Title:
N/A
Location:
Orange County, VA; Washington
Description:
The following item depicts a signed free frank by James Madison, the fourth president of the United States, and signature of Daniel Brent, an American politician who acted for an interim period, from March 4-7, as Secretary of State under John Quincy Adams’ shift from the position to president in 1825. He would later serve as Chief Clerk for the United States Department of State, serving under presidents such as James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, and Andrew Jackson.
A free frank signature was a signature allowing certain members of the United States government to send mail without paying postage. The practice originated in the 17th century within the English House of Commons, but was later adopted by the Continental Congress in 1775 and passed into law in 1789. The parties approved were Congress, the president, cabinet secretaries, and certain executive branch officials. Senate.gov has a more indepth historical exploration of the free frank.
Google Books has a digitized copy of the Register of the Department of State by the United States, where we linked Brent’s work under John Quincy Adams to his interim record with
There appears to be two men with the same middle names and regional birthplace. A different Daniel Carroll Brent has a biographical rendering on Discover Stafford’s website, which displays a historical figure to celebrate.
The range of year for the date of this item has been estimated as between 1817, aligning with Brent’s years of service with the Department of State, 1817-1833, as he is so addressed on the item, and Madison’s presidential dates, as he could only sign a free frank while in power. The end of his presidency aligns with the start of Brent’s work with the Department in 1817.
Transcription:
Orange [county]} Free [Free Frank] James Madison
April 4. }
Daniel Brent Esq[ui]r[e] Department of State
Washington
Daniel Brent Esq[ui]r[e] Department of State
Washington
Creator
- Madison, James, 1751-1836 (Person)
- Brent, Daniel Carroll, 1770-1841 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu