Item 9b: A Signed Free Frank of James Madison and [James] Breckenridge, [ca. 1789-1817]
Item — Box: 9, Folder: 9b
Dates
- Created: [ca. 1789-1817]
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:
Autographs.
Condition Note:
Poor. Parts torn off. Vinegar smell
Measurements:
5 in. x 4 ⅜ in.
Title:
N/A
Description:
The item depicts a signed free frank of James Madison, the 4th president of the United States, to James Breckenridge, a Virginia politician and lawyer.
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.
The date for this was estimated by Madison’s positions in office that would have been granted the free frank power, beginning with his seat in the House of Representative in 1789 and ending with the conclusion of his second presidency in 1817.
Transcription:
Free James Madison
James Breckenridge
James Breckenridge
Creator
- Madison, James, 1751-1836 (Person)
- Breckinridge, James, 1763-1833 (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