Item 17: A Signed Free Frank of J[ohn] Q[uincy] Adams, [ca. 1818-1848]
Item — Box: 9, Folder: 17
Dates
- Created: [ca. 1818-1848]
Creator
- Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848 (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:
Signature
Condition Note:
Good. Incomplete and vinegar smell
Measurements:
4 in. x 2 ⅜ in.
Description:
The item depicts a signed free frank of John Quincy Adams, circa 1818-1848. There appears to be a name and date but the page was torn away.
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 Quincy Adams’ positions in office that would have been granted the free frank power, beginning with his seat in the United States Secretary of State in 1817, through his presidency, and ending with his death, at which time he held the seat of Dean of the United States House of Representatives in 1848.
Transcription:
[torn away]--ts
[torn away]--8
J Q Adams Free
J Q Adams Free
Creator
- Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848 (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