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Item 43: A Signed Free Frank of Millard Fillmore, [ca. 1837-1853].

 Item — Box: 9, Folder: 43

Dates

  • Created: [ca. 1837-1853].

Creator

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:

Good. Browning of paper present.

Measurements:

5 ½ in. x 2 ½ in.

Description:

The following item depicts a free frank signature of Millard Fillmore, the 13th president of the United States to an unknown recipient. 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 the item has been estimated by Fillmore’s time in government that would have allowed him the ability to sign such a signature, starting in 1837 with a seat in the House of Representatives and ending with the conclusion of his presidency in 1853.

Transcription:

Free {Signature of Millard Fillmore}

Repository Details

Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository

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