Item 51: Cover for a letter and Signed Free Frank from James Buchanan to Chester [Pierce] Butler [removed to legal size box #1] , no date
Item — Box: 9, Folder: 51
Dates
- Created: no date
Creator
- Buchanan, James, 1791-1868. (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:
Note
Condition Note:
Good.
Measurements:
13 ¾ in. x 9 ¾ in. (backing); 13 in. x 8 ⅛ in.
Description:
The following item depicts a free frank signature by James Buchanan, the 15th president of the United States. The cover appears to have accompanied a letter addressed to Chester Butler, an American politician who served in the House of Representatives as both a member of the Anti-Masonic and Whig party, but it is not present.
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 Buchanan’s positions in office that would have been granted the free frank power, beginning with his seat in the House of Representative in 1821, through his position as Senator and Secretary of State in 1834 and 1845 and ending with the conclusion of his second presidency in 1861.
Location:
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Transcription:
Free
James Buchanan
Chester Butler Esq
Wilkesbarre
Penn
Creator
- Buchanan, James, 1791-1868. (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