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Writing History at

The National Archives

When visiting the Nation’s Capitol, a tour of the National Archives is a required visit by any graphologist or handwritingophile. The documents there are enough to whet a graphologist’s appetite. An impressive, classical Greek revival building, the National Archives is in full view of the Capitol and directly across from the Smithsonian Institute. The building, housing the Nation’s archives, has a display museum with a permanent display of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. These three documents are the focal point of the exhibits on display and they are encased in protective glass lighted by special green lighting to protect them from exposure. The cases are mounted on elevators that drop down into concrete vaults several feet thick, well below ground level. The documents are further protected by armed security agents within the National Archives building. The historic documents are drawn out on large pieces of parchment paper bearing the original signatures of the signers of the Declaration and the Constitution. An interesting point regarding the Declaration is the presence of a perfectly placed handprint on the Declaration in the lower left hand corner of the document. No one knows whose handprint it is but it is very noticeable on the original although it does not show up on copies.

The exhibits within the Archives are always changing, but some of the handwritten treasures that I noticed on current display included a letter from a ten year old Fidel Castro writing to then President Franklin Roosevelt. In the letter, the youthful Castro writes admiringly of Roosevelt letting him know how much he respects and admires the U.S. and the leadership of President Roosevelt. Towards the end of the letter, the child points out that he had never seen a U.S. $10 bill and would like the president to send him one for his "collection".

Another interesting document on display included the wedding invitation of Napoleon Bonaparte and Marie Louise of Austria on April 1, 1810 addressed to then President and First Lady James and Dolley Madison. The formal invitation bears the unmistakable signature of Napoleon in its typical egotistical scrawl.

Other documents of note included the Revolutionary War ledger of General George Washington where he meticulously kept track of all monies spent to fund the Continental Army during the war against the British. The ledger was written in the characteristically even, balanced, careful and yet beautifully flowing script of Washington’s hand.

The journals of Lewis and Clark, the Louisiana Purchase Treaty signed by James Monroe and the Treaty of Paris were also on display. The Treaty of Paris was signed by representatives of the U.S. and Britain to end the Revolutionary War. It has been noted by historians that the provisions in the treaty were extremely favorable for the U.S. as a result of the persuasive bargaining talents and tactics of the U.S. representatives who negotiated advantageous terms for the U.S. with the English. Analyzing the signatures of the U.S. representatives in comparison to the English signer, the differences in personality are readily apparent. J. Hartley, signing on behalf of the English, has an indecisive, weak signature in comparison to the firm determination and resolution of John Adams, the egocentric, flamboyant and highly extroverted salesman-type Benjamin Franklin and the keen intelligence and sharpness exhibited by John Jay. The three Americans stand in striking comparison to J. Hartley whose ego seems overshadowed by Adams and Franklin.

Lt. Colonel Robert E. Lee’s order to arrest the insurrectionist John Brown was on display as well as General Lee’s signature on a formal document declaring the Confederate Army’s surrender to the Union. Additionally, there is a handwritten telegram from Abraham Lincoln to General Grant telling him to keep up his spirits until the war ends and various letters written by the Confederate president, Jefferson Davis.

Other documents of note included Winston Churchill’s letter to Roosevelt immediately after the end of WWII where he coins the rivalry between the U.S. and Russia as the "cold war". There is the handwritten note on a small piece of scrap paper of General Eisenhower’s anticipated speech should "D" day fail. John Kennedy’s signature is present on his famous inaugural address and finally, there is the highly revealing personal diary of President Truman whose handwriting style on a personal level is more casual and laidback than his typically linear writing would suggest. In his personal diary, he cynically writes of the loneliness present within the cold and formal White House.

Last but not least, the exhibit ends with an original copy of the Magna Carta. Seventeen copies of this document exist in total. Fifteen are in England, one in Australia and one in the U.S. The particular one housed in the National Archives is written in an elaborate Latin, calligraphic script on parchment paper and is dated 1297, during the reign of Edward I.

As a graphologist, it was interesting to personally view the writing of noted individuals such as George Washington and Napoleon and see the original handwriting and signatures on the famous and little known documents that make up the history of the United States. It is like seeing a slice of American history though the eyes of the handwritten word. As one of the National Archives guides pointed out, the United States of America was created as much by the pen as it is was by the sword.

The souvenir shop in the National Archives should not be missed. The author herself purchased reproductions of several noteworthy American documents as well as a copy of all the signatures of the U.S. presidents reproduced   for the reader’s amusement and study.

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Last modified: June 04, 2000