The President's Day holiday that we know today started out as a holiday for George Washington's birthday in 1879. In 1971, the holiday began to be known as President's Day rather than Washington's birthday, first to include Abraham Lincoln and eventually to honor all U.S. Presidents.
Take a look at these documents from the Americana Collection that have special ties to some of our Presidents.
George Washington
This remarkable letter was donated to NSDAR in 1961 by the Mary Washington Colonial Chapter in New York City. The letter, written by General George Washington to General Jedidiah Huntington, discusses the latter’s retirement from the army. It reads, in part: “Permit me, my dear Sir, to take this opportunity of expressing to you my obligations for the support and assistance I have, in the course of the war, received from your abilities and attachment to me.”
(Americana Collection, acc. 3361)
John Adams
This ship’s pass, issued in French, Spanish, English, and Dutch for the schooner, Hornet, of Baltimore bound for the Caribbean island Hispaniola and dated May 17, 1797, bears the signature of President John Adams.
(Americana Collection, acc. 1600x-02)
Thomas Jefferson
In this letter, dated October 31, 1801, and sent from President Thomas Jefferson in Washington, DC, to Gideon Granger, Esq. in Suffield, Connecticut, Jefferson encourages Granger to accept the post of postmaster general in his administration. Granger was initially hesitant to accept but Jefferson’s will prevailed. Granger still holds the record for our longest-serving postmaster general.
(Americana Collection, acc. 1050)
James Madison
This ship’s pass authorized the “Brig Olivia of Charleston” to sail “without any hinderance seizure or molestation” during the mounting tensions between the Americans and the British approximately three months before the Americans formally declared war on Great Britain. The document is signed by President James Madison and dated March 10, 1812.
(Americana Collection, acc. 1600x-04)
Martin Van Buren
This treaty between the United States and the Chicksaw Indians for approximately 1,300 acres of land in Mississippi was signed by President Martin Van Buren on October 6, 1840.
(Americana Collection, acc. 3082)
Millard Fillmore
This letter dated October 30, 1852, was written by President Millard Fillmore to Secretary of the Treasury Thomas Corwin. It reads: “My Dear Sir. Please send up the recommendations with a brief for the appointment of the additional steamboat inspection for steamboats for New York City and Philadelphia. Respectfully Yours. Millard Fillmore.”
(Americana Collection, acc. 1600x-13)
Abraham Lincoln
This autograph book containing a beautiful presentation of the signatures of President Abraham Lincoln and his cabinet was acquired by DAR in 1959. The autographs shown here are undated; however, we believe they may date from either late 1864 or early 1865 based on autographs and dated pages appearing later in the volume.
(Americana Collection, acc. 3213)
Theodore Roosevelt
This thank you note from future president Theodore Roosevelt to a C.O. Johnson, Esq. in New York reads: “My dear Sir—I am greatly touched and pleased by your letter and I thank you heartily for it. Faithfully yours, T. Roosevelt.” The letter is dated October 1, 1898, from the Republican State Committee at the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York.
(Americana Collection, acc. 1600x-25)
Franklin D. Roosevelt
This letter dated October 8, 1940, to President General Sarah Corbin Robert is in reply to an invitation to President Franklin D. Roosevelt to an event celebrating the DAR’s golden jubilee. Roosevelt shows what seems to be genuine interest in DAR’s mission and encourages DAR members to continue their work with “unabated zeal.”
(Americana Collection, acc. 4018)
