| Show Adams ThIS IS io ii 1 steel cabinet that stands adjacent to the safe containing the original Declaration The steel exhibition cabinet also holds one of the facsimiles facsimiles fac fac- similes of the engrossed copy of the Declaration one Declaration one of ot those reproductions reproductions made by President Monroe In a glass case in this same treasure treasure treasure treas treas- ure house of ot historic mementoes is the small plain unpolished mahogany desk on which Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence This interesting relic came into the possession possession possession pos pos- session of the government In 1880 The desk had been given by Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Coolidge Jr upon the occasion of or the thc latter's marriage to Jeffersons Jefferson's granddaughter Miss Randolph On tho the death of Mr Coolidge Coolidge Coo- Coo lidge whose wife had died a year or two I previously the desk became the property of ot their four children and was by them presented to the nation It was the expressed wish of the donors to offer it to the tho United States that It may have a place Inthe Inthe in inthe the department of ot state with the immortal im isa- mortal instrument which was written upon It in 1776 The Thc desk bears an inscription in Jeffersons Jefferson's handwriting as follows Thomas Jefferson gives this writing desk 10 lo Joseph Coolidge Jr as a memorial of his affection It was made from a drawing of ot his own by byDen Ben Den Randall cabinet maker of Philadelphia Philadelphia Phila Phila- delphia with whom he first lodged on his arrival In that city in May 1776 and is the identical one on which he wrote the Declaration of ot ence Politics as well wen as religion has Its superstitions These gaining strength with time may one day give imaginary value to this relic for its association with the birth of the great charter of our Independence Monti Mont cello November 18 1825 |
