From the day it was first written, the Declaration of Independence went through quite a journey to reach the place where it resides today. In that it constituted a death warrant for all those who signed it, the protection and preservation of it maintained a higher priority for the Continental Congress and the founding fathers of this country. Here’s a synopsis of what happened along the way.
The Original: On June 28, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was presented to the Continental Congress by Thomas Jefferson who authored the original version. It was debated for several days with some changes made. On June the second, all but two of the colonies approved the language in it. After some more debate, all but New York were on board, and the New York delegation was in favor of the act, but lacked authorization from their government to vote for it. A vote was taken anyway on July 4th, 1776, and it was adopted with New York abstaining. The manuscript went to John Dunlap’s print shop, and approximately 200 poster-sized copies, known as broadsides, were printed that same night. The distribution of the broadsides went to all thirteen colonies, General George Washington, and also European capitals. A few days later, the full text appeared in virtually all newspapers in the now former colonies, and was further recited word for word in public readings throughout. No signatures or places were included in the reproductions to shield the Continental Congress members from British reprisal.
The Signed Parchment: On July 19, the Continental Congress ordered a more formal document prepared on parchment that would include signatures of all members of the Continental Congress. Although the original had been signed by slightly more than half of the delegates on July 4th through the 6th, the parchment was also signed when it was completed on August 2, beginning with John Hancock and eventually including all fifty-six congressional delegates. There is a small but distinct difference between the original version that went to the printer and the signed parchment completed a month later. The word “Unanimous” was added to the title of the signed parchment by a vote of Congress on July 19th. This probably occurred owing to the New York delegation abstaining from the vote on July 4th. When they gained the authorization a week or so later, the Congress voted to insert the word Unanimous into the signed parchment.
Traveling Around: The signed parchment version traveled around with the Continental Congress from place to place during the Revolutionary War years, as the Congress was forced to relocate to evade capture by the British. In 1800, the signed parchment was sent by boat to the newly built capital of the country, Washington, D.C. It was housed in various different government buildings until Washington, D.C. was threatened and then burned by British troops during the War of 1812. Beforehand, the signed parchment was stuffed along with other government documents into linen bags and carried to Leesburg, Virginia by Stephen Pleasanton, the State Department clerk. Sometime later it was returned to Washington, D.C. where it again was moved around from building to building.
The Facsimile: Owing to the number of times the signed parchment had been rolled up, unrolled, packed and moved, along with the damage from exposure to light, the document became creased, ripped, and stained, with the ink fading. In 1823 a facsimile was prepared, also on parchment, and used most commonly for purposes of reproduction.
Current Resting Place: In 1876, the signed parchment was placed on display at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, for the Centennial Exposition. In 1921, custody of the signed parchment along with the Constitution and Bill of Rights went from the State Department over to the Library of Congress. After the U.S. entry into World War II on December 7, 1941, the documents were moved to the gold depository in Fort Knox, Kentucky, until 1944. In 1952, the signed parchment was transferred to the National Archives where it remains today.
Other surviving peripherals: In addition to the signed parchment, twenty-six of the broadsides printed the night of July 4, have also survived. Another broadside was authorized in 1777, when the Congress was forced to flee to Baltimore. Nine copies of this broadside, prepared by Mary Katharine Goddard, are known to still exist. The original draft submitted to Congress on June 28, 1776, did not survive, but several other “rough drafts” did, including a four-page draft that Jefferson retained.
Home sweet home: At the National Archives Museum in Washington, D.C., visitors are able to see the official signed parchment version of the Declaration of Independence, along with the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights. They are displayed in a titanium frame with bullet-proof glass, and other protections against moisture and light damage. When the museum closes at the end of each day, the documents are lowered into a fire-resistant vault below the floor. They are under constant surveillance by cameras and armed guards. When this author was a college student, he had the privilege of visiting the National Archives Museum and viewing all three documents—the most important instruments of our nation’s democracy.
Sources: History.com, How Has the Declaration of Independence Been Protected? 7/1/2022.
Wikipedia
Interesting. I’m sure they hadn’t considered that the original would need to last so long.
At first they were afraid that it would be used against them. After the war, they realized that even the parchment would fade to the extent that nobody would be able to read it. Most of what we know today about what it said came from reproductions derived from the 1823 facsimile.
you are fortunate to have visited the national archives to view these important documents . every American should see them. someday i hope to, of course.
It was a moment in my life I will never forget as long as I live.