Smithsonian—Emancipation Proclamation, 1863

Signed by President Abraham Lincoln in January 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation declared “that all persons held as slaves” within the rebellious states “are, and henceforward shall be free.” David has two copies of the proclamation, which is one of 48 “souvenier” copies signed by Lincoln, only about half of those have survived.

David has loaned one of the copies to The National Museum of African American History and Culture. The other will be loaned to the National Archives.

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture
Rubenstein Buys a Copy of the Emancipation Proclamation
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