Raab sold Privateer’s Instructions from the War of 1812, acquired from the Crowninshield heirs, signed by James Monroe, to his namesake museum
In collaboration, we are excited to share the news of a notable acquisition. The James Monroe Museum in Fredericksburg, Virginia, has purchased from Raab Privateer’s Instructions from the War of 1812 issued to Captain Benjamin Crowninshield of the prominent merchant and shipbuilding family in Salem, Massachusetts.
The Instructions, and the accompanying copy of the Act Authorizing Privateers, were addressed to Crowninshield in 1812 as “commander of the private armed Ship called the Alexander” and signed by James Monroe as Secretary of State. Crowninshield would later serve Presidents Madison and Monroe as Secretary of the Navy.
Scott H. Harris, Executive Director of the University of Mary Washington Museums, which includes the James Monroe Museum, confirmed that this document would become part of the museum’s permanent collection. He said that while the museum does not typically pursue privateer commissions signed by Monroe, this one is distinctive because Crowninshield later served in Monroe’s Cabinet. “With respect to our mission, it works on several levels,” Harris said.
The document had been kept by the Crowninshield descendants for generations, unseen by anyone outside of the family, until Raab discovered, acquired, and offered it for sale earlier this year. Now it will become part of a museum collection where historians can access it.
To learn more about the discovery of the Crowninshield Family papers, read here, or listen to an interview with Nathan Raab on the Inspired by History podcast.
Selling Historical Documents to Museums
Raab has worked to place historical documents and manuscripts with many institutions, including the Library of Congress and Mount Vernon.
Click here to learn more about recent sales to museums and libraries, shared only with the permission of those buyers.
