President Harrison’s reading copy of his Inaugural Address, acquired from Harrison’s descendants, to be on exhibit through the end of August
Nathan Raab to speak at the Presidential site June 17th
The Raab Collection announced today that it has offered the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site in Indianapolis the temporary loan of President Harrison’s signed reading copy of his inaugural address, the very copy he held as he delivered his famous speech in 1889. The Presidential site has put the reading copy on public display in its “Treasures of the Harrison Collection” exhibition now through the end of the summer.
This special exhibit, which is part of the Presidential site’s guided tour, showcases some of the most extraordinary and unexpected artifacts from the home of an American President. Raab’s reading copy of the address will be shown alongside an annotated draft of the inauguration speech in the collection of the 23rd president’s national historic landmark home. Other historical documents signed by Harrison, as well as First Lady Caroline Harrison’s painted and gilded china, a sterling silver statue made from 25,000 silver dimes, and other political memorabilia will also be on view.
The Raab Collection discovered and acquired the reading copy from a direct descendant of President Harrison. It numbers 37 single-sided pages on watermarked paper and bears the president’s signature and handwritten notation: “This is the MSS [manuscript] used by me in delivering the address March 4, 1889.”
Nathan Raab, president of The Raab Collection and author of The Hunt for History, said he has never seen another delivered manuscript–a reading copy–of a presidential inaugural address reach the market. Its uniqueness is one of the reasons he believes that public display is important.
Nathan Raab at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
Raab will talk about historical discoveries, including the Harrison gold medal, which he sold in 2015, during a June 17th program at the Presidential Site titled “The Hunt for Presidential History.” This event begins with a 5:30 reception, followed by Raab’s presentation. He will also discuss the broad landscape of presidential autograph collecting and the relationships between private collectors, dealers, and institutions in preserving history. Reserve tickets here.
Both versions of Harrison’s inaugural address will be on display during the event, and a book signing will follow. Copies of The Hunt for History will be available to purchase, with a portion of the proceeds supporting the Presidential site.
To learn more about the reading copy, listen to the Inspired by History podcast, episode 8: “The President’s Speech: Rare Copy of an Inaugural Address Rediscovered.”
