Discovering our National Treasure

What’s REALLY written

on the back

of the Declaration of Independence?

The original engrossed parchment
Declaration of Independence
as it appears
in the National Archive

There IS a message there.

Really.

No fooling.

Sure, the movie National Treasure suggests that certain of the Founding Fathers concealed information very clandestine and powerful on the back of the Declaration of Independence.

But I regret to inform you that (to the best of my knowledge), there’s nothing quite so dramatic as presented in the plotline of the popular National Treasure movie hidden there.

Still, it is true that –

An important message IS written in a mysterious way on its back.

See for yourself...

The seldom-seen REVERSE of
the original engossed parchment
Declaration of Independence

The writing you see at the top of this image of the back of the Declaration of Independence reads:

"Original Declaration of Independence
dated 4th July 1776"

-- and, in fact, it actually appears on the bottom of the document, upside down.

While no one knows for certain who wrote it, it is known that early in its life the large parchment document (it measures 29¾ inches by 24½ inches) was rolled up for storage.

So, it is likely that the notation was added –

Simply as a label. After the signing ceremony on August 2, 1776, the Declaration was most likely filed in Philadelphia in the office of Charles Thomson, who served as the Secretary of the Continental Congress from 1774 to 1789. The document probably accompanied the Continental Congress as the body traveled during the uncertain months and years of the Revolution.

“But, but …” you say -- “I see MORE writing!”

Yes, you do. In the view above, below the “label” you can discern some very cryptic “writing.”

Sorry, treasure hunters. The writing that appears at the bottom in this view is actually ink from the top of the front side that has seeped through the parchment to the back of the document.

Cool anyway, don’t you think?

CATALYST COLLECTION ACTION IDEA: I’m planning to use this fascinating factoid as a conversational gambit in the days ahead. (If you’ve invited me to your long holiday weekend picnic, you’ve been forewarned.) It’s a great starting point for conversations about what we know … what we think we know … the power of life-long learning … how to operate in an info-loaded, digitally linked world …

And more. Of course what’s equally important to explore are the ideas and ideals represented by the words written on the front of this National Treasure.

But I’m going to save our discussion of some of that for “Thank Goodness It’s Monday” on July 4.

Meet you here then.

Geoff Steck
Chief Catalyst
Alexander Publishing & Marketing

8 Depot Square
Englewood, NJ 07631
201-569-5373
tgimguy@gmail.com   

P.S. Still crave some National Treasure symbolism? It wasn’t until December 15, 1952, that our nation’s great documents were formally enshrined in the National Archives in Washington DC. Then, President Harry S Truman, the featured speaker said:

“The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are now assembled in one place for display and safekeeping. . . . We are engaged here today in a symbolic act. We are enshrining these documents for future ages. . . . This magnificent hall has been constructed to exhibit them, and the vault beneath, that we have built to protect them, is as safe from destruction as anything that the wit of modern man can devise. All this is an honorable effort, based upon reverence for the great past, and our generation can take just pride in it.”

Of course Truman was a York and Scottish Rite Mason …