Issued by
American Colonization Society, American, 1816 - 1964
Received by
Cresson, Sarah Emlen, American
Signed by
Madison, James, American, 1751 - 1836
Gurley, Ralph Randolph, American, 1797 - 1872
Cresson, Elliott, American, 1797 - 1854
Date
February 22, 1832
Medium
ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 9 x 11 3/8 in. (22.9 x 28.9 cm)
Description
A membership certificate to the American Colonization Society for Sarah Emlen Cresson signed by James Madison as the president of the society on February 22, 1832. The certificate has pre-printed text with spaces for filling in the date and member name by hand. At the center top of the certificate is a bundle of dark clouds with a half-circle of sun rays bursting from it. At the center bottom is a seal that shows a ship following a bird across the ocean to Liberia with text in the outer rim reading "LUX IN TENEBRIS / AM: COL: SOC: A.D. 1816." The seal is surrounded by various types of foliage. The certificate is signed in the bottom left corner by "R.R. Gurley, Secretary" and in the bottom right corner by "James Madison Presed't" inside the lined border of the certificate, and in the bottom left corner outside the border "Attest / Elliott Cresson / 1 mo 8. 1834". The reverse is blank.
Place made
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Place depicted
Liberia, West Africa, Africa
Place used
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Documents and Manuscripts
Movement
Colonization movement
Type
membership cards
Topic
Emancipation
Free communities of color
International affairs
Race relations
U.S. History, 1815-1861
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2010.77.9
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5639a3bfc-ccf0-401f-85b4-dd9ae5d24634

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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