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.
Authors
American Colonization Society, American, 1816 - 1964, Sarah Emlen Cresson, American, James Madison, American, 1751 - 1836, Ralph Randolph Gurley, American, 1797 - 1872, Elliott Cresson, American, 1797 - 1854
- Collection
- National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection Documents and Published Materials Slavery and Freedom Objects Colonization movement Slavery and Freedom NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 3, C3 053
- Dates
- February 22, 1832
- Format
- Ink on paper
- Pages
- H x W: 9 x 11 3/8 in. (22.9 x 28.9 cm)
- Place Discussed
- United States of America Liberia
- Provider
- Smithsonian Institution
- Published in
- Liberia
- Rights
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Source
- Digital Public Library of America https://dp.la/item/072125d3455425fd3cbeba70d9d6df4c
