Museum: Civil War surrender document no photocopy

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/08/02/museum_civil_war_surrender_document_no_photocopy/?p1=Well_MostPop_Emailed3


A document spelling out the terms of surrender, signed by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, on April 10th 1865, a day after his surrender to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, is displayed at the Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum in Philadelphia, Monday, July 28, 2008. (AP Photo/Justin Maxon)

By Dan Robrish
Associated Press Writer / August 2, 2008

PHILADELPHIA—Officials at a small Civil War museum made an intriguing discovery while sifting through storage: A document long treated as a photo reproduction of the terms of Gen. Robert E. Lee's surrender appears, upon closer inspection, to contain actual signatures and date to 1865.

Museum officials believe they have one of the three original documents signed by representatives of the Union and Confederacy in Appomattox Court House, Va., on April 10, 1865, a day after Lee's surrender.

The National Park Service historian at Appomattox said it's more likely a souvenir copy signed by the same men at that time -- still a significant discovery, he said, even if it's not an official copy.

The Civil War & Underground Railroad Museum of Philadelphia has held the document since the early 20th century. It was pulled out of storage and re-evaluated as officials prepared for the museum's shutdown Saturday ahead of its move to a new building.

Curator Andrew Coldren said he is certain that museum officials knew what they had when the document was donated but its significance was forgotten over time because of a lack of record keeping.

In a 1967 inventory, someone wrote "Copy??" in reference to the document.

FULL story at link.

That's really cool!