Composed in 1809 by Thomas Jefferson, Washington, DC; Received in 1809 by the Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, New London, Connecticut. Acquired before 1975 by Elsie (1906–1997) and Philip (1902–1975) Sang, Chicago, Illinois; Sold at auction in 1979.[1] Acquired by 2000 by an anonymous collector, United States;[2] Purchased at auction in 2000 by Kenneth W. Rendell Gallery, Natick, Massachusetts;[3] Privately purchased in 2012 by The Acts of Mercy Foundation, Rancho Santa Margarita, California;[4] Privately purchased in 2013 by Green Collection, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Donated in 2015 to National Christian Foundation (later The Signatry), under the curatorial care of Museum of the Bible, Washington, DC.
Notes: [1] Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, Highly Important American Historical Documents Autograph Letters & Manuscripts, The Property of The Elsie O. & Philip D. Sang Foundation, June 20, 1979. [2] Christie’s New York, Printed Books and Manuscripts including Americana, May 19, 2000, Lot 70. In response to the museum’s inquiries, Christie’s could provide no further information about the letter’s owner. [3] Email from Kenneth W. Rendell Gallery to the museum, February 5, 2019. [4] Email from Acts of Mercy to the museum, January 7, 2019.