“E Pluribus Unum” (Out of Many, One): Charles Thomson’s Secret Journal of the Confederation Congress

“The Devise for an Armorial Achievement and reverse of a great Seal for the United States.... The Escutcheon on the breast of the American bald Eagle displayed...and in his beak a scroll inscribed with this motto ‘E pluribus unum.’”

245 years later, the creation of an American nation and people, “out of many, one,” can be described as one of the unique triumphs of our history, despite the fact that it has never been complete or fair to all.  

This remarkable handwritten journal includes a description of the Great Seal of the United States; Thomson is now credited with being the final designer, after attempts by three congressional committees.

There is also a crucial diplomatic report by Edmund Randolph entitled Facts and Observations in support of the several claims of the United States not included in their Ultimatum of the 15 of June, 1781; the text of the Preliminary Articles of Peace between the United States of America and Great Britain, signed on November 30, 1782; summaries of the treaties between Great Britain and France and Great Britain and Spain, signed on January 20, 1783; and correspondence in French between British negotiator Alleyne Fitz Herbert and American Peace Commissioners John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, also of January 20, 1783.

Randolph’s report comprises two thirds of the text in this journal and was not made public until 1820-1821, when the “Secret Journals” of Congress were first published under the direction of President James Monroe in conformity with resolutions of Congress.

★ Autograph Manuscript, Journal as Secretary of Confederation Congress, 1782-1783. 104 pp. #26592