Unraveling the Mystery of America’s Most Important Piece of Paper

What is the Declaration of Independence made out of?

It’s parchment, which is animal skin that’s been stretched. It is believed to be sheepskin. It is written in what’s called iron gall ink. That ink, when it dries, gives that dark brown color. The person who actually wrote out the Declaration of Independence, the scribe, was named Timothy Matlack, and he was viewed at the time as one of the best clerks because of his handwriting. He could write straight, which is why the document looks the way it does.

Does anyone officially own the Declaration of Independence?

The American people. The citizens of the United States. [“We the people,” as the first words of the U.S. Constitution read.]

America celebrates on July Fourth. Is that, in reality, the nation’s birthday?

Actually, maybe a better day would be July 2. That’s when the Lee Resolution was approved. Richard Henry Lee of Virginia authored a resolution in June of 1776 for establishing the independence of the colonies from the British. The Continental Congress debated that resolution and finally adopted it on July 2, 1776. The text of the Declaration of Independence was not approved until July 4. But independence was actually declared on July 2. [John Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration. At the time, 2.5 million people lived in the 13 colonies, compared to nearly 350 million who live in the U.S. today.]

The Declaration of Independence has aged a lot and is pretty beat up. How was it cared for early on?

It’s pretty amazing that it has survived all these years — 249 years— and it is quite damaged when you look at it. Over the years it was rolled up and put on display in different places. People didn’t know that sunlight would degrade the parchment and the ink. The National Archives building was built in the 1930s, starting in Herbert Hoover’s presidency and finished during Franklin Roosevelt’s, but there was a tussle between the Archives and the Library of Congress, where the Declaration was, at that point. Harry Truman, at the end of his presidency, said, “OK, that document is going to the National Archives.” Because that would be the best place for its preservation. It came in an armored vehicle down Pennsylvania Avenue in 1952.

How is it cared for?

That has changed over the years. In the early 2000s, a preservation team consulted with the National Institute of Standards and Technology to figure out the best conditions. They built the case out of titanium and aluminum. It’s gold-plated so that it would fit the decor of the Rotunda where it is situated. The real kicker is that there is no oxygen in the case. The Declaration, besides being in a bulletproof case, also has its own case that is underneath the bulletproof glass. That case only contains inert gas, argon, so that there are no chemical reactions taking place and no degradation. I have been told that this case should last about a hundred years.

What about security? Could someone steal the Declaration of Independence?

A lot of people ask that question because everyone has watched the movie National Treasure [a 2004 action-adventure heist movie in which the Declaration is stolen]. When I was at the National Archives, we had free showings of that movie for kids and families. It was a great way to talk to people about history and the National Archives. But no, the security is not like what you see in the movie. It is much more complex. I’m not allowed to talk about how the Declaration is protected, but I can tell you that you can’t steal it.

What does the Declaration of Independence mean to you?

I view the Declaration as a promise. The Declaration of Independence is the most important document that we have because it is our creed as Americans. It’s what we believe in. The United States Constitution, which is also under the care and supervision of the National Archives, outlines the structure of our government, and how we execute governing. But the Declaration of Independence is an outline of the beliefs we share as Americans.

When Thomas Jefferson drafted and wrote it, he declared that “all men are created equal.” We know that when Jefferson wrote that, all men were not equal [slavery was practiced, and Jefferson himself owned slaves], certainly not in the colonies. But it is a promise. Which means that the United States needs to continue to evolve and try to work to fulfill that promise. To me, the Declaration is a living document, not just parchment. I understand why people want to see it physically, but for me, the most important part about it is the principles contained within it, and that the United States always needs to be in pursuit to fulfill them.