Records in Support of the Adoption of the Titles of Nobility Amendment

Document Links

Each entry includes a short description and a direct link to the underlying record.

• Federal • 1816

  October 20, 1816 – Confirmation of 13-State Ratification

  Federal correspondence reflecting acknowledgment that the amendment had been ratified by thirteen states.

  Open Record
• Federal • 1814

  January 12, 1814 – Announcement of Adoption

  Announcement document cited as evidence that the amendment was considered adopted at the federal level.

  Open Record
• Connecticut • Exhibit

  Forged Signature Exhibit – Theodore Dwight

  Exhibit highlighting issues raised regarding the authenticity of Theodore Dwight’s signature in the Connecticut records.

  Open Exhibit
• Federal • Senate

  Rough Journal – United States Senate

  Image of the U.S. Senate Rough Journal used in analyses concerning wording and later alterations.

  Open Record
• Connecticut • 1813

  John Cotton Smith Response Letter – April 22, 1813

  Governor John Cotton Smith correspondence relevant to the transmission of Connecticut’s actions regarding TONA.

  Open Record
• Connecticut • 1813

  John Cotton Smith Cover Letter – June 2, 1813

  Cover letter used to frame and document Connecticut’s transmission of materials to the federal government.

  Open Record
• Federal • 1817

  Letter to William H. Winder – May 5, 1817

  Federal-era correspondence cited in the documentary chain related to ratification acknowledgment and enforcement context.

  Open Record
• Federal • 1817

  Charles N. Buck Letter – December 2, 1817

  Documentary record used in the timeline of federal references to the amendment and related administrative actions.

  Open Record
• Federal • 1818

  Report to the House of Representatives – February 1818

  Report cited as part of the federal documentary record regarding the amendment and/or related classifications.

  Open Record
• Connecticut • 1813

  Contents of John Cotton Smith Letter – April 22, 1813

  Content summary/exhibit used to compare wording and track the documentary transmission chain.

  Open Exhibit
• Connecticut • Committee

  Connecticut Committee Report – Comparison

  Side-by-side comparison exhibit addressing inconsistencies in versions of the Connecticut committee report.

  Open Exhibit
• Connecticut • Committee

  Connecticut Committee Report – Resolution

  Resolution text associated with the committee report and used in the adoption/ratification analysis.

  Open Record
• Connecticut • Certification

  Connecticut Certification (August 1814) – Asserted Invalid

  Certification record (August 1814) referenced in arguments that the certification is invalid or unreliable.

  Open Record
• Connecticut • Proof

  1958 Record – Proof Committee Was in Favor of Adoption

  Later record cited to corroborate that the Connecticut committee’s posture was favorable to adoption.

  Open Page
• Federal • 1815

  Proof TONA Was Being Enforced (1815)

  Evidence page assembling material indicating the amendment was treated as enforceable law in 1815.

  Open Page
• Federal • Courts

  TONA Recognized by Federal Courts (1816)

  Material asserting recognition of TONA within federal court context, with citations and excerpts.

  Open Page
• Federal • 1818

  Circular from John Quincy Adams – January 7, 1818

  Circular attributed to John Quincy Adams, used in the federal documentary timeline for the amendment.

  Open Record
• Connecticut • Exhibit

  Isolated Exhibit – Forged Signature of Theodore Dwight

  Isolated image/exhibit focusing specifically on the questioned Dwight signature.

  Open Exhibit
• Connecticut • Committee

  Isolated Exhibit – Original Recommendation of Connecticut Committee

  Isolated exhibit showing the committee’s recommendation as maintained in the record set.

  Open Exhibit
• Connecticut • NARA

  All Three Connecticut Certifications on File at NARA

  Summary page compiling all three Connecticut certifications as maintained in the NARA holdings.

  Open Page
• Federal • Analysis

  Analysis – Rough Journal of the U.S. Senate

  Analytical page focusing on the Senate Rough Journal, including the “refuse” wording and related forensic observations.

  Open Analysis
• Connecticut • Analysis

  Analysis – April 22, 1813 Response Letter (J. C. Smith)

  Analytical page addressing the April 22, 1813 response letter and the record-language issues in dispute.

  Open Analysis
• Forensic • PDF

  Forensic Handwriting Expert Analysis – Part 1

  Expert report addressing handwriting/signature authenticity issues referenced in the Connecticut record set.

  Open PDF
• Forensic • PDF

  Forensic Handwriting Expert Analysis – Part 2

  Continuation of the expert report addressing signature/authenticity questions.

  Open PDF
• Federal • 1818

  Letter from Secretary of State – January 22, 1818

  Secretary of State correspondence dated January 22, 1818, used in the federal timeline and classification discussion.

  Open Record
• Connecticut • House Journal

  Handwritten Journal of the Connecticut House – May 28, 1813 (PDF)

  Handwritten House Journal record used to assess the original legislative entry and related signature/provenance issues.

  Open PDF
• Connecticut • Certification

  Connecticut Certification Entered August 16, 1814 – Held Invalid (Duplicate Link)

  Same record link as the earlier certification entry; retained to match the original list and avoid accidental omission.

  Open Record

Note: Two entries point to the same certification file to preserve completeness relative to the original page. If you prefer, remove the duplicate item or change the second entry to the correct distinct record URL.