PART 1: John Hancock in Cursive

                                      John Hancock in Cursive (2015) by Leni D. Anderson

The name and signature of John Hancock [1] is one of the most famous in U.S. history because they are both synonymous with the creation and enactment of one of the most important documents in the United States of America, the Declaration of Independence.[2]

What makes John Hancock’s signature unique? Is it because he was the first to sign this great document, or because of the size of his signature compared to the other signers. And, what makes the other signers individual signatures unique[3]?

What if Thomas Jefferson[4]had printed The Declaration of Independence instead of writing it in cursive? What if the members of the Continental Congress had printed their names instead of using cursive? Would that make this document less important? Lastly, does cursive writing, visually, make the Declaration of Independence special and unique?

Leni D. Anderson, M.L.I.S., B.A. ArtH., A.A.

Disappearing Artifacts: Challenges in Collecting and Preserving 21st Century Personal Correspondence

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[1] John Hancock; Biography.com: John Hancock was an 18th century U.S. merchant who was president of the Continental Congress and the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence; www.biography.com/people/john-hancock-9327271

[2] The Declaration of Independence, www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html

[3] Image of The Declaration of Independence signers signatures, www.nowtheendbegins.com/images/US/declaration-of-dependence-signers.jpg

[4] Thomas Jefferson; America’s Story from America’s Library, The Library of Congress;
www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/jefferson/aa_jefferson_declar_1.html