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The Acts of Congress

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George Washington's copy of "Acts Passed at a Congress of the United States of America" contains key founding documents establishing the Union—and the president's personal annotations.

Washington's Personal Copy of the Acts of Congress

President of Mount Vernon Doug Bradburn discusses the significance of Washington's personal copy of the Acts of Congress.

A Historic Homecoming

George Washington's The Acts of Congress, Purchase made possible through lead donations by an anonymous benefactor, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Borthwick, the A. Alfred Taubman Fund, Mr. Terry J. Kohler, and the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, 2012

George Washington's The Acts of Congress, Purchase made possible through lead donations by an anonymous benefactor, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Borthwick, the A. Alfred Taubman Fund, Mr. Terry J. Kohler, and the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, 2012

On June 22, 2012, the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association emerged triumphant from an auction at Christie’s in New York, securing a priceless treasure: George Washington’s personal copy of the Acts of Congress.

This rare volume includes Washington’s copy of the Constitution, the original 12 proposed amendments to the Constitution (out of which 10 were ratified as the Bill of Rights in 1791), and other legislation passed by the first session of Congress, complete with his personal annotations.

He brought the book home to Mount Vernon after retiring from the presidency in March 1797. Since leaving the hands of the Washington family in 1876, it has been treasured and preserved by several noted private collectors.

The book now resides within The Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington, which opened its doors in the Fall of 2013.

Property of the President

Washington bookplate inside the cover of George Washington's copy of The Acts of Congress, Purchase made possible through lead donations by an anonymous benefactor, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Borthwick, the A. Alfred Taubman Fund, Mr. Terry J. Kohler, and the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, 2012

Washington bookplate inside the cover of George Washington's copy of The Acts of Congress, Purchase made possible through lead donations by an anonymous benefactor, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Borthwick, the A. Alfred Taubman Fund, Mr. Terry J. Kohler, and the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, 2012

His custom-bound copy of the Acts is embossed in gilt letters reading “President of the United States.” Washington’s bold signature appears on the right corner of the title page. He also pasted his engraved armorial bookplate to the inside front cover. The bookplate features the Washington family coat of arms and the motto “exitus acta probat,” which translates to “the result is the test of the actions.”

Washington's Notes

Washington's notations highlighting powers of the presidency in George Washington's copy of The Acts of Congress, Purchase made possible through lead donations by an anonymous benefactor, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Borthwick, the A. Alfred Taubman Fund, Mr. Terry J. Kohler, and the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, 2012

Washington's notations highlighting powers of the presidency in George Washington's copy of The Acts of Congress, Purchase made possible through lead donations by an anonymous benefactor, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Borthwick, the A. Alfred Taubman Fund, Mr. Terry J. Kohler, and the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, 2012

The most significant features of this book are Washington’s personal notes, penciled in the margins. Washington only rarely inserted notes or markings in his books, choosing instead to make notes on separate sheets of loose-leaf paper. All of his notes in this volume appear alongside the text of the Constitution, where he drew neat brackets to highlight passages of particular interest. In Article Two, spelling out the powers and duties of the president, he added the words “President,” “Powers,” and “Required.” He also marked passages in Article One concerning the president’s power to veto Congressional legislation — a critical element of the Constitution’s system of checks and balances on governmental power.

"...the constitution is the guide, that I will never abandon."

George Washington to The Boston Selectmen, July 28, 1795

The Acts of Congress

See images of George Washington's own copy of The Acts of Congress

The Acts of Congress

The Acts of Congress
The Acts of Congress

The Acts of Congress
Washington's book plate graces the inside of the book

Washington's book plate graces the inside of the book
The Opening Page of Washington's Copy of the Acts of Congress

The Opening Page of Washington's Copy of the Acts of Congress
Washington's Signature

Washington's Signature
Presidential Powers

Presidential Powers
Spine of the Acts of Congress

Spine of the Acts of Congress

The Acts of Congress

1789
2012
Washington acquires his copy of the Acts
The Acts of Congress Arrives at Mount Vernon
Inherited by Bushrod Washington
Remains in Washington Family Hands
Sold at Auction
Sold at Auction to the Hearst Family
Sold to Dietrich American Foundation
Acquired by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association

September 29, 1789

Washington acquires his copy of the Acts

Washington acquires his copy of the Acts

Printed by Francis Childs and John Swaine.  The Acts of Congress was acquired by Washington after the end of the Congressional session on September 29, 1789.

The Acts of Congress Arrives at Mount Vernon

The Acts of Congress Arrives at Mount Vernon

After his retirement from the Presidency in March, Washington returns to Mount Vernon with his copy of the Acts of Congress.

Inherited by Bushrod Washington

Inherited by Bushrod Washington

After Washington's death on December 14, 1799, the Acts of Congress was listed among his inventory of property. The book, along with Mount Vernon itself, was willed to nephew Bushrod Washington after Martha Washington's death in 1802

Remains in Washington Family Hands

Remains in Washington Family Hands

The Acts of Congress remained in Washington family hands after the sale of the Estate to the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association.

Sold at Auction

Sold at Auction

Washington's copy of the Acts of Congress was sold to Philadephia lawyer and historian, Charles Henry Hart.

Sold at Auction to the Hearst Family

Sold at Auction to the Hearst Family

The Acts were sold again at auction.  Owned by California philanthropist Phoebe Apperson Hearst and then her son, newspaper mogul, William Randolph Hearst.

Sold to Dietrich American Foundation

Sold to Dietrich American Foundation

Sold at auction by the Heritage Foundation of Deerfield, Massachusetts, to H. Richard Dietrich, Jr. for the Dietrich American Foundation.

Acquired by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association

Acquired by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association

Washington's copy of the Acts of Congress was acquired by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association on June 22 for The Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington for a record $9.8 million.  Today the volume is one of the Library's prized objects.

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