thomas jefferson travel desk

Thomas Jefferson Lap Desk

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Thomas Jefferson's Desk

Declaration of Independence Desk, 1776

This week’s Smithsonian Snapshot celebrates the July 4, 1776, U. S. independence from Great Britain.

In 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence on this portable desk. It features a hinged writing board and a locking drawer for papers, pens and inkwell. 

On July 4, 1776, Congress amended and adopted the declaration. Its words not only established the guiding principles for the new nation, they have served to inspire future generations in America and around the world.

This desk continued to be Jefferson's companion throughout his life as a revolutionary patriot, American diplomat and president of the United States. While the drafts of the Declaration of Independence were among the first documents Jefferson wrote on this desk, the note he attached under the writing board in 1825 was among the last: "Politics as well as Religion has its superstitions. These, gaining strength with time, may, one day, give imaginary value to this relic, for its great association with the birth of the Great Charter of our Independence."

On Nov. 14, 1825, Jefferson wrote to his recently married granddaughter Ellen Randolph Coolidge to inform her that he was sending his "writing box" as a present to her husband Joseph Coolidge. The desk remained in the Coolidge family until April 1880, when the family donated it to the U.S. government. It was transferred to the Smithsonian in 1921.

To learn more about American history, visit the National Museum of American History’s “ American Stories ” exhibition website.

This item is one of 137 million artifacts, works of art and specimens in the Smithsonian’s collection. It is currently on display in the National Museum of African American History and Culture Gallery in the National Museum of American History. To learn more about this item, visit the National Museum of American History website .

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Monticello Lap Desk

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In 1776, Thomas Jefferson commissioned Benjamin Randolph, a Philadelphia cabinetmaker, to build a compact lap desk to serve as a portable office. This small mahogany box, now prominently displayed at Monticello, Jefferson’s hilltop home near Charlottesville, Virginia, has become one of the most famous wooden artifacts in American history. Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence on it—or so the legend goes.

It’s an odd piece and unique among portable desks. The box is open at one end to hold a small drawer for writing paper, pens and supplies. Attached to the top of the box is a pair of hinged panels that could be set up at an angle to support a book or, when fully opened, to provide a generous writing surface. It’s also a piece with significant technical flaws—more about that later—and has been widely reproduced.

Does a portable writing desk have any practical purpose today? Probably not, but for a life-long woodworker and history buff like myself, this is an irresistible project.

Redesigning the desk

I’m sure the original desk was built to fulfill a hasty and urgent request, so the flaws are understandable. The most significant problem is that the grain of the side panels runs counter to that of the top and bottom; a condition which would cause the box to come apart or crack with changes in humidity. (Humidity levels change more drastically from summer to winter in our tight, centrally-heated houses than in the draftier homes of Jefferson’s day.) Another problem is the 5/16” thin writing panels, which are prone to warping.

Some modern builders have addressed the wood-movement problem by veneering the carcase, essentially turning its parts into plywood. While this method preserves the original appearance of the desk, veneering is a long, drawn-out process that I think is unnecessary.

Solid wood will work fine. The grain of the top, sides and bottom just has to run in the same direction, so all of these parts move in unison. There is an unusual twist in my reproduction, though: the grain runs from side to side, rather than front to back. If the grain ran the long way, the drawer opening would get smaller when the wood contracts in winter. At the very least, the drawer would stick; at the worst, the case would crack as it tried to shrink around the drawer. Running the grain the short way avoids these problems.

To further accommodate wood movement, I’ve treated the back of the desk as a floating panel. It’s outlined with stringing to look like a false drawer front and has a small reveal all the way around it, similar to the small gaps around a drawer.

To keep the writing panels rigid and flat, I increased their thickness by 1/16″ and added breadboard ends.

The diminutive scale of this desk certainly makes it a challenge to build—it’s crammed with small, difficult and precise details. I’ve played with the desk’s design, however, to make these details more manageable for an intermediate woodworker. As an instructor at the Philadelphia Furniture Workshops, I’ve been teaching students how to build my version of Jefferson’s desk. So far, each one has achieved success. You can, too.

Fig. 01. Exploded View

Build the carcase

Milling the thin wood for the desk requires great care to avoid warping. Follow this three-stage process: First, rough cut the pieces oversize. Second, resaw the pieces at least 1/8″ extra-thick. Third, joint the face sides and plane to final thickness. At each stage, allow the material to “rest” a couple of days before proceeding. As a final precaution, prepare about 25% extra material.

Fig. 02. Top Details

Fig. 03. End View of Side

Fig. 04. Writing Panel Details

Fig. 05. Back Panel Details

Start by building the carcase. It only has five parts: the top and bottom (A1), two sides (A2) and a back panel (A3). Note carefully how the grain runs on these pieces (Fig. A) and make sure they’re flat before proceeding.

On the tablesaw, using a dado head , cut rabbets along the ends of the side panels to accept the top and bottom (Fig. 02). Into the underside of the cabinet top, along the front edge, cut a continuous groove to receive the drawer lock bolt (Fig. 03). You’ll need to purchase the drawer lock before cutting this groove. The groove should be just a little bit wider than the bolt and positioned directly above where the bolt will go.

Photo 1. Start by building the desk’s carcase. Note that the grain runs the short way—from side to side. Cut grooves in the top and bottom pieces of the carcase.

Cut a 1/4” groove for the drawer stops along the front edge of the bottom piece ( Photo 1 ). Make filler pieces (A6) and drawer stops (A7) to fit the groove. Cut the drawer stops to length, then glue in the filler pieces, leaving room between them for the drawer stops ( Photo 2 ). Plane the filler pieces flush. Use a similar procedure for filling in the groove for the drawer lock. Note that you’ll have to figure out the exact position of the lock, side to side, before proceeding. Make the bolt’s “mortise” at least 1/8″ extra-long for insurance.

Photo 2. Glue filler pieces into one groove. The spaces between the fillers create small mortises, which will receive the drawer stops later on.

Cut a 1/8” groove along the rear edges of both sides, top and bottom to receive the back panel (Fig. 03). Rabbet the back panel to fit these grooves. In addition to the tongue, the width of the rabbet must include room for 1/16” thick satinwood stringing (A4) and a 1/16” reveal (Fig. 04).

Photo 3. Pare miters on the pieces of wood that will outline the case’s back panel. The best way to avoid tearout is to use a guide block angled at 135°, not 45°.

Miter the stringing to fit the back panel ( Photo 3 ). Plane the stringing flush with the outside face of the back panel, then make sure the panel fits inside the assembled case ( Photo 4 ). It should be able to move about 1/16″ up and down, to allow for expansion.

Photo 4. Fit the rear panel into grooves in the top, bottom and sides of the carcase. This piece has a reveal all the way around it, so it looks like a drawer front.

Make a temporary “drawer front” that perfectly fits the drawer opening ( Photo 5 ). Use this piece to ensure that the carcase is square when you glue it together. After the glue is dry, plane and scrape the joints flush.

Photo 5. Glue the carcase together. To help keep the assembly square, place a tight-fitting piece of wood in the opening where the drawer will go.

Make the easel

The easel consists of two legs (C5) and a rail (C4) forming an “H”. The pieces are connected with half-lap joints ( Photo 6 ). The original desk’s easel was made with 1/8″ stock, but I increased its thickness to 3/16″ to make it stronger and easier to build. Cut each half of the joint a little shy, then plane the corresponding piece to fit. Taper both ends of each leg, then up the easel.

Photo 6. Make the easel. When placed in the V-grooves in the top of the carcase, the easel’s legs will support the writing panels at four different angles.

The easel will be hinged to the underside of the lower writing panel (C1). When opened, its feet are set into narrow, angled mortises in the top of the carcase, thus supporting both writing panels at an angle.

Photo 7. Saw a series of V-grooves across a thin block. These grooves will support the easel when the desk’s writing surfaces are tilted up. Rip the block in half.

Rather than tediously chop each mortise—and run the risk of ruining the top by making a mistake—it’s best to adopt a different strategy, using inlaid “easel support” pieces (A5). Make both pieces from one blank. Saw the blank ( Photo 7 and Fig. 05), then rout shallow rectangles in the carcase top to receive the supports. Cut the blank into two pieces that fit the recesses ( Photo 8 ), then glue the supports in place and plane and scrape them flush. Note that the orientation of the support’s grain is the same as the carcase’s top.

Photo 8. Fit and glue the blocks into two recesses in the top of the carcase. Sawing the grooves in these loose pieces is less risky than chopping directly into the carcase.

Build the writing panels

Make sure the stock for the writing panels and breadboard ends (C2) is perfectly flat before proceeding. Saw an 1/8” wide groove down the edge of the breadboards (Fig. 08), then mill corresponding tongues on the ends of the panels. Leave the tongues a bit fat, then plane them down for a perfect fit ( Photo 9 ). Glue the breadboards onto the panels. Leave 2-1/2” at the ends unglued in order to allow the panels to move with changes in humidity. Plane the breadboards level with the panels.

Photo 9. Make the writing panels, which have breadboard ends. Saw tongues on the ends of the panels, then plane the tongues to fit the breadboards’ grooves.

Rout or plane a thumbnail profile on three sides of each panel (Fig. 08). The side that will receive the hinges should be left square. A thumbnail shape softens the overhanging edges of the writing panels and lessens unsightly wear.

Photo 10. Rout a recess into the underside of the lower writing panel to receive the easel. Recessing the easel allows the writing panels to sit flat on the carcase.

The easel must be recessed into the underside of the lower writing panel so both panels can sit flat on the carcase. Trace an outline of the easel on the lower panel allowing a 1/16” margin all around (Fig. 08). Using a trim router with a 1/4” straight bit, excavate the panel within 1/16″ of the outline ( Photo 10 ). Straighten the edges of the recess with a chisel. Attach the easel with two hinges.

Add the baize

Photo 11. Recess both of the panels to receive pieces of felt. The recess is very shallow—it will enable the felt to be flush with the breadboards.

Using the trim router again, excavate the panels for the baize writing surface ( Photo 11 ). Of course, you’ll need to buy the baize first (see Sources). Measure its thickness in order to figure out how deep the recess should be. Note that the baize doesn’t run the full width and length of the writing panels—when the panels are open, the baize is bordered by the breadboards and an uncut section of the writing panels. Draw a border on both writing panels, making sure you’ve identified the correct sides!

Beginning on the side where the hinges will eventually go, take small, light cuts, traveling lengthwise. Stop shy of the breadboards and the writing-panel borders. Clean up the edges of the recesses with a chisel and small shoulder plane.

Photo 12. Rout mortises for the hinges that will connect the writing panels. Install the hinges in both panels, joining the panels together.

To join the panels on the original desk, Randolph used small butt hinges and staggered their placement because the panels were so thin. But by doing so, one set of hinges intruded onto the writing surface. Instead of small butt hinges to connect the panels, I substituted slender strap hinges. These are placed entirely on the breadboard ends and offset from each other for maximum strength. Use a router with a fence to create the hinge mortises, then install the hinges that join the two panels ( Photo 12 ). Use a block plane and scraper to level the panels where they meet ( Photo 13 ).

Photo 13. Plane the surfaces of the writing panels so they’re even with each other. When the panels are opened, you’ll want them to form a continuous, smooth surface.

To apply the baize, mask the borders with painter’s tape and spray a coat of 3M Super 77 adhesive onto the recessed areas. While waiting for the glue to set, cut a slightly oversized piece of baize, spray a light coat of adhesive onto its back and set it aside. After a few minutes, replace the painter’s tape (sullied by adhesive overspray) with a fresh layer.

Photo 14. Glue oversize pieces of felt into both recesses, then trim the felt to fit before the glue dries. Edging tape protects the wood.

Carefully drape the baize over the panels, gently press the fabric into place and smooth out any wrinkles. Lightly push the material into each corner. Carefully trim the baize in place with a sharp X-Acto knife ( Photo 14 ). With the baize only lightly glued down, you should be able to press it tightly against the frame to close up any small gaps. When everything looks good, slide a flat block over the baize, pressing down with some force to ensure a good, strong bond.

Making the Drawer

Now I had come to a tricky point in the build that had to be performed carefully. This was a small desk, so the drawer parts and joinery were scaled to the (size of the) piece. That meant working with extremely thin material and precisely executing tiny joints.

Photo 15. Make the drawer. Start by laying out the dovetails using a metal template.

Typically when beginning any new project, I perform 2 practice joints using the same wood(s), milled to the same thickness, and cut to the same size as the final project. This provides an opportunity to carefully select my tools, become familiar with the joinery, figure out the sequence of operations, and get used to the material; see how one wood yields to the other. The time spent practicing my tiny dovetails definitely paid off (Photo 15) .

I milled the drawer front to 11/16”, the sides to 3/16” and the drawer back to 3/8” (I’ll explain later), then cut the drawer sides and front to final dimension; making a special effort to cut the drawer front to a very tight fit.

The Drawer Dovetails

The drawer is joined with half-blind dovetails at the front and through dovetails at the back, which is typical of a well-made period drawer. The half-blind dovetails are the one that will show. They’re the one subject to the closest scrutiny. So, take your time, do a nice job.

Photo 16. Cut out the waste pieces between the tails using a jeweler’s saw. These openings are very small!

To better accommodate the drawer lock, I thickened the drawer front to 11/16” (almost double the thickness on the original desk). This also allowed me to elongate the pins, producing a nicer looking, more elegant joint (Photo 16) .

I laid out the 8 degree dovetails onto a piece of aluminum flashing; marked the outline of the joint into the metal with a utility knife, and cut out the waste with stationary scissors. This produced a template that could be reused, altered, or discarded. With the template, I was able to mark a single, easy-to-see, easy-to-follow dovetail outline directly onto my material.

I always do my tails first. After laying out the baseline and angle, I cut a fine, clean kerf directly through the line. With a jeweler’s saw, I remove the waste near the baseline, then perform very minor clean up with a small chisel and a marking knife.

Photo 17. Trace the tails onto the drawer front using a carving knife.

I marked out my pins (on the ends of the drawer front) using the tail board and transferring the exact outline of my tails onto the pin board.  On the pin board, I cut outside of my line(s), remove the waste between the pins, and carefully pare to the line. This technique, scrupulously executed, always produces impeccable dovetails (Photo 17) .

After testing the fit of the half-blind dovetails, I cut the through-dovetails at the back of the drawer using similar techniques.

The back of the drawer is 3/8” thick; substantially thicker than the sides. Since I secured the drawer bottom to the back with a small pan-head screw, the extra thick back better received the screw without splitting. If the drawer back were 3/16” (like the drawer sides) it would likely split.

After assembling the drawer parts, cut a 1/8” groove along the inside of the sides and drawer front. Be careful to “bury” this drawer bottom groove behind a dovetail. But position the groove high enough that the drawer bottom will clear the drawer stops when the drawer is inserted into the cabinet.

Setting the Drawer Lock and Key Escutcheon

Clamp the drawer front onto the bench and mark out the position of the lock. After cutting the mortise, gently press the pin (which receives the hollow end of the key) into the mortise, leaving a clear mark through which a 3/16” hole is drilled. I set and screwed the lock in place, turned the drawer front over to see the lock pin centered on the 3/16” hole. I centered the key escutcheon over this hole and marked its outline onto the drawer face.

With chisels, I pared away the waste until the escutcheon almost fit in. Then I coated the excavation with epoxy glue and pressed the escutcheon into place with a clamp, leaving it slightly proud (of the surface). Later I filed the metal flush with the drawer front.

Once the escutcheon is glued in, test fit the key. It should slide in easily and engage the lock. If the fit is a little tight, open the keyhole a bit with a file.

Completing the Drawer Construction

Next I cut the various grooves to receive the interior drawer partitions, which can be cut by hand or routed out to receive the 1/8” partition material. I’ve done it both ways. Whichever you choose is fine. With the partition grooves cut and the partitions set, I glued up the drawer.

The drawer bottom was made of 1/8” material (with the grain running side-to-side), let directly into a shallow groove on the drawer front and sides.  The front edge is glued into the drawer front and the back edge is held in place with a small screw. This allows the bottom to move across the grain; directing the cross-grain movement to the back of the cabinet, where it won’t interfere with the operation of the drawer.

Fig. 06. Exploded View of Drawer

Fig. 07. Drawer Partitions

Fig. 08. Carcase and Drawer Details

With all the parts cut and fitted, I glued up the drawer box, inserted the partitions, and slid in the drawer bottom. When completely assembled, I checked it for square. This being such a small drawer, it came together easily without any problems.

Photo 18. Plane the joints even before gluing the drawer.

The assembled drawer was just a bit too wide to slide into place, but a few deft plane strokes took care of that. I planed and trimmed the drawer to a snug fit with just the smallest reveal all around (Photo 18) .

Photo 19. Install the drawer stops. Using a small bullnose rabbet plane, shave the front edges of the stops so the drawer front is flush with the carcase.

With the drawer finally fitted, I dropped the 2 drawer stops into their mortises and with a small shoulder plane, trimmed the stops until the drawer front lined up perfectly with the case and the lock bolt easily engaged the mortise, securing the drawer (Photo 19) .

The Drawer Front Stringing

Photo 20. Glue stringing around the front of the drawer. Save for the lock and escutcheon, the back panel has the same look.

I cut a small rabbet all around the drawer front on the table saw, burying much of the blade and leaving only enough exposed to cut a 1/16” x 3/16” rabbet for the stringing. I glued the stringing into place and held it with masking tape until dry, then trimmed it flush with a block plane (Photo 20) .

Assembling the Desk

The final steps were to attach the writing panel assembly to the cabinet with the slender strap hinge. Once joined to the case, the writing panels should lie flat to the case when closed then easily swing open to maintain the desired angle. The opened writing panels should provide a flat surface. If they bind when opened, bevel the hinge edge of the upper panel. This should take care of the problem.

The last piece was to install the small strip to support a book when the writing panels are raised and propped at an angle. This strip was attached with #6, ½” flat head, brass screws.

Finishing the Desk

Photo 21. Finish the desk with shellac, followed by a coat of paste wax.

I dismantled the desk and after a thorough sanding, applied a sealer coat of shellac and rubbed it out when dry. This was followed by a full-strength coat (2 lb. cut). After the second coat dried, I rubbed out the desk and applied a coat of paste wax.  The desk should be finished to a very soft, low-luster sheen; no high gloss here (Photo 21) . It took no more than a few months of exposure to sunlight and plenty of gentle, but careful handling to develop a wonderful, bronze color and an attractive patina.

Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality.

Kreg Mini Trak

Titebond CA Glue

Brad Point Bits

Mario mentions a materials list which I do not see. The major brass suppliers don’t seem to carry baize anymore and I wonder where Mario gets his. Also, his bail and rosettes are classier than the ones currently at Horton Brasses, so I wonder where he gets them considering that Londonderry Brasses is no longer in business.

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Thomas Jefferson's Monticello

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Declaration of Independence Desk

Artist/Maker: Benjamin Randolph (active 1760-1790)

Created:  1776

Origin/Purchase:   Philadelphia

Materials:  mahogany

Dimensions:  24.8 × 36.5 × 8.2 (9 3/4 × 14 3/8 × 3 1/4 in.)

Owner:  Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution

Provenance:  Thomas Jefferson; by gift to  Joseph Coolidge, Jr. ; by descent to J. Randolph Coolidge, Algernon Coolidge, Thomas Jefferson Coolidge, and Ellen Coolidge Dwight; by gift to the United States and transmitted by President Rutherford B. Hayes to Congress in 1880

Historical Notes:  One of the most precious historical relics of the United States is the lap desk or writing box upon which Thomas Jefferson wrote his draft of the  Declaration of Independence  in 1776. [1] He presented the desk to his grandson-in-law Joseph Coolidge, Jr., of Boston, who had married  Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge , one of his favorite granddaughters. He attached an affidavit to the desk:

Monticello. Nov. 18, 1825. Th: Jefferson gives this Writing desk to Joseph Coolidge junr as a Memorial of affection. it was made from a drawing of his own, by Ben Randall, cabinet maker of Philadelphia, with whom he first lodged on his arrival in that city in May 1776. and is the identical one on which he wrote the Declaration of Independance, Politics, as well as Religion, has it's superstitions. these, gaining strength with time, may, one day, give imaginary value to this relic, for it's association with the birth of the Great charter of our Independance. [2]

Jefferson prized the portable desk on which he wrote the Declaration of Independence

Although the affidavit was addressed to Joseph Coolidge, the writing box was intended for both Ellen and Joseph, at least in part to console her for the loss in a shipwreck of her belongings en route from Virginia to Boston — among those irretrievable items was a lap desk made especially for her by  John Hemmings , Monticello's proficient enslaved joiner. Commiserating with his granddaughter, Jefferson tendered her a priceless replacement.

Once Coolidge had received the desk, he expressed his gratitude to Jefferson.

When I think of this desk, "in connection with the great charter of our independance," I feel a sentiment almost of awe, and approach it with respect; but when I remember that it has served you fifty years—, been the faithful depository of your cherished thoughts; that upon it have been written your letters to illustrious and excellent men—your plans for the advancement of civil and religious liberty, and of Art and Science; that it has, in fact, been the companion, of your studies, and the instrument of diffusing their results;—that it has been the witness of a philosophy which calumny could not subdue, and of an enthusiasm which eighty winters have not chilled,—I would fain consider it as no longer inanimate, and mute, but as something to be interrogated and caressed. [3]

This uncommon desk, made entirely of mahogany, was made to Jefferson's specifications by the prominent Philadelphia cabinetmaker, Benjamin Randolph, with whom Jefferson lodged when he first came to Philadelphia in July 1775 and when he returned in May 1776. [4] Although a payment was recorded for Randolph's workmen for three boxes in September, the purchase of a writing box or lap desk was not noted in Jefferson's memorandum books. Jefferson's drawings for the desk do not survive. The desk consists of a rectangular box with a drawer containing compartments for storing writing implements and paper. A hinged writing board is attached to the upper surface of the box.

- Text from Stein,  Worlds , 364-65

Further Sources

• Smithsonian Institution.  "Thomas Jefferson's Desk."
• Look for further sources in the Thomas Jefferson Portal.
• ^ For a full account, see Silvio A. Bedini,  Declaration of Independence Desk: Relic of Revolution  (Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1981).
• ^ Jefferson to Joseph Coolidge, November 18, 1825, Smithsonian Institution.  Transcription  available at Founders Online.
• ^ Joseph Coolidge to Jefferson, February 27, 1826,  Coolidge Collection of Thomas Jefferson Manuscripts , Massachusetts Historical Society.  Transcription  available at Founders Online.
• ^ For information about other writing desks associated with Jefferson, see Susan R. Stein,  "Thomas Jefferson's Traveling Desks,"   Antiques 133 (May 1988): 1156-59.

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ADDRESS: 931 Thomas Jefferson Parkway Charlottesville, VA 22902 GENERAL INFORMATION: (434) 984-9800

Thomas Jefferson's

Declaration of independence desk, in 1776 thomas jefferson drafted the declaration of independence on a small, elegant and convenient traveling desk he designed and had made by his cousin benjamin randolph, a famed philadelphia cabinet maker in 2013 my brother purchased at auction a small mahogany writing desk for $175 that is remarkably similar to the original on display in a place of pride in the smithsonian museum of american history this website documents the journey taken to put the desk my brother acquired and it's sister replicas in historical perspective as well highlight the significance of the original relic of the american revolution click any photo to  go the smithsonian's jefferson desk  page .

 The Original Declaration of Independence Desk

 occupies a place of honor and  pride at the Smithsonian  Museum of American History, in the nation's Capital

The Declaration Desks

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Historic Jefferson Lap Desk

$ 5,640.00

This is an exquisite reproduction of the lap desk that Thomas Jefferson designed for his own personal use–the desk on which he wrote the Declaration of Independence. Learn the story behind this inventive and personal item below. View alternate images to see all it’s handcrafted features.

• Description

        In May of 1776, a tall, red-haired, 33-year-old lawyer made his way to Philadelphia to join the Continental Congress. Known for his revolutionary thinking and persuasive writing, the young Virginian was chosen to draft the pending independence declaration. His name was Thomas Jefferson.        Jefferson decided that he needed a compact, portable writing desk to use in his rented room, as well as in his travels. By good fortune, his lodgings were at the home of the cabinetmaker, Benjamin Randolph. Jefferson sketched what he wanted and his host agreed to construct the unusual device. His design employed a novel combination of hinged surfaces that in one configuration held a book for reading and in another unfolded into a large and strong writing surface. Inside was a locking drawer for papers, pens, and an inkwell.        Throughout June of 1776, Thomas Jefferson labored at this desk, storing drafts of the document in the drawer and rewriting it with advice from Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, among others. The famous words proclaimed on July 4th of that year gave birth to our nation and catapulted Jefferson to fame. His little desk accompanied him as president and after, supporting his prodigious writings for the ensuing 50 years. It now resides at the Smithsonian Institute.        This outstanding reproduction by our 21st century cabinetmaker Marshall Petty is faithful to the original. It is handcrafted from solid, 18th Century mahogany salvaged from a cabinet that was built during the same period. It also features inlaid Curly Maple and cast brass hardware. The only liberty taken was re-sizing the drawer compartments to fit today’s paper – a change which we believe the pragmatic Thomas Jefferson would have approved. Though this is a museum-quality reproduction, it is built to be used. Each one is sized and numbered by the craftsman and comes with a certificate of authenticity for insurance and appreciation value.

Our custom furniture is handcrafted for you. Normal delivery is 12-16 weeks. When you place your order, a 50% deposit will be charged to your credit card and the balance upon delivery. We will personally contact you with details when you place your order.

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Declaration of Independence Desk

In 1776 Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence on this portable desk of his own design. It features a hinged writing board and a locking drawer for papers, pens, and inkwell.

By the summer of 1776 members of the Second Continental Congress prepared to declare their independence from Great Britain. They assigned the task of drafting the declaration to Thomas Jefferson, a delegate from Virginia. Jefferson would later write that rather than aiming for originality, "it was intended to be an expression of the American mind." On July 4, 1776 the Continental Congress amended and adopted the declaration. Its words not only established the guiding principles for the new nation, it has served to inspire future generations in America and around the world.

The desk continued to be Jefferson's companion throughout his life as a revolutionary patriot, American diplomat, and president of the United States. While the drafts of the Declaration of Independence were among the first documents Jefferson penned on this desk, the note he attached under the writing board in 1825 was among the last: "Politics as well as Religion has its superstitions. These, gaining strength with time, may, one day, give imaginary value to this relic, for its great association with the birth of the Great Charter of our Independence."

On November 14, 1825, Thomas Jefferson wrote to his granddaughter Eleanora Randolph Coolidge to inform her that he was sending his "writing box" as a wedding present. Jefferson's original gift of an inlaid desk had been lost at sea and his portable writing desk was intended as a replacement. The desk remained in the Coolidge family until April 1880, when the family donated it to the U.S. government.

In his letter, Jefferson wrote: "Mr. Coolidge must do me the favor of accepting this [gift]. Its imaginary value will increase with years, and if he lives to my age, or another half-century, he may see it carried in the procession of our nation's birthday, as the relics of the Saints are in those of the Church."

Date Made: 1775-1776

Associated Person: Jefferson, Thomas Maker: Randolph, Benjamin

Place Made: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Used In: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Independence Hall

Used: Declaration of Independence General Subject Association: National Symbols Related Event: Declaration of Independence, Signing of

See more items in: Political and Military History: Political History, General History Collection , Government, Politics, and Reform , National Treasures exhibit , American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith

Exhibition: American Democracy

Exhibition Location: National Museum of American History

Related Web Publication: http://americanhistory.si.edu/treasures

Related Publication: Nation of Nations, A, Bedini, Silvio A.. Declaration of Independence Desk, National Museum of American History. Treasures of American History online exhibition

Credit Line: Transfer Department of State

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: PL.031819 Catalog Number: 31819 Accession Number: 67435

Object Name: writing box Object Type: portable desks

Physical Description: glass (inkwell material) wood, mahogany (overall material) fabric, baize (part material) Measurements: overall: 9 3/4 in x 14 3/4 in x 3 1/4 in; 24.765 cm x 37.465 cm x 8.255 cm unfolded: 19 3/4 in; x 50.165 cm

Metadata Usage: CC0

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a3-cf33-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_513641

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Thomas Jefferson’s Laptop Writing Desk

By caitlin schneider | jun 12, 2015.

Thomas Jefferson accomplished a great many highly important things in his career as a Founding Father, statesman, diplomat, and politician—but he might have missed his calling as a furniture designer. Our nation’s third president basically invented the swivel chair , as well as a walking stick that folded into a small chair, a revolving bookstand that allowed bibliophiles to read five books on a whim, and a portable lap desk on which he drafted a little document called the Declaration of Independence.

As the delegate from Virginia to the Continental Congress in 1776, Jefferson had the “ writing box ,” as he called it, built by a Philadelphia cabinetmaker named Benjamin Randolph. It’s made of mahogany and is about 10 inches long by 14 inches wide by 3 inches deep, but it does a lot with the limited space. The desk includes a folding board attached to the top to increase the writing surface, as well as a lockable drawer with space for paper, pens and a glass inkwell.

Jefferson used it for almost 50 years, ultimately giving it to his grandson-in-law, Joseph Coolidge Jr. When Jefferson’s granddaughter Ellen Randolph married in 1825, Jefferson wanted to give his new in-law a handmade, inlaid desk. Unfortunately, the ship carrying the desk from Richmond to Boston sank, so Jefferson passed down the trustworthy writing desk instead.

On November 14, 1825, just over seven months before he died, Jefferson wrote to Ellen :

Now I happen still to possess the writing-box on which it [the Declaration] was written. It was made from a drawing of my own, by Ben. Randall, a cabinet maker in whose house I took my first lodgings on my arrival in Philadelphia in May 1776. And I have used it ever since. It claims no merit of particular beauty. It is plain, neat, convenient, and, taking no more room on the writing table than a moderate 4to. volume, it yet displays it self sufficiently for any writing. Mr. Coolidge must do me the favor of accepting this. Its imaginary value will increase with the years, and if he lives to my age, or another half century, he may see it carried in the procession of our nation's birthday, as the relics of teh saints are in those of the church.”

If not apparent already, the note that Jefferson attached under the writing board solidifies a sense that the man knew his place in history: "Politics as well as Religion has its superstitions. These, gaining strength with time, may, one day, give imaginary value to this relic, for its great association with the birth of the Great Charter of our Independence."

In a February 27, 1826 letter thanking his grandfather-in-law for the gift, Coolidge wrote, “—I would fain consider it as no longer inanimate, and mute, but as something to be interrogated and caressed."

The desk stayed in the Coolidge family for the next half a century until April 1880, when the family donated it to the government. It was first displayed in the Department of State and then transferred to the Smithsonian in 1921, where it remains to this day.

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Thomas Jefferson Lap Desk

Project information.

• Jul 6, 2018

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GerardoArg1

Beatiful job!. Congratulation. A fine art really  

Outstanding work Lenny. I enjoyed your blog on the desk and the finished piece is gorgeous!  

That's a really fantastic looking reproduction. Those hidden dovetails with that miter edge must have been a real challenge.  

What a great job of building the Jefferson portable writing desk. Your comments regarding the desk were very interesting and informative. Over all a beautiful job, I especially liked the dovetails and inlays. Your pictures were very helpful and added considerately to understanding how you built the desk. You should be very proud, so skillfully done. Thanks for taking your time to explain and show your inspiring project.  

Wow - great looking lap desk. You nailed it!!  

Thank you for the kind comments gentlemen. I appreciate them. Joe , I am glad you appreciate the explanation.  

helluvawreck

This is a wonderful lap desk reproduction and beautifully done.  

Woodenwizard

Lenny, I always enjoy your explanations of your builds almost as much as I enjoy seeing the finished project. You not only are a great craftsman but also a great story teller. The attention to detail was great and you have created a piece that will be cherished for many generations. Thanks for sharing.  

Super great work on this Lenny, it is a beautiful copy of the original, well made and displaying fine craftsmanship. The stringing is done well, looks great, the drawer dovetails are nice & tight, and the full blind dovetails are, I believe, more true to the original than the splines in the FW article. How did you find working with the baize, is it similar to felt? Looks to be thinner than felt. Nice work, will make a great display piece. Congratulations on the Daily Top 3.  

Well done! Mr. Jefferson would be proud.  

It does seem a like a fiddelly thing to get right. This looks very well done. A thought on the inkwell, a glass mold I think can just be a two part mold made out of wood, that is soaked in water before used. It might be a simple thing to make and provide to the glassblower.  

therealSteveN

Nice job, beautiful desk. Thanks for posting.  

Smitty_Cabinetshop

Wow, very nice (and faithful) build. Congrats on the full blinds as well, they look great. I've not attempted, not sure I ever will. Kudos!  

Thank you folks. John ( woodenwizard ), I enjoy writing almost as much as woodworking. Tom ( oldtool ), I made a purchase of some quality stringing tools from Lee Valley. The primary cutting tool has a fence to keep the stringing groove nice and straight. Regarding baize, adhering and cutting of it per Schleining's instructions went surprisingly well. I'm guessing it is thinner than felt and it seems to be of good quality. I had no issues requiring me to shim the hinges. Ted78 thank you for the suggestion on the inkwell. With $35 already invested on such a tiny item, I'm going to stick to my plan. Smitty_Cabinetshop the full blind dovetails was easily the most challenging and difficult part of this project.  

That is awesome! Thanks for sharing  

Very Nice Project & Well Done Lenny!  

TopamaxSurvivor

• Jul 7, 2018

Nice work Lenny. Congrats on top 3! Is a Jefferson revolving bookstand next? ;-)  

• Jul 2, 2020

Congratulations on the write up in Fine Woodworking. What a journey you and the desk made. I'm impressed you donated such a wonderful piece. Your work will surely inspire others.  

Thank you Dan. If I kept it, it would be a dust collector here at home. I wanted it to have a more useful/purposeful future.  

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The Declaration of Independence Desk

Grade Range: K-12 Resource Type(s): Artifacts Date Posted: 2/1/2017

In 1776 Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence on this portable desk of his own design. It features a hinged writing board and a locking drawer for papers, pens, and inkwell.

By the summer of 1776 members of the Second Continental Congress prepared to declare their independence from Great Britain. They assigned the task of drafting the declaration to Thomas Jefferson, a delegate from Virginia. Jefferson would later write that rather than aiming for originality, "it was intended to be an expression of the American mind." On July 4, 1776 the Continental Congress amended and adopted the declaration. Its words not only established the guiding principles for the new nation, it has served to inspire future generations in America and around the world.

The desk continued to be Jefferson's companion throughout his life as a revolutionary patriot, American diplomat, and president of the United States. While the drafts of the Declaration of Independence were among the first documents Jefferson penned on this desk, the note he attached under the writing board in 1825 was among the last: "Politics as well as Religion has its superstitions. These, gaining strength with time, may, one day, give imaginary value to this relic, for its great association with the birth of the Great Charter of our Independence."

On November 14, 1825, Thomas Jefferson wrote to his granddaughter Eleanora Randolph Coolidge to inform her that he was sending his "writing box" as a wedding present. Jefferson's original gift of an inlaid desk had been lost at sea and his portable writing desk was intended as a replacement. The desk remained in the Coolidge family until April 1880, when the family donated it to the U.S. government. In his letter, Jefferson wrote: "Mr. Coolidge must do me the favor of accepting this [gift]. Its imaginary value will increase with years, and if he lives to my age, or another half-century, he may see it carried in the procession of our nation's birthday, as the relics of the Saints are in those of the Church."

Use this Investigation Sheet  to guide students through describing the object and analyzing its meaning.

National Standards

United states history standards (grades 5-12), era 3: revolution and the new nation (1754-1820s), related resources.

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This cloth banner celebrates the electoral victory of Thomas Jefferson over John Adams in the pre

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A fictionalized exchange of letters between a little girl and Thomas Jefferson accounts events of the 1800s.

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Jefferson’s Lap Desk

Pete E. Michelinie Fine Furniture of South Pomfret

Everything on this historical desk are in tiny proportion. The narrow drawer has five miniature dovetails cut into each corner, fitted with walnut dividers to allow safe transport of an inkwell, quill pens and writing paper. In its second arrangement the desk acts as a prop to hold up a book or papers. The notched stand in the back allows the angle to be altered for easy reading on that long carriage ride from Monticello to the White House. From the reading position the top panel falls forward to reveal a woolen lined pad for proper cushioned quill writing.

Jefferson’s Lap Desk is made of American Black Walnut, Rock Maple stringing, grey baize and brass. It is a close copy of Thomas Jefferson’s original portable desk he used to draft the declaration of independence, the original laptop. The desk is finished with shellac and paste wax.

The second lap desk is made from one board of South American Mahogany.

Dimensions: 15" W x 3 1/2" T x 9 3/8" D

Price: $2,650

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Mr. Jefferson’s Writing Box

Lawrence M. Small

The grand new exhibition on the American Presidency in our National Museum of American History displays hundreds of objects—General Washington's uniform and sword, the hat Lincoln wore the night he was shot and the drum that was struck at his funeral, a Roosevelt-era teddy bear, a Clinton saxophone, campaign paraphernalia and White House china and scores of other everyday items that have acquired an outsize significance because they touched the official history of the nation. But among all the items, none deserves its position of special honor more than the portable lap desk on which Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence.

Jefferson designed the desk while a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1776, and had it built by a Philadelphia cabinetmaker. The "writing box," as he later called it, is of mahogany, and of modest size: 9 3/4 inches long by 14 3/8 inches wide by 3 1/4 inches deep. There’s a folding board, lined with green baize, attached to the top—when it is opened, the writing surface grows to 19 3/4 inches. A drawer in one end of the desk has space for paper, pens and a glass inkwell. The whole is about the size of an attaché case—barely larger than the first generation of laptop computers in our own day. But this 18th-century think pad, at least, earned the name.

The desk on which a new nation announced itself to the world in 1776—in Jefferson’s script of marvelous clarity and straight-line precision—had a long career of service. Indeed, Jefferson used it for almost 50 years, through all his subsequent life as politician, ambassador, statesman, inventor, architect, educator, President and private citizen. And as the United States grew and prospered with each passing year, the significance of the writing box grew too.

 In 1825 Jefferson’s granddaughter, Ellen Randolph, married Joseph Coolidge of Boston. As a wedding present, Jefferson had a "beautiful"—his word—inlaid desk made for her new home in Massachusetts by a cabinetmaker at Monticello, John Hemings (the half brother of Sally Hemings, and one of five slaves freed by Jefferson in his will). But the ship carrying the desk from Richmond to Boston went down at sea, and Hemings was too old and dim of sight to make another. So Jefferson decided that Joseph Coolidge should have as a replacement the writing box on which he had drafted the Declaration. "It claims no merit of particular beauty," he wrote to Ellen in November 1825. "It is plain, neat, convenient, and taking no more room on the writing table than a moderate 4to. volume, it yet displays it self sufficiently for any writing." And, he added, "Its imaginary value will increase with the years...."

Lest the authenticity of the desk be in doubt, Jefferson attached an affidavit in his own hand—and, it’s satisfying to suppose, written on the desk—under the writing board: "Politics as well as Religion has its superstitions. These, gaining strength with time, may, one day, give imaginary value to this relic, for its association with the birth of the Great Charter of our Independence." The association was not just with that Charter, of course, but with the long, momentous course of a singular life.

The Coolidge family kept the desk for the next 50 years (but almost certainly did not use it), and, true to Jefferson’s prediction that it might be "carried in the procession of our nation’s birthday, as the relics of the Saints are in those of the Church," the desk had acquired by 1876, the centennial of the Declaration, the status of a sacred object. The family presented it to the nation in 1880, and their gift was first displayed in the Department of State. The Smithsonian has had the desk since 1921—and does it justice today by making it a focal point of the Presidency exhibition.

The desk wears its status lightly. Up close, you can’t help but notice a series of ink stains on the surface of the drawer. They are the careless, reassuring evidence of life. They mark the desk to this day with the daily humanity of the man who leaned on the writing box for half a century and supported on its sturdy wood the immense store of his mind.

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Lawrence M. Small | READ MORE

Lawrence M. Small was the eleventh secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, serving from 2000 to 2007.

Thomas Jefferson Lap Desk

Cherry desk available for immediate shipment

Wood options include walnut, curly cherry, plain cherry, plain maple, tiger maple, option for inlaid initials, stringing, banding, 14"w x 9"d x 3 1/2"h, devonshire, england baize writing surface available in different colours, lock & key, partitions for writing paper, pens, accessories, portable, lightweight, inlaid holly details, hand-forged cast brass hardware from england, finished with multiple coats of polished shellac, waxed and rubbed to a satin patina, "on that desk was done a work greater than any battle,  loftier than any poem, more enduring than any monument.",       -senator john warfield johnston,           virginia, 1880, in 1776 thomas jefferson wrote the declaration of independence on this portable lap desk of his own design. featuring a hinged writing board and a locking drawer for papers, pens, and inkwell, the desk was jefferson's companion as a revolutionary patriot, american diplomat, and president of the united states,,     in may of 1776, a tall, red-haired, 33-year-old lawyer made his way to philadelphia to join the continental congress. known for his revolutionary thinking and persuasive writing, the young virginian was chosen to draft the pending independence declaration. his name was thomas jefferson.        jefferson decided that he needed a compact, portable writing desk to use in his rented room, as well as in his travels. by good fortune, his lodgings were at the home of the cabinetmaker, benjamin randolph. jefferson sketched what he wanted and his host agreed to construct the unusual device. his design employed a novel combination of hinged surfaces that in one configuration held a book for reading and in another unfolded into a large and strong writing surface. inside was a locking drawer for papers, pens, and an inkwell.        throughout june of 1776, thomas jefferson labored at this desk, storing drafts of the document in the drawer and rewriting it with advice from benjamin franklin and john adams, among others. the famous words proclaimed on july 4th of that year gave birth to our nation and catapulted jefferson to fame. his little desk accompanied him as president and after, supporting his prodigious writings for the ensuing 50 years. it now resides at the smithsonian institute.        this reproduction is faithful to the original. cast brass hardware and baize writing surface from the uk. this museum-quality reproduction is built to be used. .

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Declaration of independence desk: relic of revolution, usage conditions apply.

Describes the history of Thomas Jefferson's writing desk, including its donation to the nation and transfer to the United States National Museum in 1921.

• Jefferson, Thomas
• National Museum of American History (U.S.) (NMAH)
• United States National Museum
• United States President

Smithsonian Institution History Bibliography

Includes list of reproductions and description of the Jefferson desk.

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Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, [email protected]

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