First Elected African-American Senator Blanche K. Bruce Signed Deed

A folded document, measuring 3.5" x 8.5" (sight), Washington, D.C., dated August 1, 1890. Marked No. 1510, a Deed of Trust signed "B.K. Bruce" as Recorder, regarding a deed from "Diller B. Groff et urt to John T. Arms and Saml. A. Drury." With a Notary Public embossed stamp on verso. The document is housed in a slab so it cannot be fully viewed. With a PSA/DNA certification. Toning throughout, with light edge wear. The signature was contemporarily slightly smudged, but still bold. 

Blanche Kelso Bruce (1841-1898) was born into slavery in Prince Edward County, Virginia. His father was a white Virginia planter, Pettis Perkinson, who educated him together with his half-brother and later legally freed Blanche and arranged for an apprenticeship so he could learn a trade. During Reconstruction, Bruce became a wealthy plantation owner in Mississippi. In February 1874, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, the second African American to serve in the upper house of Congress, and on February 14 of that year Bruce presided over the U.S. Senate, becoming the first African American (and the only former slave) to have done so.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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