Primary sourceArtifact

Signature of James Madison

James Madison

James Madison's handwritten autograph signature, as it appears on documents he signed as a legislator and president.

This is Madison's own autograph signature, used to authenticate the documents he signed throughout his career.

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Handwritten cursive signature in dark ink on a white background, reading 'James Madison'. — Signature of James Madison.

About this source

What it is

This image shows the handwritten cursive signature of James Madison, written in dark ink and reading 'James Madison.' It is the autograph he used on documents throughout his career as a legislator and as president.

Why it matters

A person's signature was the mark of authenticity on official papers, letters and laws. Madison's signature appears on many important documents from his long career in government, and recognizing it helps historians verify which papers he personally signed and approved.

Look closer

What can the style of handwriting in a signature tell you about the time period it comes from?
Why was a handwritten signature so important before modern identification methods existed?
How might you tell a genuine signature from a forged one?

This artifact is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of James Madison on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Photograph of the original parchment of the United States Constitution. The large handwritten text begins with the words 'We the People' in ornate script, followed by the article headings and dense lines of brown-ink writing on aged, yellowed parchment.

Document

Primary source

United States Constitution

Constitutional Convention · 17 September 1787

Document

Primary source

Federalist No. 10

James Madison · 22 November 1787

Document

Primary source

Federalist No. 51

James Madison · 6 February 1788

Aged, yellowed parchment page with handwritten calligraphy in brown ink. The heading reads 'Congress of the United States' in large script, followed by the opening lines of the document below.

Document

Primary source

Bill of Rights

25 September 1789

Handwritten manuscript page in brown ink on aged paper, headed 'State of the Resolutions submitted to the consideration of the House by the honorable Mr. Randolph, as altered, amended, and agreed to in a committee of the whole House.' Numbered resolutions follow, including provisions for a national government, a two-branch national legislature, and qualifications for members of the first and second branches.

Document

Primary source

Virginia Plan

James Madison · 29 May 1787 (this copy 13 June 1787)

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