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Primary sourceDocumentc. 1898

Signature Page of Harriet Tubman's General Affidavit

U.S. House of Representatives · c. 1898

The back page of Tubman's 1898 pension affidavit, showing an official signature related to her pension claim.

This page is part of Tubman's own 1898 pension affidavit, documenting her formal claim for recognition and support.

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Close-up of a handwritten signature above the printed label "(Official Signature.)" and a handwritten title "Notary Public" above the printed label "(Official Character.)", with a partial printed phrase "ble person" at the top left. A stray line extends diagonally at the right.
Signature page, back of Harriet Tubman's general affidavit, c. 1898. U.S. House of Representatives records.

About this source

What it is

This is the back page of a general affidavit connected to Harriet Tubman's claim for a government pension, dated around 1898. It shows a handwritten signature above the printed label "(Official Signature.)" and a title identifying the signer as a Notary Public.

Why it matters

Tubman's long struggle to receive a pension for her wartime service shows how former scouts, nurses, and soldiers of colour often had to fight through paperwork and bureaucracy to be formally recognised. This page is part of that official record.

Look closer

  • Why would a notary public need to sign an affidavit like this?
  • What does the printed language on the form tell us about how official documents worked in 1898?
  • What is missing from this page that would help us understand the full affidavit?

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

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General Affidavit of Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman · 1898

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