Signed Check of Martin Van Buren

What it is

This is a handwritten bank check from the Office of Discount and Deposit in Washington, dated May 28, 1826, payable to a man named William for eighty-three dollars and eighty-three cents. It is signed at the lower right with Martin Van Buren's signature and is held by the National Museum of American History.

Why it matters

At the time he signed this check, Van Buren was serving as a U.S. Senator from New York, years before he became president. Everyday documents like this give a glimpse into the ordinary financial life of a political figure, outside of speeches and official records.

Look closer

• What does this document tell us that a formal portrait or speech cannot?
• What questions do you have about who 'William' was and why this payment was made?
• Why do museums preserve everyday items like checks alongside famous documents?