By Mike Rego

EPHS students learn about historical significance of ‘Jefferson’s Desk’

Local craftsman Butler builds replica of noteworthy portable writing box

Posted 10/22/18

EAST PROVIDENCE — As a piece of Americana, its historical significance is likely unrivaled. And for avid woodworkers, it is considered one of the most intricate DIY tasks one can undertake. City …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


By Mike Rego

EPHS students learn about historical significance of ‘Jefferson’s Desk’

Local craftsman Butler builds replica of noteworthy portable writing box

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — As a piece of Americana, its historical significance is likely unrivaled. And for avid woodworkers, it is considered one of the most intricate DIY tasks one can undertake. City resident and enthusiast Leonard Butler recently undertook the exacting exercise.

Mr. Butler completed the task of duplicating the portable desk used by Thomas Jefferson upon which the latter, among many notable works, completed the script of the Declaration of Independence. Mr. Jefferson would later use it while an ambassador in France, for his private writings at Monticello and when became the third president of the United States.

Those things considered, East Providence High School Social Studies Department chairman Mike Silva requested Mr. Butler display his work to students as part of their history lesson. It has been showing in the Social Studies area for the last month.

“One of the topics we cover in Social Studies classes is historical sources. Students learn about primary and secondary sources,” Mr. Silva explained. “Mr. Butler was able to use blueprints to build the Jefferson desk. The blueprints are an example of a primary source and the desk is an example of a secondary source.”

According to the Smithsonian, Mr. Jefferson designed the desk while a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1776, and had it built by Philadelphia cabinetmaker Benjamin Randolph. It is made of mahogany. It’s dimensions are 9 3/4 inches long by 14 3/8 inches wide and 3 1/4 inches deep.

The structure is known by a variety of names from writing slope to writing box to lap desk. Mr. Jefferson, himself, called it a “writing box.”

It includes a folding board covered with green baize, defined as a coarse, felt-like, woolen material familiar to most for its covering on billiard and card tables. When 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 entire box is roughly the size of a modern day briefcase.

Again, according to the Smithsonian description of the box, Mr. 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.”

The actual desk has been in the hands of the Smithsonian since the 1920s. Mr. Jefferson bequeathed it to his granddaughter Eleanora Randolph and her husband Joseph Coolidge upon their marriage in 1825. Mr. Coolidge gave it to the government in the 1880, which in turn later presented it to the Smithsonian, where it has remained on display in its American History exhibit ever since.

As for Mr. Butler’s effort, Mr. Silva is of the opinion it is a superb representation of the original and its usefulness to his students is substantial.

“Mr. Butler has come in twice and spoke to several classes about his experience creating the desk. The craftsmanship of the Jefferson desk is beyond superb,” Mr. Silva added. “I told Mr Butler that the Smithsonian Museum might believe it to be the actual Jefferson desk. That is how spectacular the desk is.”

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.