Examine and describe the items to ascertain the authenticity and provenance.

1. Colonel Isaac Erwin Avery’s “Letter from the Dead” : A collection of papers consisting of a portrait of Avery, who was killed at Gettysburg, along with a note written by Avery as he lay dying. The note, directed to Major Samuel McDowell Tate and conveying a message to his father: “Major, Tell my Father I Died with my face to the enemy I E Avery.” [Historical representation of the patriotic spirit of Avery].

2. Robert E. Lee’s Special Order 191: In early September 1862, following the Confederate vistory at Second Manassas, General Lee moved into Maryland at Frederick. There Lee wrote out his plans in great detail and issued them as Special Order 191 giving strategic information on his Maryland campaign. A copy was sent to General Jackson, who in his own hand made a copy for General Hill. A few days later, after Hill had moved his Army, Union General Williams moved into the area. A Union Private discovered an envelope containing three cigars wrapped in a piece of paper lying in the grass. The copy turned out to be Lee’s Special Order 191 and gave Union General McClellan advance notice of Lee’s Army movements.

3. Joint Resolution to Amend the Constitution of the United States; Abraham Lincoln’s Transmittal Letter: Authentic copy of the Joint Resolution to amend the Constitution with Lincoln’s signed letter to the Governor of North Carolina. A Ohio congressman proposed the amendment that would forbid any attempt to amend the Constitution [prohibiting Congress from banning the practice of slavery in states where it was allowed]. This document had the distinction of being the only constitutional amendment offered to the states to have an actual numerical designation prematurely assigned to it by Congress.

4. John Adams “Thoughts on Government” : In 1771, the North Carolina legislature directed the state’s delegates to the Continental Congress to seek out the ideas of John Adams concerning the establishment of state governments.

5. North Carolina’s Original Copy of “The Bill of Rights.” Much of the resistance to the Constitution came not from those opposed to strengthening the federal union, but from statesmen who felt the rights of individuals must be specifically spelled out. Along with several others, North Carolina held out and declined to join the union until there was a Bill of Rights, which helped ensure its inclusion in the Constitution.

6. George Washington’s Letter with the North Carolina Bill of Rights: The signed document, though probably not in Washington’s own hand, accompanied the copy of The Bill of Rights sent to the North Carolina Governor.

7. The Carolina Charter of 1663: The original manuscript charter issued by King Charles II, “assigning right or privilege to His Majesty’s Ministers to govern the State of Carolina…”