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hether ornate or plain; designed for sitting, standing, or Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, Roger Livingston, and Thomas
carrying around; behind a desk is where great things Jefferson. As Jefferson was elected chair of the committee, the duty of
Wcan happen. writing a draft fell to him – and he had only 17 days to produce it.
Over the centuries, writing desks have evolved from a decorative At the time, Jefferson was staying in a rented room with cabinetmaker
piece of furniture or utilitarian tabletop in the home to a deeply personal Benjamin Randolph – the very same person Jefferson had commissioned
and important dedicated workspace designed for functionality and to build his writing box. Randolph was the proprietor of one of the most
inspirational aesthetic. It was not uncommon in the 19th and 20th successful cabinetmaking shops in Philadelphia during the 1760s and
centuries for the wealthy and aspiring to commission desks from the 1770s. The Writing Desk was a special build, in part because it came
most sought-after furniture makers of their day that were based upon from its owner’s design – a symbol of inventiveness and ingenuity to go
their personal requirements and specifications. Over time, these desks with the innovation of writing a declaration of nationhood.
have come to characterize the men and women who sat behind them “There was Thomas Jefferson, in a rented room, writing on scraps
and found inspiration within the space they offered. of paper – putting together the thoughts that the committee would
Here are five examples of desks whose owners’ changed history in eventually pull together to draft the Declaration of Independence,” says
the space provided: Harry Rubenstein, curator of the National Museum of American
History, where the desk is on display in the Museum’s new exhibition,
THOMAS JEFFERSON’S WRITING BOX American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith.
“While it seems like a simple desk, this takes a lot of carpentry skill,”
At left – in 1776 Thomas says Rubenstein. Similar in shape to a modern briefcase, when the
Jefferson wrote the Declaration of writing box is unfolded, it offers a slanted writing surface, a drawer to
Independence on this portable lap hold inkwells and quills, and plenty of room for paper. Like the
desk of his own design. writing desks owned by George Washington and Alexander Hamilton,
Featuring a hinged, slanted Jefferson’s was meant to be portable, the tool of a man constantly on
writing board with a locking
drawer for papers, pens, and the move and constantly writing letters, documents, and addresses.
inkwell, the desk was Jefferson’s
companion as a revolutionary THE ROOSEVELT DESK
patriot, American diplomat, and The Theodore Roosevelt desk, as the name implies, was built for
president of the United States.
President Theodore Roosevelt, the driving force behind the creation of
photo: Smithsonian Institution
the White House’s West Wing. It was not only the first desk to sit in
the Oval Office, but it has also been used by more presidents than any
other Oval Office desk.

At right, the “Rough Draft” text of the
Declaration as Jefferson likely presented it to
Benjamin Franklin and John Adams for
corrections prior to submitting it to a committee.
Photo: www.ushistory.org
At first glance, the mahogany writing box is unassuming, yet its
history is legendary. This was the desk upon which Thomas Jefferson
wrote the Declaration of Independence.
In 1776, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to
manage the war effort, make decisions about the formation of a new
republic, and plea for help from France and Spain. Among those
chosen for the committee that would write a document about why the
colonies deserved independence from England were John Adams, President Theodore Roosevelt’s Executive Office in the West Wing. The Cabinet
Room can be seen through the double doors. Photo: Detroit Photographic Company
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