The library’s historic copy of the Declaration of Independence from the Lord George Germain papers was lent to the Library of Congress as part of the celebration of the bicentennial of Thomas Jefferson’s birth. This copy featured the original signatures and is generally considered the true original, however, another copy that the Clements still holds was contended by Randolph Adams to be the ‘true’ original, because it was the one that was sent to the British to notify the colonial secretary. It was only signed by John Hancock.
