Malcolm Rivera
The United States Constitution was written by Jacob Shallus, Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, in iron gall ink using some kind of quill, likely a goose quill. Shallus wrote the document on four pieces of animal skin in the Roundhand style. It took him several days to write it out, and he charged $30 at the time, which is about $880 in today's money.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Person who engrossed the Constitution | Jacob Shallus |
| Writing instrument | A quill, likely a goose quill |
| Ink | Iron gall ink |
| Type of handwriting | Roundhand |
| Number of sheets | Six sheets of parchment stitched together to create a scroll |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was written by Jacob Shallus
The US Constitution was handwritten and engrossed by Jacob Shallus, Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Shallus was born in 1750 to German immigrant parents who had settled in Pennsylvania a year prior. He was a merchant and gentleman in Philadelphia. During the Revolutionary War, Shallus fought in Canada as a quartermaster of Pennsylvania's 1st Battalion. He also assisted in the outfitting of a privateering vessel, the Retrieve.
Shallus married Elizabeth Melchor, or Melchior, in 1771, and they had eight children. Shallus was appointed assistant clerk of the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1783, a position he held for several years. In 1787, the Assembly ordered Shallus to return two Antifederalist seceding assemblymen to the chamber to reestablish a quorum that would allow the completion of the call of a ratifying convention. He later became the assistant clerk of the Pennsylvania constitutional convention of 1789-1790.
Shallus was chosen to engross the Constitution due to his proximity to the convention's meeting place and the delegates' desire for speedy drafting. He engrossed the final handwritten copy of the US Constitution for the 1787 delegates to sign. Shallus wrote the nearly 4,500-word document on four sheets of parchment, using a goose quill and black iron gall ink, completing it on Sunday, September 16, 1787, in time for the signing the next day. He was paid $30 for his work.
The original document engrossed by Shallus is on display in the Rotunda of the Charters of Freedom at the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C. Shallus passed away in 1796, and his legacy includes being the unknown scribe behind one of the most important documents in American history.
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It was written in Roundhand
The United States Constitution was engrossed by Jacob Shallus, the Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Shallus penned the original copy of the Constitution on four pieces of animal skin using iron gall ink and a quill, likely that of a goose. The document is written in "Roundhand", a style of handwriting that is difficult to replicate with contemporary non-flexible writing instruments.
Roundhand is characterised by its quintessential line variance, which is evident in the US Constitution. The use of a quill contributes to the idiosyncrasies observed in the writing. The Art of Writing (1813) by John Jenkins provides insight into the aesthetic qualities and standard forms of early-American Roundhand. This book was recommended by John Adams and is a valuable resource for understanding the unique characteristics of this style of handwriting.
The process of writing the Constitution by hand was a meticulous and time-consuming task. It took Shallus several days to complete the document, and he charged $30 for his work, which would be equivalent to approximately $880 in today's money. The final document was stitched together from six sheets of parchment, creating a scroll 13 feet and 5 inches long.
The use of handwritten documents was commonplace during the time of the Constitution's creation. Before the advent of typewriters in the late 19th century, business correspondence, legal documents, and other important records were meticulously handwritten by clerks and calligraphers. The ability to write clearly and legibly was highly valued, and people took great pride in the quality of their handwriting.
The US Constitution is a testament to the skill and craftsmanship of Jacob Shallus and the importance of handwritten documents in shaping the foundation of a nation. The choice of using Roundhand, with its distinct line variance, adds a unique character to the document, setting it apart from other written works of its time.
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It was written on animal skin
The United States Constitution was penned on four pieces of animal skin, or parchment, in iron gall ink using a quill, likely a goose quill. The document is written in "Roundhand", a style of writing that would be difficult to achieve with most contemporary non-flexible writing instruments. The quill has certain idiosyncrasies, which are evident in the writing it produces. The original copy of the Constitution was penned by Jacob Shallus, Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. It took him several days to write it out, and he charged $30 at the time, which would be around $880 in today's money.
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Iron gall ink was used
The United States Constitution was written using iron gall ink. The document was penned by Jacob Shallus, a clerk for the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and took him several days to complete. Shallus was paid $30 for his work, which equates to around $880 in today's money.
The Constitution was crafted by delegates to the Federal Constitutional Convention of 1787, which took place in the East Room on the first floor of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. The delegates, representing a wide range of interests and views, took an oath of secrecy and met behind closed doors to discuss the formation of a new government. The final document was signed by 38 delegates, with George Reed signing on behalf of the absent John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39.
The Constitution was an extraordinary achievement, standing today as one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world. It replaced America's first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, which gave the Confederation Congress rule-making and funding powers but lacked enforcement powers and the ability to regulate commerce or print money. The Constitution created a powerful central government, which was a contentious issue at the time, with Anti-Federalists fighting against it as it reminded them of the government they had just overthrown.
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A quill was the writing instrument
The process of creating the Constitution began with the Federal Constitutional Convention of 1787, which took place in the East Room on the first floor of the Pennsylvania State House, known today as Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The delegates to the convention, including James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington, took an oath of secrecy and met behind closed doors. They were tasked with revising the existing government but ultimately created a completely new one, establishing a powerful central government.
On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing on behalf of the absent John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The Constitution was ratified by 9 of the 13 states, with each state holding a special ratifying convention. The ratification process was challenging due to the opposition from Anti-Federalists, who fought against the Constitution because it created a powerful central government that reminded them of the one they had just overthrown, and it lacked a bill of rights.
The United States Constitution is a significant document that has endured for centuries and served as a model for many other constitutions worldwide. The use of a quill to write this important document showcases the value placed on handwriting and calligraphy during that era.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was written using a quill, likely made from goose feathers.
The ink used was iron gall ink.
The original copy of the US Constitution was penned by Jacob Shallus, Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
Jacob Shallus charged $30, which equates to around $880 in today's money.
The US Constitution was written on four pieces of animal skin.
