DIY 1 source Jul 5, 2:21 PM EDT Updated 3h ago 0 views

A simple writing desk and the birth of a nation"

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A simple writing desk and the birth of a nation" July 5, 2026 | 1:21 pm CDT

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Woodworking Industry News

A simple writing desk and the birth of a nation"

Larry Adams

July 5, 2026 | 1:21 pm CDT

Furniture has been an integral part of the United States since its founding. In fact, wooden furniture played a pivotal role in one of the most pivotal documents in the creation of this "A Shining City on a Hill."  

The Thomas Jefferson portable writing desk, or "Declaration Desk," is a small, mahogany lap desk that Jefferson personally designed to bring with him while traveling. Most famously, he used it to draft the United States Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia in the summer of 1776.

The desk, built by Philadelphia cabinetmaker Benjamin Randolph in late 1775 or early 1776, measures roughly 9-3/4 inches by 14-3-4 inches by 3-1/4 inches when closed, and stands 8-1/4 inches high when fully opened.

Crafted from solid mahogany with delicate half-blind dovetails, a thin inlay of satinwood, and an English baize-covered writing surface. It features an adjustable sloped writing surface that is supported by a wooden kickstand with brass hinges, a book-rest rail, and a locking drawer. The drawer is divided into compartments for pens, two glass inkwells, and writing paper.

The original artifact is preserved in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. 

Emilie Johnson, Monticello's Curator of Arts and History, said that two of Jefferson's most prized possessions was the "rough draft of the Declaration of Independence and the Mahogany box on which he wrote it in Philadelphia in 1776."

Edward Zappen, who shares decades of meticulous research in his book "Thomas Jefferson's Declaration Desk," available from Lost Art Press, describes the desk as an "18th-century laptop" that was a typical desk for a man of letters.

Zappen reportedly spent over 15 years studying the portable lap desk, determining construction methods, materials, and taking detailed measurements of the iconic desk.

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About the author

Larry Adams

| Editor

Larry Adams is a Chicago-based writer and editor who writes about how things get done. A former wire service and community newspaper reporter, Larry is an award-winning writer with more than three decades of experience. In addition to writing about woodworking, he has covered science, metrology, metalworking, industrial design, quality control, imaging, Swiss and micromanufacturing . He was previously a Tabbie Award winner for his coverage of nano-based coatings technology for the automotive industry. Larry volunteers for the historic preservation group, the Kalo Foundation/Ianelli Studios, and the science-based group, Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C2ST).

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