MS931Bob Burke Collection of Presidential and First Lady Signatures circa 1760-2025, 28.5 linear feetProcessed by Tanya Zanish-Belcher and Stephanie BennettZ. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives
PO Box 7777Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27109336 758-5755http://zsr.wfu.edu/special/
2021MS931
Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and ArchivesEnglishdacsDescribing Archives: A Content Standardcompleted2026-01-15T15:34:46-05:00ArchivesSpace v4.1.1This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on Thursday January 15, 2026 at 15:34
Bob Burke Collection of Presidential and First Lady Signatures MS931 /repositories/2/resources/2020 Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives English 28.5 Linear Feet 14 oversized boxes 1760 2025 circa 1760-2025 Bob Burke is an attorney and author who lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Material types include signatures on paper, photographs, and envelopes, correspondence, land grants and other legal documents, receipts, tickets, and writing clippings. Presidential items are bound in an oversize three-ring scrapbook while First Lady items are in frames, with labels. Burke, Bob, 1948- Biographical and Historical Note

Bob Burke was born in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, in 1948, and lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He holds bachelors from University of Oklahoma (1970) and a juris doctorate from Oklahoma City University (1976). In addition to being practicing lawyer working against workers' compensation alternatives known as "opt out" schemes, Burke has written, co-written, and edited many books on a number of topics; titles include <part>A History of First Assembly of God - Broken Bow, Oklahoma</part> (1985), <part>3,500 Years of Burkes</part> (1988), <part>Courage Counts: The Life of Larry Derryberry</part> (2003), and <part>John Steinbeck Was Wrong about Oklahoma!</part> (2008).

Sources: <part>Bob Burke Attorney, Author, Historian</part> website. Available at http://www.bobburkelaw.net/home Grabell, Michael. "Companies Can't Set Own Rules For Injured Workers, Okla. Court Says," <part>National Public Radio</part>, 2016 September 13. Available at https://www.npr.org/2016/09/13/493805684/oklahomas-top-court-says-companies-cant-set-own-rules-for-injured-workers

Collection Overview

This collection contains sigantures and other handwriting from United States Presidents and their First Ladies, all women. Material types include signatures on paper, photographs, and envelopes, correspondence, land grants and other legal documents, receipts, tickets, and writing clippings. Presidential items are bound in an oversize three-ring scrapbook. First Lady items are in frames, with labels. Many items come with an image, art or photograph, of the person as well. All presidential items are in Box 14; John F. Kennedy's materials are at the end of the volume and folder 1 is located inside the scrapbook.

Arrangement

Both Series 1. First Ladies materials and Series 2. Presidents materials are arranged in order of their tenure in the presidency. One folder contains an assortment First Lady signatures, and is listed at the end of that series.

Preferred Citation

Bob Burke Collection of Presidential and First Lady Signatures (MS931), Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for use.

Conditions Governing Use

The nature of the WFU Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Archives and Special Collections of ZSR Library claims only physical ownership of most materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to the U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.Copyright for materials resides with the creators of the items in question or their descendants, unless otherwise designated. Users of this collection are responsible for using the materials in conformance with U.S. copyright law.

Presidents--Autographs Presidents--United States Presidents' spouses--Autographs Presidents' spouses--United States First Ladies materials/repositories/2/archival_objects/16695118092008circa 1809-2008Madison, Dolley, 1768-1849/repositories/2/archival_objects/166952undated1Scope and Contents

Handwritten addressed envelope to Richard Cutts, a U.S. Representative and Superintendent of General Military Supplies who was married to Dolley's sister Anna, from Orange Co., Virginia

Tyler, Julia Gardiner, 1820-1889/repositories/2/archival_objects/16695318891Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed note

Polk, Sarah Childress, 1803-1891/repositories/2/archival_objects/166954undated2Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed card

Grant, Julia Dent, 1826-1902/repositories/2/archival_objects/166955undated2Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed card

Garfield, Lucretia Rudolph, 1832-1918/repositories/2/archival_objects/166956undated3Scope and Contents

Envelope signature, undated

Cleveland, Rose Elizabeth, 1846-1918/repositories/2/archival_objects/166957undated3Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed letter to Mrs. Lamb from Glengarry, Torrisdale, Philadelphia

Cleveland, Frances Folsom, 1864-1947/repositories/2/archival_objects/16695819134Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed letter to John Robertson from Frances Cleveland Preston, Princeton, N.J.

Roosevelt, Edith Kermit Carow, 1861-1948/repositories/2/archival_objects/166959undated4Scope and Contents

Second page of handwritten and signed thank you note

Taft, Helen Herron, 1861-1943/repositories/2/archival_objects/16696019091930circa 1909-19305Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed letter of regret, April 26th, no year, from Wyoming Avenue, possibly Washington, D.C.

Wilson, Edith Bolling Galt, 1872-1961/repositories/2/archival_objects/166961undated5Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed note

Harding, Florence Kling, 1860-1924/repositories/2/archival_objects/16696219246Scope and Contents

Typed and signed thank you note to Miss Alice Robertson, from Washington, D.C.

Coolidge, Grace Goodhue, 1879-1957/repositories/2/archival_objects/16696319296Scope and Contents

Typed and signed note with birthday wishes sent to H. M. Van Tine, White House Photographers Association, from Northampton, Mass.

Hoover, Lou Henry, 1874-1944/repositories/2/archival_objects/16696419291933circa 1929-19337Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed thank you note from Washington, D.C., dated June 20, no year

Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962/repositories/2/archival_objects/16696519447Scope and Contents

Typed and signed thank you note to Mrs. Morgenthau from the White House

Truman, Bess Wallace/repositories/2/archival_objects/166966undated8Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed thank you note, from Independence, Missouri

Eisenhower, Mamie Doud, 1896-1979/repositories/2/archival_objects/16696719568Scope and Contents

Typed and signed letter from the White House

Onassis, Jacqueline Kennedy, 1929-1994/repositories/2/archival_objects/16696819619Scope and Contents

Typed and signed thank you note to Mrs. Young from the White House

Johnson, Lady Bird, 1912-2007/repositories/2/archival_objects/16696919649Scope and Contents

Typed and signed thank you note with personal message to Mrs. Lyle H. Boren from the White House

Nixon, Pat, 1912-1993/repositories/2/archival_objects/166970undated10Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed page from letter

Ford, Betty, 1918-2011/repositories/2/archival_objects/166971198410Scope and Contents

Typed and signed thank you note to Don Gibson

Carter, Rosalynn/repositories/2/archival_objects/166972199811Scope and Contents

Typed and signed thank you note to Bob Burke

Reagan, Nancy, 1921-2016/repositories/2/archival_objects/166973197811Scope and Contents

Typed and signed thank you note to Schuyler E. Tallman

Bush, Barbara, 1925-2018/repositories/2/archival_objects/166974198412Scope and Contents

Typed and signed thank you note to Reverend and Mrs. Dancer from the Vice President's Residence

Clinton, Hillary Rodham/repositories/2/archival_objects/16697519932003circa 1993-200312Scope and Contents

Signed photograph

Bush, Laura Welch, 1946-/repositories/2/archival_objects/16697619902008circa 1990-200813Scope and Contents

Signed photograph

Obama, Michelle, 1964-/repositories/2/archival_objects/166977200813Scope and Contents

Signed photograph

Assorted First Lady signatures/repositories/2/archival_objects/17571819662017circa 1966-2017142Scope and Contents

Contains materials from Roosevelt, Bush, Clinton, and Johnson

Presidents materials/repositories/2/archival_objects/16702217602020circa 1760-2020Washington, George, 1732-1799/repositories/2/archival_objects/166978undated14Scope and Contents

Two language clippings from geographic survey documents

Adams, John, 1735-1826/repositories/2/archival_objects/166979undated14141Scope and Contents

Signature clipping

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826/repositories/2/archival_objects/1669801809, undated14Scope and Contents

A two-word phrase, "our minister," clipped from letter to lawyers from Monticello; reproduction of text, including clipped words

Madison, James, 1751-1836/repositories/2/archival_objects/166981181114141Scope and Contents

State of Maryland military pass for the Schooner Fly, Baltimore, by the President (10 x 16)

Monroe, James, 1758-1831/repositories/2/archival_objects/166982undated14Scope and Contents

Signature clipping

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848/repositories/2/archival_objects/166983183214Scope and Contents

Clipped language from a will; signature of Adams as executor

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845/repositories/2/archival_objects/166984182914Scope and Contents

Land grant to James Burnside for military service, signed by Jackson (10 x 15)

Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862/repositories/2/archival_objects/166985183814Scope and Contents

Land grant to [unidentified first name] Fair Alcorn for military service, signed by Van Buren (10 x 15); Envelope addressed to Van Buren, clipping.

Harrison, William Henry, 1773-1841/repositories/2/archival_objects/166986181414Scope and Contents

State of Ohio Hamilton County deed transfer (8 x 12)

Tyler, John, 1790-1862/repositories/2/archival_objects/166987185114Scope and Contents

Signature clipping from Charles City County, Virginia, legal document

Polk, James K. (James Knox), 1795-1849/repositories/2/archival_objects/16698818451849circa 1848-184914Scope and Contents

"With the respects of the President, James K. Polk," note

Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850/repositories/2/archival_objects/166989undated14Scope and Contents

Signature clipping

Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874/repositories/2/archival_objects/166990185114Scope and Contents

Land grant for military service of James Patterson in War of 1812 (10 x 16)

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869/repositories/2/archival_objects/1669911855, undated14Scope and Contents

Two signature clippings

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868/repositories/2/archival_objects/166992undated14Scope and Contents

Signature clipping

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865/repositories/2/archival_objects/166993185414Scope and Contents

3 clippings from an Illinois indenture; reproduction

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875/repositories/2/archival_objects/1669941866, 186714Scope and Contents

Captaincy promotion signed by Johnson and Edgar Stanton, Secretary of War (16 x 19); appointing Mathias Marin as Captain of the Navy, retired

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885/repositories/2/archival_objects/166995undated14Scope and Contents

Signature clipping

Hayes, Rutherford B., 1822-1893/repositories/2/archival_objects/166996undated14Scope and Contents

Signature clipping, undated

Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881/repositories/2/archival_objects/166997186614Scope and Contents

Receipt for $200, Washington, D.C.

Arthur, Chester Alan, 1829-1886/repositories/2/archival_objects/166998undated14Scope and Contents

Signature

Cleveland, Grover, 1837-1908/repositories/2/archival_objects/166999188614Scope and Contents

Land grant certificate (10 x 16)

Harrison, Benjamin, 1833-1901/repositories/2/archival_objects/167000188814Scope and Contents

Check from Fletcher's Bank made out to Charles R. Berry for $5

McKinley, William, 1843-1901/repositories/2/archival_objects/167001189614Scope and Contents

Typed and signed thank you note to Victor Viaux, Boston, from Canton, Ohio

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919/repositories/2/archival_objects/167002191314Scope and Contents

Typed and signed note to H. W. Wallace, National Progressive Party, from Office of Theodore Roosevelt, the Outlook, N.Y.

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1915-2011/repositories/2/archival_objects/167003192314Scope and Contents

Typed and signed thank you note to H. P. Slater, <part>El Paso Herald</part> editor, from the Supreme Court of the United States

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924/repositories/2/archival_objects/167004undated14Scope and Contents

Signature; Marine appointment (15 x 19), undated; NY County Postmaster appointment (14 x 18), 1916; Marine appointment (15 x 19), undated

Harding, Warren G. (Warren Gamaliel), 1865-1923/repositories/2/archival_objects/167005189514Scope and Contents

Proof of publication, <part>Macon Star</part>

Coolidge, Calvin, 1872-1933/repositories/2/archival_objects/167006193114Scope and Contents

Typed and signed thank you letter to Charles E. Tuttle, Vermont, from Northampton, Mass.

Hoover, Herbert C./repositories/2/archival_objects/1670071962, undated14Scope and Contents

Signature; typed and signed letter of regret to Professor Herman Harvey from the Waldord-Astoria Towers, N.Y.

Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945/repositories/2/archival_objects/1670081931, undated14Scope and Contents

Signature; typed and signed letter to Bob Smith, Tennessee, from Warm Springs, Georgia, on New York State Governor letterhead

Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972/repositories/2/archival_objects/167009196214Scope and Contents

Typed, signed thank you letter to Mr. Alex Lee, photographer, from Independence, Missouri, envelope with signature

Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969/repositories/2/archival_objects/167010195714Scope and Contents

Typed and signed thank you letter to Percival F. Brundage, Bureau of Budget director, from the White House

Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963/repositories/2/archival_objects/167011196114Scope and Contents

Typed and signed thank you letter to Mrs. Smeltzer, from the U.S. Senate, loose, at end of book

Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973/repositories/2/archival_objects/167012undated196514141Scope and Contents

Signed photograph, "With Every Good Wish," for Mabel Wade (8 x 10). Signed inauguration envelope.

Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994/repositories/2/archival_objects/1670131971, undated14141Scope and Contents

Typed and signed thank you note to Lyle H. Boren; paper with handwriting, "Best wishes to Eileen Our new citizen! From Richard Nixon"

Ford, Gerald R., 1913-2006/repositories/2/archival_objects/1670141975, undated14Scope and Contents

Signed color photograph of Betty Ford and Gerald R. Ford (8 x 10); two signed color photographs of Gerald R. Ford (8 x 10); thank you note to Jim Vitti from the White House

Carter, Jimmy, 1924-/repositories/2/archival_objects/167015undated14141Scope and Contents

Three signed photographs, 2 color, 1 black and white (8 x 10); signed color photograph to Cody Burke; two signatures

Reagan, Ronald/repositories/2/archival_objects/1670161975, undated14Scope and Contents

Signed photograph to Ray Kester (8 x 10); signed cover of Annals of Iowa, Vol. 43, #3; Signed color inauguration photograph

Bush, George, 1924-2018/repositories/2/archival_objects/167017undated14141Scope and Contents

Signed color photograph (8 x 10); signed color photograph to Cody Burke

Clinton, Bill, 1946-/repositories/2/archival_objects/167018undated14141Scope and Contents

Signed color photograph of Bill Clinton (8 x 10); signed color photograph of Hillary Rodham Clinton and Bill Clinton (8 x 10)

Bush, George W. (George Walker), 1946-/repositories/2/archival_objects/1670192001, undated14141Scope and Contents

Signed color photograph with the Dalai Lama (10 X 8); signed inauguration ticket in the name of Dick Cheney; signed color photograph, to Gordon Michael (8 x 10); signed color photograph, to Cody Burke

Obama, Barack H. (Barack Hussein), 1936-1982/repositories/2/archival_objects/167020200814141Scope and Contents

Signed cover of <part>People</part> magazine and signed photograph

Trump, Donald, 1946-/repositories/2/archival_objects/16702320152020circa 2015-2020141Scope and Contents

Five signed photographs

Biden, Joseph R., 1942-/repositories/2/archival_objects/206275undated141Scope and Contents

Signed photograph

Reagan, Ford, Carter, and Nixon group photograph/repositories/2/archival_objects/167021undated14Scope and Contents

Group photograph (8 x 10), signed by each