4th July Independence Day

Los qué todos leen
The deterioration, preservation,
and conservation of parchment
Chronologically, it is helpful to divide the history of the Declaration
after its signing into five main periods, some more
distinct than others. The first period consists of the early travels
of the parchment and lasts until 1814. The second period
relates to the long sojourn of the Declaration in Washington,
DC, from 1814 until its brief return to Philadelphia
for the 1876 Centennial. The third period covers the years
1877-1921, a period marked by increasing concern for the
deterioration of the document and the need for a fitting and
permanent Washington home. Except for an interlude during
World War II, the fourth and fifth periods cover the time
the Declaration rested in the Library of Congress from 1921
to 1952 and in the National Archives from 1952 to the present.
58
Los qué Todos Leen