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Restoration of 1887 NYPD Patrolman Appointment Certificate signed by Theodore Roosevelt during his term as the Police Commissioner of the City of New York

 

RESTORATION OF A DOCUMENT
SIGNED BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT

1887 NYPD Patrolman Appointment Certificate was brought to the studio in the state of extreme deterioration. Glued to a cardboard, it was wrinkled and yellowed with the signature of Theodore Roosevelt barely legible. It was carefully cleaned and deacified to prevent further deterioration. With the original signature barely legible, a displayed copy of the document was made with all the damages digitally removed and with the handwriting and the signatures made visible ones again.

 

In 1895 the future president Theodore Roosevelt return to New York to take up position as the Police Commissioner of the City of New York. True to his form and reputation Roosevelt dedicated all of his time and effort to the monumental task of transforming New York Police Department. With the help of reformers and journalists such as Jacob Riis and Lincoln Steffens, Roosevelt reformed the Police Department from an organization ridden with nepotism and corruption into a modern force dedicated to public safety and enforcement of law.

If in the past most of NYPD patrolmen received their nominations by paying bribes to local politicians or precinct commanders, Roosevelt established principal of appointments and promotions based on merit and character that included hiring Isabella Goodwin the first woman on the NYPD force.

 

A letter from the client:

What a wonderful job you done on the restoration of the 110 year old certificate we recently located in our family archives. The certificate was signed by future US President Theodore Roosevelt when he was Commissioner of the New York City Police Department. The purpose of the certificate was to appoint our ancestor as member of the Department.

In 1897, our ancestor was a recent immigrant to the United States. The certificate was torn, faded, darkened and carried just about every impediment to legibility which one could imagine. However, you proceeded diligently and with care to rejuvenate this 1897 document into nearly good as new condition. It was a pleasure to work with you.

Very truly yours,
David

 
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