21 Documents Signed as Recorder of Deeds

Bruce is noted for being both the first Black American to serve a full term in the U. S. Senate and the only former slave elected to the U. S. Senate. He represented the state of Mississippi as Senator from 1875 to 1881. After the end of Reconstruction, Bruce lost his political base in Mississippi and remained in Washington, D. C., where he was appointed to other positions including recorder of deeds in the District of Columbia from 1889 to 1895. It is in that post that he signed the twenty-one documents we offer here of which nine are various typed of Deeds and twelve are "Releases." Each document is signed, "B.K. Bruce," as "Recorder." Titles and dates of the Deeds are as follows: Deed of Trust, July 1, 1890; Deed--Quit-Claim, July 31, 1890; Deed of Trust, August 13, 1890; Deed of Trust - Chattel, August 18, 1890; Deed of Trust, Oct. 4, 1890; Deed of Trust, Oct. 4, 1890; Deed, Oct. 4, 1890; Deed in Fee, Oct. 6, 1890; Deed in Trust, Oct. 6, 1890. The twelve documents titled, "Release" free the named individual from the obligations of a deed and range in date from July 31 to Oct. 6, 1890 with five being signed on Aug. 12. Condition: All the documents bear a Notary seal. Each document folded measures 3 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches. All in good condition except one Release which tore at a horizontal margin fold and had been repaired with tape. Before he entered politics, Bruce studied at Oberlin College from 1866 to 1868. (Inventory #: 4977)