Several years ago the members of the Manuscript Society decided that a “Hall of Distinction” to honor men and women who played important roles in the field of collecting rare documents and autographs was long overdue. Some of the Hall’s inductees are known for having amassed large collections of documents signed or written by personages in such areas as politics, science, music, literature, the military, civil rights, and jurisprudence. Inductees may also be known for their collections of autographed books, manuscripts of historical significance, or specialized collections (such as autographs of the signers of the Declaration of Independence). The Society has also chosen to honor others who were dedicated dealers in autographs and documents. Besides helping others to build their collections, these dealers worked to popularize the hobby of autograph collecting, published books to educate the public about collecting, advanced scholarship in the field, and established parameters for ethical practice among dealers.

Click below to meet our Hall of Distinction inductees and read a short biography of each:

Members of the Hall of Distinction →