Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson

28th President of the United States
under the   Constitution of 1787

Click Here to view the US Mint & Coin Acts 1782-1792

Thomas Woodrow Wilson was born on December 28, 1856, in Staunton, Virginia. He was the first son and third child of Joseph Ruggles Wilson, a respected Presbyterian minister, and Jessie Janet Woodrow. In 1859, the family moved to Augusta, Georgia, where Wilson’s father assumed the role of pastor. Wilson’s early years were heavily influenced by the Civil War and his father’s support for the Confederate cause. Wilson witnessed the harsh realities of General William T. Sherman’s campaigns in Georgia and South Carolina, experiences that would shape his loyalty to the South and influence his political philosophy.

Wilson received his early education at home and in private schools in Augusta and Columbia, South Carolina, where his father accepted a professorship. His family moved once more in 1873 to Wilmington, North Carolina, where Wilson briefly attended Davidson College, a Presbyterian institution where his father was a trustee. The following year, he transferred to the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). There, he thrived as a student, showing an early interest in politics, public speaking, and rhetoric. Wilson even had visiting cards printed that read “Thomas Woodrow Wilson, senator from Virginia,” a testament to his early ambition for national leadership. In 1879, he published his first essay, "Cabinet Government in the United States," in The International Review, advocating for a stronger legislative branch over a powerful executive.

Wilson pursued law at the University of Virginia, though he quickly grew frustrated with its technicalities, finding public speaking and political philosophy more engaging. After briefly practicing law in Atlanta, Georgia, he realized his passion lay in academia. He entered Johns Hopkins University in 1883, where he studied under Professor Herbert Baxter Adams, a leading historian. His dissertation, Congressional Government, critiqued the American system and proposed reforms, gaining acclaim and earning Wilson his Ph.D. in 1886.

In 1885, Wilson married Ellen Louise Axson, a Georgian with a deep appreciation for art and literature, who supported his career while raising their three daughters: Margaret, Jessie, and Eleanor. Wilson’s early teaching career took him to Bryn Mawr College, Wesleyan University, and ultimately back to Princeton, where he became a distinguished professor. His ambitious reforms and writings, including The State (1889) and A History of the American People (1902), brought him national recognition. In 1902, he was unanimously elected president of Princeton University, where he implemented academic reforms that influenced American higher education.

In 1910, Wilson was elected Governor of New Jersey, backed by Democratic leaders who initially saw him as a compliant reformer. Instead, Wilson surprised them by enacting sweeping reforms, fighting corruption, and earning a reputation as a progressive. His success as governor positioned him as a strong contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1912. Running on his “New Freedom” platform, Wilson promised economic reforms and greater social justice. Benefiting from a divided Republican vote, he won the election with 41.85% of the popular vote and a substantial majority of the electoral college.

During his presidency, Wilson’s reforms included the Federal Reserve Act, a graduated income tax, tariff reduction, and child labor laws. However, he was hesitant on women’s suffrage and permitted segregation within federal offices, a policy influenced by his Southern roots and pressure from Southern allies. 

Wilson's foreign policy was initially defined by strict neutrality as Europe descended into World War I in 1914. Reelected in 1916 under the slogan "He Kept Us Out of War," he sought to avoid American involvement while attempting to mediate a negotiated peace. Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare, the sinking of American merchant vessels, and the revelation of the Zimmermann Telegram ultimately convinced Wilson that neutrality was no longer tenable. 

On April 2, 1917, he asked Congress for a declaration of war, declaring that the United States must enter the conflict to "make the world safe for democracy." Under his leadership, the nation rapidly mobilized more than four million military personnel, expanded its industrial and agricultural production to unprecedented levels, and emerged as the decisive force in the Allied victory. Wilson's wartime administration also oversaw the Selective Service Act, Liberty Bond campaigns, and the creation of numerous federal agencies to coordinate the war effort. 

At the war's conclusion, Wilson became the principal architect of the Paris Peace Conference and advanced his Fourteen Points, advocating self-determination, freedom of the seas, arms reduction, open diplomacy, and the establishment of a League of Nations to prevent future global conflict. Although awarded the 1919 Nobel Peace Prize for these efforts, Wilson failed to secure Senate ratification of the Treaty of Versailles, and the United States never joined the League he had championed. His wartime presidency remains one of the most consequential and controversial in American history. 

While widely praised for leading the nation to victory and elevating the United States to a position of international leadership, Wilson has also been criticized for supporting the Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918, which curtailed civil liberties and suppressed dissent during the war, as well as for permitting the resegregation of much of the federal civil service and failing to advance civil rights for African Americans. Today, historians generally regard Wilson as a transformative president whose vision reshaped both American government and international diplomacy, while acknowledging that his record is marked by significant contradictions and enduring debate.

Wilson, Woodrow - United States Navy Commission Appointing George G. Breed, Pioneer Inventor of the Electric Guitar, signed as President. Washington, D.C., June 30, 1917.

Description: An exceptional World War I-era presidential naval commission signed by President Woodrow Wilson and countersigned by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, appointing George G. Breed as an Ensign in the United States Navy. Engraved on large-format vellum with the richly ornamented presidential design of the period, the commission bears Wilson's distinctive autograph at the lower right and Daniels' signature at the lower left above his official title. The document is impressed with the large blue embossed seal of the United States.

While attractive as a presidential military appointment in its own right, the commission possesses an extraordinary layer of historical significance through its recipient. George Gardner Breed (1864–1939) occupies a unique place in both technological and musical history as the inventor of what is widely recognized as the world's first electrified guitar.

Breed, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy (Class of 1886) and career naval officer, received U.S. Patent No. 435,679, issued on September 2, 1890, entitled "Method of and Apparatus for Producing Musical Sounds by Electricity." His invention employed electromagnetic principles to induce vibration directly in the strings of a fretted instrument, decades before commercially successful electric guitars appeared in the 1930s. Although his design never entered widespread production, it represents the earliest known application of electricity to a guitar and stands as a remarkable precursor to one of the twentieth century's most transformative musical instruments.

Issued only weeks after the United States entered the First World War, this commission reflects the rapid wartime expansion of the U.S. Navy under Wilson's administration. At the same time, it documents the continued naval service of an officer whose inventive genius anticipated a revolution in modern music. Unlike ordinary presidential appointments, this commission unites presidential history, naval history, the history of invention, and the evolution of musical technology in a single artifact.

Historical Context: When President Wilson signed this commission on June 30, 1917, the United States had been at war for less than three months. Following America's declaration of war against Germany on April 6, Wilson and Secretary Daniels embarked upon one of the largest naval mobilizations in American history, dramatically expanding the officer corps to support convoy operations across the Atlantic.

George G. Breed entered this wartime expansion with an already distinguished reputation extending far beyond naval service. Nearly twenty-seven years earlier, he had conceived a revolutionary concept: employing electricity to create and sustain the vibration of musical strings.

Patent No. 435,679 described an apparatus fundamentally different from later electric guitars, which amplified string vibrations through magnetic pickups. Breed instead proposed using electricity itself to excite the strings mechanically, creating sustained musical tones impossible on conventional acoustic instruments. Although technological limitations prevented commercial success, his patent established one of the earliest documented attempts to combine electricity with a fretted string instrument.

Today, historians of musical technology widely recognize Breed's patent as the earliest significant milestone in the long evolution culminating in the electric guitars popularized by Les Paul, Leo Fender, Gibson, Fender Musical Instruments, and the birth of modern rock, jazz, country, and blues.

Accordingly, this presidential commission honors not merely another naval officer, but one of the overlooked pioneers whose innovations helped lay the technological foundation for modern popular music.

Physical Characteristics and Condition: Large engraved presidential naval commission printed on vellum, completed in manuscript.  Signed in ink by President Woodrow Wilson at lower right and Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels at lower left. Large blue embossed paper seal of the United States remains intact.

The document exhibits the expected age toning, handling folds, and scattered creasing consistent with official military commissions of the First World War period. A section of loss at the left margin, attributed to historical rodent damage, affects only a small portion of the printed border and text without impacting the presidential or cabinet signatures or the recipient's name. The document displays well, with strong engraved imagery and attractive period calligraphy throughout.

Significance: Few presidential commissions can claim importance extending beyond governmental history.

This document simultaneously represents

•  A presidential autograph of Woodrow Wilson during America's entry into World War I.
• A wartime naval appointment signed by both the President and Secretary of the Navy.
• The military commission of one of the earliest pioneers of electrically produced musical instruments. 
• A direct documentary connection to the technological origins of the electric guitar, arguably the most influential musical instrument of the twentieth century.

The convergence of presidential history, military history, patent history, engineering innovation, and music history makes this a highly unusual and desirable artifact. While thousands of Wilson commissions survive, very few commemorate individuals whose achievements fundamentally influenced an entire field of technology and culture.

For collectors of presidential autographs, early electrical innovation, patent history, or the evolution of modern music, the present commission occupies a singular position.

Research Notes: George Gardner Breed (1864–1939) graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1886 and pursued both a naval career and independent scientific experimentation. His U.S. Patent No. 435,679, granted on September 2, 1890, Method of and Apparatus for Producing Musical Sounds by Electricity, predates commercially successful electric guitars by approximately forty years. The patent demonstrates one of the earliest documented attempts to employ electricity in conjunction with a fretted string instrument, making Breed a foundational figure in the history of electrically produced music.

The present commission, dated June 30, 1917, was issued shortly after the United States entered World War I and reflects the expansion of the Navy under President Wilson and Secretary Daniels. The pairing of Wilson's presidential signature with Breed's remarkable technological legacy transforms an otherwise routine naval commission into an artifact linking American government, military service, scientific innovation, and the origins of modern musical culture.

This document is a compelling reminder that history's most consequential stories often reside beneath the surface of seemingly ordinary official records. For the informed collector, it represents an uncommon intersection of presidential history and one of the defining technological innovations in the history of music.

In 1914, Wilson faced a profound personal loss when his wife Ellen died of Bright’s disease, leaving him devastated. The following year, he met Edith Bolling Galt, a Washington widow who would become his second wife and one of his closest confidantes. Wilson’s leadership during World War I culminated in his vision for the League of Nations, which he hoped would prevent future conflicts. Tragically, he suffered a debilitating stroke in 1919, which left him partially paralyzed and impaired.

Wilson’s legacy as president is a mix of groundbreaking reforms and contentious policies, including his controversial stance on race. He retired quietly, spending his final years with Edith in Washington, D.C., until his death on February 3, 1924. Wilson is remembered as a complex figure—a scholar, reformer, and wartime leader whose vision for peace and domestic reform left a lasting impact on the nation.

Edith Bolling Galt Wilson 

Edith Bolling Galt Wilson, Woodrow Wilson’s second wife and one of the most influential First Ladies in American history, was born on October 15, 1872, in Wytheville, Virginia. She was the seventh of 11 children born to Judge William Holcombe Bolling and Sallie White Bolling, descendants of prominent Virginia families with ties to Pocahontas. Edith’s upbringing was steeped in Southern traditions and values, and her family instilled in her a sense of pride, independence, and resilience. Despite a relatively comfortable background, her family faced financial hardships after the Civil War, and Edith’s education was largely informal. Nevertheless, she grew into a self-assured and capable young woman with a strong sense of self.

In 1896, Edith married Norman Galt, a prosperous jeweler from Washington, D.C. The couple led an affluent and active social life in Washington, enjoying the arts, traveling, and cultivating friendships within Washington society. Tragically, Galt passed away suddenly in 1908, leaving Edith a widow with control over his successful jewelry business. Determined and resourceful, she managed the business on her own, an unusual role for women at the time, and built a reputation for her keen business sense.

In 1915, through mutual friends, Edith was introduced to Woodrow Wilson, then grieving the death of his first wife, Ellen. Their connection was immediate and profound; Wilson found solace and companionship in Edith, and she brought warmth and stability to his life. After a brief courtship, they were married on December 18, 1915, a union that sparked rumors due to the short period since Ellen’s passing. Nevertheless, Edith quickly adapted to the role of First Lady, bringing elegance and Southern charm to the White House.

Edith’s influence over Wilson grew rapidly, especially as he relied on her more following his health struggles. She stood by him during World War I, traveling with him and providing both emotional and practical support. However, her most significant role came after Wilson’s devastating stroke in October 1919. With her husband incapacitated, Edith effectively assumed control of his communications and interactions. Described by some as the “first female president,” she limited access to Wilson and managed his affairs with meticulous attention. Edith claimed she only acted as a “steward” of his wishes, but many historians argue she held substantial power during this period, deciding which issues to bring to his attention and even speaking on his behalf.

After Wilson’s presidency ended in 1921, Edith remained fiercely protective of his legacy. The couple retired to a home in Washington, D.C., where she cared for him until his death in 1924. In the years that followed, Edith became a devoted advocate for her husband’s ideals, especially his vision for the League of Nations. In 1939, she published My Memoir, defending her actions during Wilson’s final years and providing a glimpse into their relationship and her role in his administration.

Edith continued her public life, attending the dedication of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in 1961 and the naming of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. She remained active in preserving her husband’s legacy and stayed deeply engaged with issues related to peace and diplomacy. Edith passed away on December 28, 1961—exactly 105 years after her husband’s birth.

Edith Bolling Galt Wilson’s legacy is one of devotion and controversy. Her unprecedented role in Wilson’s administration challenged traditional perceptions of First Ladies and blurred the lines between a supportive spouse and an active political player. While her tenure remains debated by historians, Edith Wilson’s life represents a unique chapter in the history of the American presidency, and her influence on Woodrow Wilson’s legacy endures to this day.

The Congressional Evolution of the United States of America 

Continental Congress of the United Colonies Presidents 

Sept. 5, 1774 to July 1, 1776

Peyton Randolph	September 5, 1774	October 22, 1774
Henry Middleton	October 22, 1774	October 26, 1774
Peyton Randolph	May 20, 1775	May 24, 1775
John Hancock	May 25, 1775	July 1, 1776

Commander-in-Chief United Colonies & States of America

George Washington: June 15, 1775 - December 23, 1783

Continental Congress of the United States Presidents 
July 2, 1776 to February 28, 1781

John Hancock	July 2, 1776	October 29, 1777
Henry Laurens	November 1, 1777	December 9, 1778
John Jay	December 10, 1778	September 28, 1779
Samuel Huntington	September 29, 1779	February 28, 1781

Presidents of the United States in Congress Assembled
March 1, 1781 to March 3, 1789

Samuel Huntington	March 1, 1781	July 6, 1781
Samuel Johnston	July 10, 1781	Declined Office
Thomas McKean	July 10, 1781	November 4, 1781
John Hanson	November 5, 1781	November 3, 1782
Elias Boudinot	November 4, 1782	November 2, 1783
Thomas Mifflin	November 3, 1783	June 3, 1784
Richard Henry Lee	November 30, 1784	November 22, 1785
John Hancock	November 23, 1785	June 5, 1786
Nathaniel Gorham	June 6, 1786	February 1, 1787
Arthur St. Clair	February 2, 1787	January 21, 1788
Cyrus Griffin	January 22, 1788	January 21, 1789

Articles of Confederation Congress
United States in Congress Assembled (USCA) Sessions

USCA	Session Dates	USCA Convene Date	President(s)
First	03-01-1781 to 11-04-1781*	03-02-1781	Samuel Huntington &  Thomas McKean
Second	11-05-1781 to 11-03-1782	11-05-1781	John Hanson
Third	11-04-1782 to 11-02-1783	11-04-1782	Elias Boudinot
Fourth	11-03-1783 to 10-31-1784	11-03-1783	Thomas Mifflin
Fifth	11-01-1784 to 11-06-1785	11-29-1784	Richard Henry Lee
Sixth	11-07-1785 to 11-05-1786	11-23-1785	John Hancock &  Nathaniel Gorham
Seventh	11-06-1786 to 11-04-1787	02-02-1787	Arthur St. Clair
Eighth	11-05-1787 to 11-02-1788	01-21-1788	Cyrus Griffin
Ninth	11-03-1788 to 03-03-1789**	None	None

* The Articles of Confederation was ratified by the mandated 13th State on February 2, 1781, and the dated adopted by the Continental Congress to commence the new  United States in Congress Assembled government was March 1, 1781.  The USCA convened under the Articles of Confederation Constitution on March 2, 1781.  

** On September 14, 1788, the Eighth United States in Congress Assembled resolved that March 4th, 1789, would be commencement date of the Constitution of 1787's federal government thus dissolving the USCA on March 3rd, 1789.

Presidents of the United States of America

1789 - Present

POTUS - CLICK HERE

United Colonies and States First Ladies

1774 - Present

FLOTUS - CLICK HERE

Capitals of the United Colonies and States of America

Philadelphia	Sept. 5, 1774 to Oct. 24, 1774	City Tavern & Carpenter’s Hall
Philadelphia	May 10, 1775 to Dec. 12, 1776	Pennsylvania State House
Baltimore	Dec. 20, 1776 to Feb. 27, 1777	Henry Fite’s House
Philadelphia	March 4, 1777 to Sept. 18, 1777	Pennsylvania State House
Lancaster	September 27, 1777	Lancaster  Court House
York	Sept. 30, 1777 to June 27, 1778	York-town Court House
Philadelphia	July 2, 1778 to June 21, 1783	College Hall - PA State House
Princeton	June 30, 1783 to Nov. 4, 1783	Prospect House - Nassau Hall
Annapolis	Nov. 26, 1783 to Aug. 19, 1784	Maryland, State House
Trenton	Nov. 1, 1784 to Dec. 24, 1784	French Arms Tavern
New York City	Jan. 11, 1785 to Nov. 13, 1788	New York City Hall
New York City	October 6, 1788 to March 3,1789	Walter Livingston House
New York City	March 3,1789 to August 12, 1790	Federal Hall
Philadelphia	Dec. 6,1790 to May 14, 1800	Congress Hall
Washington DC	November 17,1800 to Present	Two US Capitol Buildings

Chart Comparing Presidential Powers - Click Here

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Edited: Open AI. (2024). ChatGPT [Large language model] - https://chatgpt.com