Ken Griffin Acquires Rare Copies of the Emancipation Proclamation and Thirteenth Amendment Documents, Announces Their Public Display
The copy of the Emancipation Proclamation is one of 27 remaining copies from the 48 printed for the 1864 Great Central Fair in Philadelphia, and the copy of the Thirteenth Amendment is one of only 15 recorded copies signed by President Lincoln himself.
Ken intends to loan these historical documents to an institution for public display, with the goal of expanding access to and education about the history of the United States and inspiring a renewed pursuit of a more perfect Union as the country enters its 250th year.
Ken shared a statement issued in conjunction with the public announcement of the sale:
“Since our founding, America has been on a journey to form a more perfect union. The Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment marked a profound step forward, abolishing the scourge of slavery and advancing the ideal that all people are created equal. As America approaches its 250th anniversary, we all have a part to play to strengthen and renew the promise of our nation. Each generation must experience the sacred documents of our democracy—to learn from them and be inspired to carry our country forward. I care deeply about the future of our nation and hope to inspire all Americans to uphold the vision set forth in our Constitution and the 13th Amendment.”
In what Bloomberg described as his latest act of patriotic philanthropy, Ken’s acquisition of these rare documents continues his commitment to ensuring important historic artifacts are available for the public, to teach current and future generations about American history. In 2021, Ken purchased at auction a first-edition copy of the U.S. Constitution, bringing the document initially to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. Next year, that edition – and a separate first printing of the amendments that became the Bill of Rights – will be on public display at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia in 2026 to mark America’s 250th anniversary.
Ken has a longstanding commitment to strengthening American freedoms, promoting civic education and engagement, and supporting those who serve and sacrifice for the country, including through recent gifts to the National Constitution Center, icivics, National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, Call of Duty Endowment, and the Navy SEAL Foundation.
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