Voices That Built America: The John H. Freund Americana Collection Comes to Heritage Auctions June 19

From a legendary 1776 Continental Dollar to the sixth-floor JFK assassination window, Liberty & Legacy presents 250 years of American history through surviving artifacts DOWNLOAD DIGITAL PRESS KIT DALLAS, Texas (May 26, 2026) — Heritage Auctions is pleased to announce the John H. Freund Americana Collection Signature Auction, an extraordinary event taking place June 19, featuring an assemblage of historic documents, letters, manuscripts and broadsides that together trace the American story through the words of the individuals who shaped it. Assembled over decades, the archive spans the Revolutionary era through the modern presidency and represents one of the most comprehensive and intellectually ambitious collections of American historical material ever brought to market. Presidents, founders, military leaders, diplomats and witnesses to history create a sweeping narrative chronicling the nation’s political, military and cultural evolution across nearly 250 years. “The John H. Freund Americana Collection offers a rare opportunity to encounter American history in its most immediate and human form through the written word,” says Joe Maddalena, Executive Vice President at Heritage Auctions. “Freund collected not simply for rarity, but for meaning—for the way each letter could illuminate a pivotal moment, a consequential decision or the inner life of an individual who shaped the nation. From the American Revolution to the Cold War and beyond, this collection preserves the voices of the people who built, defended and transformed the United States. It is, quite simply, one of the most important Americana archives assembled in modern times.” At the heart of the collection are 23 letters signed by George Washington, offering an extraordinary window into his emergence from young surveyor to commander of the Continental Army and first president of the United States. Among them is a land survey completed when Washington was just 19 years old, alongside Revolutionary War material including a 1776 account of the seizure of Dorchester Heights and the British evacuation of Boston. Another document captures Washington ordering “Mad” Anthony Wayne to strike at Bull’s Ferry, while a deeply personal letter from the final year of his presidency to the son of the Marquis de Lafayette reflects the enduring bonds forged during the Revolution. Included as well is remarkable material connected to Lafayette himself. In one letter, the future Revolutionary War hero writes at just 20 years old as he departs France and prepares to sail for America to join the fight for independence—a decision that would forever alter both his life and the course of the Revolution. Decades later, another letter finds Lafayette expressing gratitude to Congress for the $200,000 awarded to him in recognition of his service to the young republic he helped secure. The founding generation continues with nine letters signed by Thomas Jefferson, including a remarkable 1781 letter written from Richmond to General George Weedon as Benedict Arnold burned the capital of Virginia. Another letter, written years later in retirement, offers a poignant reflection on Jefferson’s withdrawal from public life, legacy and the passage of time, revealing the private thoughts of a founder whose ideals helped shape the nation itself. The collection also preserves history as Americans first encountered it. Among the highlights is an incredibly rare issue of The Freeman’s Journal announcing the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, capturing the triumph that effectively secured American independence and altered the course of world history. As the nation moved toward crisis in the nineteenth century, mounting tensions that would erupt into Civil War are reflected in an extraordinary letter from President James Buchanan written during the Fort Sumter crisis and the secession of South Carolina in the earliest days of the coming conflict. Struggling to preserve the Union while refusing to lower the American flag at Fort Sumter, Buchanan’s correspondence reflects the uncertainty, political fracture and constitutional peril confronting the nation on the eve of war. The Civil War era is further represented through Abraham Lincoln’s appointment of David Farragut as rear admiral, underscoring the strategic demands of a nation consumed by conflict. Also included is the Charleston Mercury proclaiming South Carolina’s secession in December 1860, preserving one of the defining moments in the nation’s slide toward civil war. The collection extends well into the 20th century, preserving firsthand accounts from presidents confronting global war and modern geopolitical upheaval. Franklin D. Roosevelt writes to General Hap Arnold regarding the top-secret North African assignment of his son Elliott Roosevelt during World War II, revealing the deeply personal dimensions of wartime leadership inside the Roosevelt White House. Another poignant archive comes from John F. Kennedy, who writes to the widow of one of his fallen PT-109 crewmen, reflecting the bonds forged during one of the defining episodes of Kennedy’s wartime service in the Pacific. The letter offers a deeply human glimpse into the personal sense of responsibility and loyalty that remained with Kennedy long after the war ended. The collection also includes Harry S. Truman reflecting on his controversial dismissal of General Douglas MacArthur during the Korean War, one of the defining civilian-military confrontations of the twentieth century and a moment that tested the constitutional boundaries of presidential authority during wartime. Important American presidents through Barack Obama are represented in the archive, alongside many of the most consequential figures in United States history. Together, the documents chart the evolution of the republic through revolution, expansion, civil war, industrialization, global conflict and political transformation. For Freund’s family, the archive was not merely an intellectual pursuit, but a constant presence in daily life. “Growing up, American history wasn’t something distant; it was all around us,” says Tony Freund, John H. Freund’s son. “You’d walk through our home and see George Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, their signatures, their words, woven into everyday life. But my father never collected to impress anyone. He collected because he was genuinely curious, because he loved the stories, the research and the thrill of discovery.” Although deeply passionate, Freund remained characteristically private about his acquisitions, approaching collecting with discipline, scholarship and restraint. His focus was never prestige alone, but acquiring material that offered fresh perspective or deeper understanding of familiar figures and defining events. “As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, this collection invites reflection,” says Maddalena. “These letters and documents remind us that history is not distant. It was lived by real people confronting uncertainty, ambition, conflict and change. Through their words, we come closer to understanding the individuals and events that continue to shape America today.” Images and information about all lots in the auction, as well as public viewing information, can be found here. Heritage Auctions is the largest fine art and collectibles auction house founded in the United States, and the world's largest collectibles auctioneer. Heritage maintains offices in New York, Dallas, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Palm Beach, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Heritage also enjoys the highest Online traffic and dollar volume of any auction house on earth (source: SimilarWeb and Hiscox Report). The Internet's most popular auction-house website, HA.com, has more than 1,750,000 registered bidder-members and searchable free archives of 6,000,000 past auction records with prices realized, descriptions and enlargeable photos. Reproduction rights routinely granted to media for photo credit. For breaking stories, follow us: HA.com/Facebook and HA.com/Twitter . Link to this release or view prior press releases . Hi-Res images available: Christina Rees, Public Relations Specialist 214-409-1341 or Christina Rees@HA.com