Materials Needed:
(Ideal) 243 year old paper
(Realistic) Any other paper
(Realistic) Coffee
(Realistic) Baking sheet or tray
(Realistic) Hairdryer (optional)
(Ideal) Fancy quill pen
(Realistic) Regular ballpoint pen

Step 1:

Brew a large, strong batch of coffee.

Step 2:

Pour the coffee into a tray and submerge the paper for up to ten minutes.

Step 3:

Take the paper out, allowing the excess liquid to drip off.

Step 4

You can dry the paper with a hairdryer, or bake in the oven at 200 degrees for 5-10 minutes.

Tip:To add interesting textures, smear leftover coffee grounds on the paper or add extra drops of coffee to a dried surface. The paper must be completely dry before writing on it.

Bonus Activity:

America’s forefathers used the Declaration of Independence to outline their desire for freedom from England. What’s a message that’s important to you. Who would you send it to?

Try to write it using your best handwriting. Add your signature to “certify” the document.

Fun Fact:

The certified copy of the Declaration of Independence in the Gilcrease collection was penned by Silas Deane, an American diplomat. His original signature appears along with Benjamin Franklin’s. The two men sent certified copies like this one in an attempt to gain support from European nations during the Revolution, and this is the only copy known to have survived. In 2016, a preservation scientist visiting Gilcrease identified a fingerprint on the document, connecting it and the handwriting to Silas Deane. Learn more.