When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Original 1904 U.S. Embassy Berlin Letter — Bernard Goldsmith | American Citizenship & Genealogical HistoryUp for sale is a fascinating piece of early 20th-century American diplomatic history and genealogy. This is an original typed letter on official stationery of the Embassy of the United States of America in Berlin, Germany, dated February 5, 1904.Addressed to Bernard Goldsmith, Esq., at his residence in Wilmersdorf, Berlin, the letter concerns the issuance of his new United States passport following a review and verification process involving the U.S. Department of State.Beyond its diplomatic significance, the correspondence contains potentially valuable genealogical information concerning Goldsmith’s American citizenship and his family’s naturalization history.GENEALOGICAL & HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE• American Citizenship Documentation: The letter reportedly references the naturalization papers of Bernard Goldsmith’s father, filed in the Circuit Court of Ozaukee County in Port Washington, Wisconsin, on October 26, 1855.• Family History: According to the document’s reported contents, Bernard Goldsmith was approximately 13 years old when his father’s naturalization papers were filed, suggesting a birth year around 1842. This age and birth-year calculation should be considered an estimate pending verification against the original document and independent genealogical records.• Passport Authorization: The correspondence informs Goldsmith that the U.S. Ambassador had authorized the issuance of his passport following the relevant citizenship verification review.• International Residence: Addressed to Goldsmith in Wilmersdorf, Berlin, the letter provides a tangible connection to the lives of American citizens residing in Germany during the early 20th century.THE SIGNATURE:The letter is hand-signed by R. S. Reynolds Hitt, identified as Second Secretary of the U.S. Embassy in Berlin.Reynolds Hitt belonged to a family with a notable connection to American public service. His father, Robert R. Hitt, was a prominent political figure who served in Congress and had historical associations with Abraham Lincoln. Reynolds Hitt subsequently pursued a diplomatic career, reportedly including service as a U.S. diplomatic representative in Central America.The original handwritten signature adds an important element of interest for collectors of American diplomatic autographs and historical correspondence.DOCUMENT DETAILS• Date: February 5, 1904
• Place of Issue: Berlin, Germany
• Issuing Institution: Embassy of the United States of America
• Recipient: Bernard Goldsmith, Esq.
• Recipient’s Address: Wilmersdorf, Berlin
• Subject: Passport authorization and verification of American citizenship
• Signatory: R. S. Reynolds Hitt, Second Secretary
• Format: Original typed diplomatic letter on official embassy stationeryPERFECT FOR COLLECTORS OF• U.S. Diplomatic and Consular History
• American Passport and Citizenship History
• Genealogy and Naturalization Research
• Wisconsin History and Ozaukee County Records
• American Expatriate History in Imperial Germany
• Original Diplomatic Correspondence and Autographs
• Early 20th-Century Historical DocumentsA REMARKABLE GENEALOGICAL AND DIPLOMATIC ARTIFACTThis original 1904 embassy letter brings together American citizenship history, family genealogy, and international diplomacy during the final years of Imperial Germany.Its reported references to 19th-century Wisconsin naturalization records make it particularly interesting for researchers investigating historical citizenship procedures and family migration between the United States and Europe.An appealing addition to a collection of original American diplomatic correspondence, passport history, or genealogical documents.Please examine all photographs carefully to appreciate the official stationery, typed text, handwritten signature, and overall condition of this historical document.