Notes
This book of elementary French and English phrases belonged to Patrick Henry and has his signature inside the front cover. The exact date of the book is unknown, as the title page, which lists the name and publication date, has been torn out. However, the text refers to "an eagle." The Eagle was a United States gold coin, first coined in 1795. Since Henry died in 1799, it is assumed that the book was used during his last years to instruct his children.
Although missing its title page, the title of this book was found to be "A Key to French Conversation and French Idiom." An 1812 reprint of this book was discovered to contain identical information and pagination, indicating that Henry's book was the same.
The book remained in the hands of Patrick Henry descendants until it came to the attention of Dr. Robert Douthat Meade, noted Patrick Henry biographer. Through his influence, the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation was presented with the item in 1949 by Susan Hill Dabney (1892–1986), a descendant of Patrick Henry.
Note that there was some ambiguity as to who donated this book. Dr. Kevin Hayes, in "The Mind of a Patriot: Patrick Henry and the World of Ideas," asserts that Elizabeth Henry Lyons (1855–1920) gave the book to Susan Dabney, who, in turn, presented it to the foundation. The object file merely states that Ms. Dabney presented the book at the same time as the Latin book (76.26.1) was presented by Dr. Meade.