PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON SIGNS A “DOLLAR A YEAR MAN” CHECK FOR SERVICES RENDERED IN WORLD WAR I

WILSON, (THOMAS) WOODROW. (1856-1924). Twenty-eighth President of the United States. Scarce Document Signed “Woodrow Wilson”, as President. Wilson signs a ‘War Industries Board Check’ for one dollar.  Countersigned by Chairman of the War Industries Board BERNARD BARUCH (1870-1965) American financier, statesman and political consultant. 8½” x 3¼”. Washington, D.C., September 6, 1919.  Made payable to Sylvan I. Stroock. Two clean tears, repaired with archival tape on verso, light overall toning, and minor chip on left margin.  — Sylvan Stroock to whom this check is issued was president of S. Stroock Company, and was an industry leader in the textile business.  During WWI, he was a member of the Council of National Defense and served as chief of the Felt division of the War Industries Board. Wilson signed this “Dollar a Year Man” check to him, while at this time was preparing to embark on his famous League of Nations tour. Ornate Treasury Department “Thesaur. Amer. Septent. Sigil” Seal vignette at left, with the printed words below:

“Object for which drawn: In acknowledgment of patriotic and valuable services given voluntarily to the United States in time of war.”

Accompanied by another check from the Council of National Defense payable to Stroock for fifty cents, signed by Ellsworth, and dated November 18, 1918.  

The ‘Dollar A Year Men’ was a program inspired by Wilson during World War I to motivate prominent merchants, manufacturers, bankers and other professional men to enter the service of the government as executives in departments in which their expertise could be provided. For their service to the country, they accepted only a token salary of one dollar per year.  A choice item for the collector of Presidential checks and/or financial Americana.    

$3500.00