1934 lithograph of U.S. Constitution to hang at courthouse

Published 10:32 am Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Gary Stephenson presented a 1934 print of the Constitution Tuesday at the Freeborn County Government Center. Area veterans organizations were present for the event. Pictured, from left, are the VFW’s Jim Hockinson and the American Legion’s Wes Halverson, Dave Mullenbach, Bill Goette and Lowell Peterson. – Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

By Sam Wilmes

The Freeborn County Government Center will now feature a unique piece of American history.

A 1934 lithograph of the U.S. Constitution was presented to the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners Tuesday morning.

“This lithograph is a reminder of the foundation of this country,” said Gary Stephenson, a Fort Dodge, Iowa, native.

U.S. Constitution lithographs from 1934 were discovered in a Chicago warehouse in 1987, Stephenson said. His father, Daniel Stephenson, began selling the lithographs in 1990.

Daniel Stephenson borrowed $15,000 in 2003 from an acquaintance in Fort Dodge to buy 200 1934 U.S. Constitution lithographs, Gary Stephenson said.

Gary Stephenson said his father, who died in September 2008, had about 184 lithographs of the U.S. Constitution from 1934 donated to cities and towns for their schools, libraries, courthouses and other public places.

Daniel Stephenson also sold lithographs to individuals and businesses.

Daniel Stephenson sold lithographs of the 1934 lithographed U.S. Constitution to 25 Iowa courthouses prior to his death. Gary Stephenson took it upon himself to furnish the lithographs for every courthouse in Iowa and has nearly completed his mission.

“To form a perfect union we have to work at it,” Gary Stephenson said. “We can never forget our veterans. We owe a debt to them that can never be repaid.”

“As we celebrate more than 225 years since the enactment of this great document, may we all come to enjoy its beauty,” a summary document said. “May we also recognize our Founding Fathers for their unique wisdom. We must never forget those who have served and sacrificed while defending the Constitution.”

The lithograph was donated to the Freeborn County Government Center by area businesses and private individuals.

Freeborn County Commissioner Mike Lee said he was pleased with the donation.

“It’s great,” Lee said. “The lithograph honors the Constitution and our veterans. It’s going to be placed in a prominent place in the courthouse and it’s not going to cost the county anything.”

The lithograph will be placed near the Declaration of Independence, and Lee said Tuesday morning he expects the lithograph to be in place soon.

Stephenson hopes 1934 U.S. Constitution lithographs can be donated to more counties in Minnesota and neighboring states.

He said he still has access to more than 100 prints.