Certificate for Driving an Automobile in Chicago, Illinois, 1900
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Artifact Overview
The first driver's license ordinance in America was passed by Chicago in 1899. This 1900 license was good for one year.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Driver's license
Date Made
1900
Subject Date
1900
Place of Creation
Creator Notes
Issued by the City of Chicago, Illinois.
Collection Title
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
2006.0.40.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Paper (Fiber product)
Color
Black-and-white (Colors)
Dimensions
Height: 7.5 in
Width: 9.25 in
Inscriptions
At top of certificate:
Power: ~Gasoline~ / Use: ~Private & Business~ / No. ~348~
CITY OF CHICAGO / Certificate of Examination for the Operation of an Automobile, / Autocar, or other Similar Vehicle.
This Certifies that ~ H. Gurlitt ~ has been "duly examined by the Board of Examiners of Operators of Automobiles / as to h[is] physical ability, mental qualifications, and possession of a sufficient amount of mechanical / knowledge and ability to understand the mechanism or apparatus used for propelling or driving an / automobile, autocar, or other similar vehicle, and having satisfied the said Board as to h[is] the said Board as to h[is] competency / therein, is hereby authorized to operate an automobile, autocar, or other similar vehicle upon and / along any of the streets of the City of Chicago, in accordance with the provisions of an ordinance / passed by the City Council of the City of Chicago on the sixth day of July, 1899, and subject to all / the provisions of the ordinances of the City of Chicago relating to vehicles, now in force or which / may hereafter be passed an in force. /
This certificate is valid and has force throughout the City until the thirtieth day of April, 1901, / unless sooner revoked for cause by competent authority.
In Witness Whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and affixed the seal of this Board this [nineteenth] day of [October] 19[00].../
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