Membership certificate to the American Colonization Society

A membership certificate to the American Colonization Society for Sarah Emlen Cresson signed by James Madison as the president of the society on February 22, 1832. The certificate has pre-printed text with spaces for filling in the date and member name by hand. At the center top of the certificate is a bundle of dark clouds with a half-circle of sun rays bursting from it. At the center bottom is a seal that shows a ship following a bird across the ocean to Liberia with text in the outer rim reading "LUX IN TENEBRIS / AM: COL: SOC: A.D. 1816." The seal is surrounded by various types of foliage. The certificate is signed in the bottom left corner by "R.R. Gurley, Secretary" and in the bottom right corner by "James Madison Presed't" inside the lined border of the certificate, and in the bottom left corner outside the border "Attest / Elliott Cresson / 1 mo 8. 1834". The reverse is blank.
Medium: ink on paper
Dimensions: H x W: 9 x 11 3/8 in. (22.9 x 28.9 cm)
Object number: 2010.77.9
Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Signed by: James Madison, American, 1751 - 1836 ; Ralph Randolph Gurley, American, 1797 - 1872 ; Elliott Cresson, American, 1797 - 1854
Received by: Sarah Emlen Cresson, American
Issued by: American Colonization Society, American, 1816 - 1964
Place: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture