Saturday, July 14, 2007

Notary Public

Another find while decluttering: The Art-Official Notary and Corporation Handbook ("Important information concerning the duties and functions of notaries public, and useful general data"), with a 1959 copyright. I found this item in an office supply store, just a few years ago, and had to buy it. (Cf. Charlie Brown and his tree: "I think it needs me.") In the early 1990s, this store had 45-year-old pencils still for sale.

The last fifteen pages of the handbook show sample seals from various states and counties. These two pages caught my attention:



Amid Smiths and a Doe, one name stands out as genuine. The Social Security Death Index lists no Isidore Charkatz, but it does list an Isadore Charkatz. Mr. Charkatz was born in 1910 and died in 2001. His Social Security card was issued in Maryland, and his residence at the time of his death was Baltimore. I wonder whether his family has a copy of the little book that displays his seal.

Another decluttering post
Covering v. uncovering

comments: 2

Brandon said...

I also bought my "Art-Official Notary and Corporation Handbook" from a store that still had 40-year-old pencils for sale. Did you ever try to contact the family?

Michael Leddy said...

I wonder if it could be the same store. :)

No, I didn’t try to contact the family. I never feel very certain about whether it’s wise to do so. (I think I’ve done it just once.) But people often find posts like this one, and I’m happy when they do.