Who handwrote the engrossed parchment copy of the Declaration of Independence?

Timothy Matlack handwrote the engrossed parchment copy of the Declaration of Independence.

After Congress approved the declaration’s wording, an official copy was prepared on parchment for signing. Timothy Matlack, a clerk associated with the Continental Congress, is traditionally identified as the scribe who produced this carefully written version.

Thomas Jefferson wrote the principal draft, but he did not handwrite the final engrossed document. This distinction is often blurred because Jefferson’s authorship is central to the declaration’s history. The engrossed parchment is the large, formal document displayed today at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

The parchment bears the date July 4, 1776, and the signatures of the delegates. Most historians believe the principal signing occurred on August 2, though some delegates signed later. The handwriting, parchment, and signatures together make the document one of the most recognizable artifacts associated with America250.