number denotes the year in which the passport is issued. The first year of each decade is coded "A"; the second year is coded "B"; the third year is "C"; and so forth. Thus, the first passport issued on January 2, 1961, was numbered "B000001," the second "B000002," et cetera. (Exhibit 43) The 1962 series started with "C000001" and continued on in this fashion. The code letter prefix in 1970, the beginning of a new decade, became "A." The 1976 Bicentennial passport uses the prefix "G." The numbering sequence for all passports except the regular type was originally intended to be in effect for a 10-year period beginning on January 1, 1961. This sequence was extended on March 25, 1969, for another 10-year period. Passports with numbers perforated through the front cover and pages 1 through 6 appeared in 1962. This procedure, adopted as a special security feature, continues to this time for all types of U.S. passports. Certain regular passports issued in Washington, D.C., in 1963 included a double alphabetical prefix instead of the usual single prefix. Prefixes "DB" and "DC" were used during that year to utilize the large number of passport books on hand from the previous calendar year. The double alphabetical prefix was used again in calendar years 1973 and 1974, because of the economic conditions which unexpectedly reduced the number of U.S. citizens traveling abroad and fewer passports were issued than anticipated. By this system the Passport Office used existing stocks of passport books in the next calendar year. Diplomatic passport numbers X000001 and X000002 are reserved for the Secretary of State and his wife. Upon vacating his position, the outgoing Secretary of State turns in passports X000001 and X000002. They are canceled and returned to him. New passports X000001 and X000002 are then issued to the incoming Secretary and his wife. This precedent began on January 20, 1969, when William P. Rogers replaced Dean Rusk as Secretary of State, and has continued ever since. Secretary's Message and Signature Passports always expressed the purpose and nature of the document in a short paragraph or two. Signatures were required on the document to attest to its genuineness. The practice of U.S. Secretaries of State personally signing passports began on March 22, 1790, with the first Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson, and continued until Secretary William H. Seward (March 6, 1861 to March 4, 1869). Secretary Seward, faced with an increased volume of passports to be issued, permitted rubber or metal stamps to be used for affixing his signature to the documents.5 Secretary Elihu Root (July 19, 1905 to January 27, 1909) went a step further by having his facsimile signature engraved on passport plates and printed in the passport. The printed signature of the Secretary of State remained in passports until January 1, 1961. The Secretary of State's message, prior to 1961, was written in the first person. On January 1, 1961, a revised passport format changed the Secretary's message from the first to the third person, thus eliminating the need for a signature. With this costsaving improvement, stocks of passports stored worldwide could be used continuously without regard to a change of Secretary of State. The message on diplomatic passports, however, remained written in the first person and these continued to be personally signed by the Secretary of State. In 1963, upon instruction from the Secretary the message reverted to the first person and the Secretary's signature again appeared on the passport. This remained in effect until December 31, 1968, when the message was changed to the third person for all types of passports, including the diplomatic. (Exhibit 46) Occupation For almost 140 years U.S. passport regulations prohibited the insertion in passports of professional or official titles or statements of business or occupation. These restrictions pertained to the use of titles indicating the bearer's profession, such as "Reverend," "Doctor," et cetera. In 1847 these rules were broadened when the Department by a special interpretation declined to include the title "Adjutant General of Rhode Island" in a passport because "it is not the custom of the Department to insert in passports official designations of character indicated . "6 Years later, in 1896, the Department stated "the regulations of the Department do not permit insertion in the passport of the occupation or the title of the recipient." In 1900 the Department reiterated that as the U.S. naturalization laws required renunciation of any title or order of nobility, a passport would not be issued to a naturalized citizen under such a title or designation. 5 J.B. Moore, A Digest of International Law, vol. II, U.S. Government Printing Office, Wash., D.C., 1906, p. 866. 6 Gaillard Hunt, The American Passport, U.S. Government Printing Office, Wash., D.C., 1898, p. 216. 7 Ibid. Prior to World War I (1914-1918), questions regarding titles were confined to professional or class titles rather than occupational titles. Subsequent requirements of foreign governments made it necessary to change passport applications and books to include the bearer's own statement of occupation, e.g., mechanic, engineer, general manager, salesman, artist, et cetera. The regulations stipulated that occupations listed in passports should be general and condensed without changing the meaning and should describe the individual rather than his occupational field. Business concerns, trademark names, names of organizations, and titles were not acceptable. The data on occupation was deleted on the passport with the introduction of the new format in 1961. Photographs Photographs were first required in U.S. passports on December 21, 1914, when Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan issued an order requiring unmounted photographs, not larger than 3 inches by 3 inches, on thin paper, be submitted with applications. Two photographs were attached to the passport application: one copy was attached to the passport being issued and its upper edge was partly stamped with the impression seal of the issuing office; the second photograph was attached to and retained on the application. Explicit instructions regarding the requirements of photographs in passports were issued by President Woodrow Wilson on February 1, 1915.9 On and after March 7, 1924, the applicant was required to sign his photograph when applying for a passport. The signing of the photograph provided a written record to identify the rightful bearer of the passport, reduced the possibility of fraud, and insured that the proper photograph was attached to the application and passport. Beginning March 15, 1929, photographs of infants were required on passports. The Passport Office set standards for the use of color photographs in passports and on February 1, 1958, the United States became the first country to accept them for that purpose. Since February 1958, both color and black-and-white photographs have been acceptable for use in passports. Current Passport Office regulations require the submission of two duplicate color or black-and-white passport photographs with 8 General Instruction Consular Circular No. 370. 9 Executive order, Jan. 12, 1915. the passport application. The photograph cannot be smaller than 212 inches by 21/2 inches or larger than 3 inches by 3 inches and must have been taken within 6 months of the application date. It must be a good likeness for identification purposes and be signed by the bearer on the front left side without marring the features. Passport photographs must be clear, front view, full-faced, and include only the applicant's head and shoulders or upper torso against a light, plain background. Prescription glasses, hearing aids, wigs, or appearance aids that are normally used by the applicant should be worn in the photographs. Dark glasses make identification difficult and are unacceptable unless required for medical reasons. Street or travel attire is appropriate; a hat should not be worn unless it is part of religious attire worn daily. Active members of the U.S. Armed Forces traveling on official orders are permitted to wear uniforms in passport photographs. A group photograph has been preferred when a wife or husband and/ or children are to be included in the passport. Passport photographs should have a matte or dull finish, although shiny or glossy prints are acceptable if the signature ink adheres to the surface. Photographs with waxed backs or other coatings are not acceptable. The Seal and the Legend The Seal An Act of Congress in 1789 established the official seal of the United States. The custody of the seal was placed under the Secretary of State.1o Of many and diverse uses made of the seal, perhaps the most important was on passports issued by the Department to U.S. citizens. The first seal contained the American eagle in the center, a cluster of 13 stars above its head, an olive branch in the eagle's right talon, and a sheaf of arrows in its left. Until 1856, other seals were used in passports issued by notaries public, ship captains, customs officers, mayors, and gover nors. The only passport document in the Department of State's records containing the signature of Secretary Thomas Jefferson appears to be a handwritten copy of a document issued April 10, 1793, to Philip Atkins and 10 crew members of the ship Sussex. (Exhibit 8) It mentions that the seal was placed on the document in the space provided for it in the lower left-hand corner. 10 Act of Sept. 15, 1789. |