Roots & Jones: Pens with a Past
We are excited to introduce two new fountain pens to The Great Republic, each crafted from historic American wood and created to preserve a tangible connection to the past. Made by the American pen company Roots & Jones, these writing instruments transform historic wood from important places and moments in American history into objects intended to be used everyday and passed down for generations.
The George Washington Commander Fountain Pen is crafted from white oak planted at Mount Vernon in 1785 at George Washington’s direction. The tree was one of three oaks that once lined the historic entry road to his estate. Known as the Civil War Trees, the oaks stood for more than two centuries and bore witness to generations of American history. Following the Civil War, General William Tecumseh Sherman’s soldiers visited Mount Vernon and carved their insignia, a star and a cross, into the trees. Over time, the oaks were lost to age and condition and the final tree fell in 2017.
A small section of this preserved historic material was entrusted to Roots & Jones by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, following an extraordinary effort to make the wood available for preservation and educational purposes. The white oak was used to create the body and pen caps of these George Washington Commander Fountain Pens. Each pen also features Washington’s initials embossed on the finial, an 18K gold medium nib, and both cartridge and converter filling systems. It is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity signed by the 24th Regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association and custom presentation box. Proceeds from the sale of these pens directly support the continued preservation of Mount Vernon.
The USS Missouri Fountain Pen uses wood from a later chapter of American history. It is crafted from teak wood that once formed part of the decks of the USS Missouri (BB-63), the legendary battleship commissioned during World War II. The Missouri is perhaps best remembered as the site of the Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945, marking the formal conclusion of the Second World War.
Teak was selected for the ship's decks for its exceptional durability and resistance to the marine environment. This particular wood weathered the years of the Missouri's service before being preserved and repurposed into commemorative objects following the ship's decommissioning in 1992. The ship’s teak was used in the body and pen caps of the fountain pens. Each USS Missouri Fountain Pen is fitted with an 18K gold nib and includes a cartridge and converter, a Roots & Jones Certificate of Authenticity, and presentation box.
We have always sought out American-made goods that have a meaningful connection to the history of our country, choosing objects not simply for their fine craftsmanship, but for the stories behind them. Roots & Jones is a Kentucky-based American pen company founded by grandfather and grandson Jim Cantrell and Ryan Jones. What began with Jim’s woodworking hobby in his Kentucky barn has grown into a family enterprise built around craftsmanship, history, and the belief that meaningful American materials should continue to have a life beyond their original purpose. These Roots & Jones pens are particularly fitting new additions to our shop’s collection, bringing together American craftsmanship and tangible relics of American history.
Both are now available at The Great Republic in limited quantities, each accompanied by its original presentation box and Certificate of Authenticity. Shop them online or in our Colorado Springs shop.
