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"In God We Trust" history

IGWT on U.S. currency

Congressional actions

Coinage of Cents at the Mint of the United States 38th Congress 1st session Statutes at Large pages 54-55. Mottos on coins to be set by director of the mint. April, 22 1864.
Coinage of Three-Cent Peices 38th Congress 2nd session Statutes at Large pages 517-518. The inscription is mentioned on page 518. March 3, 1865. The bill number was H.R. 807.
Coinage Act of 1873 42nd Congress 3rd session Statutes at Large pages 424-435. The inscription is mentioned on page 427. Feb. 12, 1873. Here is a copy of 42nd Congress 2nd session H.R. 2934. Page 11 discusses the inscriptions. May 29, 1872.
Restoration of the motto on certain gold and silver coins. 60th Congress 1st session Statutes at Large [H.R. 17296] Public Law 120, May 18, 1908 35 Stat. 164. Same converted to text Restoration of the motto on certain gold and silver coins.
Congressional Record volume 42 record 3384-3391. Restoration of motto to coins. March 16, 1908. Same converted to text and divided into 7 parts Restoration of motto to coins page 3384. Restoration rof motto to coins page 3385. Restoration of motto to coins page 3386. Restoration of motto to coins page 3387. Restoration of motto to coins page 3388. Restoration of motto to coins page 3389. Restoration of motto to coins page 3390.
A list of 60th Congress 1st session bills to place the motto on coins.
Text and legislative history of House Resolution 619 The 1st session of the 84th Congress made IGWT mandatory on all currency. Approved July 11, 1955
House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Currency 84th Congress hearing on United States currency inscription. May 17, 1955 (including volume table of contents, section title page, Committee membership, and section table of contents). Same converted to text and divided into six parts. 84th Congress hearing on United States currency inscription page 47. 84th Congress hearing on United States currency inscription pages 48-49. 84th Congress hearing on United States currency inscription pages 50-51. 84th Congress hearing on United States currency inscription pages 52-53. 84th Congress hearing on United States currency inscription page 54-55. 84th Congress hearing on United States currency inscription pages 56-57.
Senate Committee on Banking and Currency 84th Congress hearing on other matters. June 27, 1955. Same converted to text and divided into four parts. 84th Congress hearing on other matters. 84th Congress hearing on other matters page 7. 84th Congress hearing on other matters page 8. 84th Congress hearing on other matters page 9.
84th Congress House of Representatives Report 662 providing that all U.S. currency and coins shall bear the inscription "IGWT". May 26, 1955. Same converted to text and divided into four parts. U.S. currency and coins shall bear the inscription "IGWT". U.S. currency and coins shall bear the inscription "IGWT" page 2. U.S. currency and coins shall bear the inscription "IGWT" page 3. U.S. currency and coins shall bear the inscription "IGWT" page 4.
84th Congress Senate Report 637 providing that all Inscription "In God We Trust" on currency and coins. June 27, 1955. Same converted to text and divided into two parts. Inscription "In God We Trust" on currency and coins. Inscription "In God We Trust" on currency and coins page 2.
Congressional Record volume 101 record 4384. Putting "In God We Trust" on Our Currency Representative Bennett of Florida. Same converted to text. Putting "In God We Trust" on Our Currency Representative Bennett of Florida.
Congressional Record volume 101 records 7795-7796. Inscription of "IGWT" on all U.S. currency and coins. Reperesentatives Gross and Bennett. Same converted to text and divided into two parts. Inscription of "IGWT" on all U.S. currency and coins page 7795. Inscription of "IGWT" on all U.S. currency and coins page 7796. Reperesentatives Gross and Bennett.
Congressional Record volume 101 records 9448-9449. Inscription on all U.S. currency. Reperesentatives Johnson of Texas, Monroney, Carlson, and Case of South Dakota. Same converted to text and divided into two parts. Inscription on all U.S. currency page 9948. Inscription on all U.S. currency page 9949. Reperesentatives Johnson of Texas, Monroney, Carlson, and Case of South Dakota.
Article from Christopher News Notes No. 75 of May 1956 that was entered into the Congressional Record (84th 2nd session). "On Every Dollar Bill". Same converted to text and divided into two parts. "On Every Dollar Bill" page A4303. "On Every Dollar Bill" page A4304.
To revise certain laws related to money and finance 97th Congress 1st session Statutes at Large volume 96 pages 877, 981-983 [H.R. 6128] Public Law 258, Sept. 13, 1982. Same converted to text and divided into five parts Statues at Large volume 96 part 1 title page. Statues at Large volume 96 part 1 page 877. Statues at Large volume 96 part 1 page 981. Statues at Large volume 96 part 1 page 982. Statues at Large volume 96 part 1 page 983.
1996 Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games Commemorative Coin Act 102nd Congress 2nd session Statutes at Large volume 106 pages 1620, 1624, and 1630 [H.R. 3654] Public Law 390, Oct. 6, 1992. Same converted to text and divided into four parts Statutes at LArge volume 106 part 1 tite page. Statutes at Large volume 106 part 1 page 1620. Statutes at Large volume 106 part 1 page 1624. Statutes at Large volume 106 part 1 page 1630.

Media coverage

Several Arkansas Gazette articles Camden Man Asks Treasury To Put Religious Motto on Bills. December 6, 1956 and Almighty Dollar Mentions God Because of Arkansan. March 4, 1955. and Camden Man Puts God on Dollar Bill. April 22, 1956. and Camden man "top dollar" in coin show. March 11, 1988. JPG format.
The Gideon article "In God We Trust" New Postage Stamp to Carry Message to World. May, 1955. Same converted to text and divided into three parts. "In God We Trust" New Postage Stamp to Carry Message to World page 24. "In God We Trust" New Postage Stamp to Carry Message to World page 25. "In God We Trust" New Postage Stamp to Carry Message to World page 48.
Antique and Collecting article The Man Who Put God's Trust in Your Pocket. July, 1987.

Unpublished correspondance

Letters from Matthew Rothert to the Arkansas Gazette December 7, 1953. to President Eisenhower November 20, 1953. JPG format.
Letters to Matthew Rothert from Senator Fulbright November 30, 1953. from Christian Herald magazine February 19, 1954. JPG format.
Ohio Governor Taft wife's comments regarding her father Matthew Rothert "In God We Trust"

IGWT as national motto

Congressional actions

Text and legislative history of House Join Resolution 396 The 2nd session of the 84th Congress made IGWT the national motto (last page is temporarily missing, here is a poor quality image). Approved July 30, 1956 Same converted to text and divided into four parts Congressional and Administrative News volume 1 title page. Congressional and Administrative News volume 1 page 855. Congressional and Administrative News volume 2 title page. Congressional and Administrative News volume 2 page 33720.
84th Congress House of Representatives Committee of the Judiciary, Subcommittee No. 4 hearing To establish a National Motto of the United States. February 24, 1956. Same converted to text and divided into nine parts. To establish a National Motto of the United States index. To establish a National Motto of the United States. To establish a National Motto of the United States page 2. To establish a National Motto of the United States page 3. To establish a National Motto of the United States page 4. To establish a National Motto of the United States page 5. To establish a National Motto of the United States page 6. To establish a National Motto of the United States page 7.
84th Congress House of Representatives Report 1959 National Motto. May 28, 1956. Same converted to text and divided into two parts. National Motto. National Motto page 2.
84th Congress Senate Report 2703 National Motto. Julyy 20, 1956. Same converted to text and divided into two parts. National Motto. National Motto page 2.
Congressional Record volume 102 record 13917. Establishment of national motto of the United States H.J.R. 396. The 2nd session of the 84th Congress made IGWT the national motto. Senator Holland. Same converted to text. Establishment of national motto of the United States H.J.R. 396. Senator Holland.
Public Law 84-851. National Motto. Same converted to text Public Law 84-851.
Congressional Record volume 138 record 13917. 1992 revision to IGWT inscription on currency law. See section 226. Same converted to text 1992 revision to IGWT inscription on currency law. July 28, 1956.

Media coverage

Several NY Times articles House Asks U.S. Motto of "In God We Trust" April 17, 1956 and "In God We Trust" biography of national motto. July 28, 1956.

Judicial activity regarding IGWT on currency and/or as motto

Aronow v. United States 432 F.2d 242 (1970). Converted to text and divided into three parts Aronow v. United States page 242 Aronow v. United States page 243 Aronow v. United States page 244
Madalyn Murray O'Hair, et al. v. W. Michael Blumenthal, Secretary of Treasury, et al. 588 F.2d 1144 (1979) Converted to text and divided into two parts Madalyn Murray O'Hair, et al. v. W. Michael Blumenthal, et al. title page Madalyn Murray O'Hair, et al. v. W. Michael Blumenthal, et al. page 1144
FFRF v. US Department of Treasury 74 F.3d 214 (1996) Converted to text and divided into five parts FFRF v. US Department of Treasury title page FFRF v. US Department of Treasury page 214 FFRF v. US Department of Treasury page 215 FFRF v. US Department of Treasury page 216 FFRF v. US Department of Treasury page 217
FFRF v. US Department of Treasury First Amended Complaint 1996?
Newdow v. Congress of the U.S. et. al. Original Complaint November 2005

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