President James Douthat of Lycoming College stumbled upon a rare historical document while clearing up his office in preparation for his retirement.

He found a certificate signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 for the college's founder, Benjamin Crever, who once served as a Civil War chaplain.

President Douthat will be retiring in end-June after the end of his 24-year tenure. He was clearing out boxes from his office when he discovered the certificate, which he first mistook for a black-framed access panel.

"Displayed inside a slightly worn black frame, the certificate itself appears to be in good condition. Lincoln's neat signature is clearly visible, just above an ornate, patriotic-themed imprint at the bottom of the commission certificate for Methodist clergy Benjamin Crever. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton also signed the document."

Douthat said that he had never seen the document during his time at the college, although he had heard about its existence.

"In the back of my mind, I remember hearing about it," Douthat said. He claimed that he never went searching for the document and did not know how it looked like. When I took it down, of course I recognized Lincoln's signature immediately. I assume it was in the top of the closet 24 years ago. I had never seen it. It was a pleasant surprise just to see it," said Douthat.

"It was (initially) discovered a while ago," said Janet McNeil Hurlbert, associate dean and library director. "And then it got ... put someplace else for a while."

The "lost and found" Lincoln document is estimated to be worth over $6,000. However, it will not be sold. It will temporarily be placed in the college archives until the college decides where to permanently store the document.