Man threatens to torch rare document of first African-American to graduate from Harvard

A Chicago man is threatening to burn a rare and historic document if Harvard University does not offer him a large amount of money for them.

Rufus McDonald, 53, found a 140-year-old document, the graduation certificate of Richard T. Greener, the first African-American to graduate from Harvard in 1870. Last year the Sun-Times reported McDonald finding the rare document.

Well McDonald has expressed his sentiment to burn the document to Sun Times if Harvard University does not offer more than the $7,500 they tried to negotiate with him; “I’ll roast and burn them,” he said.

A Harvard representative, contacted by Sun-Times, did not offer much detail about Harvard’s negotiation with McDonald other than they offered the man more $7,500 for the document, reportsHuffington Post.

McDonald has sold some of the papers to other institutions, but has threatened to burn the ones that remain in his possession.

According to the Chicagoist, it appears McDonald has had a change of heart and decided not to go through with his threat, instead waiting for another talk with Harvard University.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.