Postal examination application and exam filled out and taken by the then 19-year-old Rockne. Included are the notarized two-page 8.5 x 14 Civil Service examination application, dated January 28, 1907, filled out and signed twice by Rockne, who answers over 30 questions regarding his personal history and background, including his age, birthplace, residence, current occupation “clerk,” current salary “$520,” and his health record. Signed at the conclusion, “Knute Rockne,” adding his mailing address underneath. The second page of the application bears two personal vouchers, filled out by acquaintances of Rockne attesting to his information and character; this page is also signed on the docket by Rockne, adding several other lines of information. Also included is Rockne’s seven page Post Office Service Clerk-Carrier Examination, given on February 7, 1907, completely filled out in Rockne’s hand, with the third page not present. First page bears printed instructions, with Rockne’s individual section scores listed at the bottom, as well as his total average percentage as “83.90.” The exam consisted of a 20-word spelling test, five math problems, a penmanship test for which he wrote a 17-line paragraph, a geography test, and an assessment of his ability to read addresses. The final page consists of personal questions regarding potential employment, where he requests a salary of $600. Old tape repairs to central horizontal folds, scattered toning, pencil notations and marks to pages, paper loss to application, punch hole to each top corner, and moderate handling wear, otherwise very good condition. Before he became college football’s ‘most-renowned coach,’ Rockne—at his father’s urging—applied for this job as a postal clerk. The results of this offered examination were good enough to earn him his $600 asking price beginning in March 1907. By age 22, with his pay now at $1,000, he had saved enough money to leave Chicago and head to South Bend, Indiana. Pre-certified PSA/DNA.
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