MADISON, N.J. (RNS) As an 18-year-old freshman at Drew University, William J. Scott was hired to work at the school’s archives center. He was entrusted with a key to the climate-controlled rooms housing centuries-old letters signed by presidents, generals and the founders of the Methodist faith.

Yellowed and faded, the letters are treasured by scholars for their insight into Methodist history and the work of 18th- and 19th-century ministers around the globe.

But, authorities say, Scott had a different interest in the letters that are worth thousands of dollars.

Scott, from Longmeadow, Mass., was charged Monday (March 15) in federal court with stealing between 21 and 23 of the letters and trying to sell them to a historical document dealer in the United Kingdom.

The stolen documents included letters to Methodist leaders signed by President Abraham Lincoln, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and former Chinese first lady Madame Chiang Kai-Shek.

“It is a sad day when a student at one of our nation’s learning institutions pilfers great cultural and historical resources, rather than respects and learns from them,” U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said.

Drew was founded in 1868 as a Methodist seminary. The archives center houses the church’s repository, including more than 100,000 books, photographs taken by traveling missionaries and letters written by the church founders, John and Charles Wesley. Some are worth up to $12,000.

The space is closed to the public and kept at a steady 70 degrees and 50 percent humidity. As part of his job, Scott was given a key.

On March 1, authorities say, Scott contacted the dealer in the United Kingdom, saying he had some Wesley letters to sell. The dealer asked to see a sample, and Scott allegedly mailed off about 10. Two were damaged en route, and the dealer grew suspicious about why they were packaged so sloppily, authorities said.

So the dealer called Drew University to see if something was wrong, authorities said. School officials searched the archive and determined up to 23 letters had been stolen, authorities said. Scott was arrested Sunday by the FBI.

Agents found six of the Wesley letters and about 11 other historical documents in a dresser drawer in his dorm room closet, authorities said.

Scott was charged with theft of historical and cultural documents. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew E. Beck said the charges include a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Scott was released on $50,000 bail. His lawyer, Deborah D. Factor, declined to comment. Drew University spokesman David Muha declined to say if Scott had been fired from his job or kicked out of school.

“We have had student workers in the archives for 25 years, and this is the first time we have had a problem,” Muha said, adding that the school was reviewing security at the archive.