The January earthquake that killed upward of 250,000 on the island-nation of Haiti is just the latest chapter of misery endured by the people there.

But Haiti received a small piece of good historical news recently when an American college graduate student discovered a copy of Haiti's Declaration of Independence sent to foreign governments in 1804, declaring separation of colonial masters in France.

Haiti, the world's first black nation, has sought surviving copies of the eight-page pamphlet for centuries.

But they had gone undiscovered until Duke University announced that a graduate history student named Julia Gaffield found what might be the only copy while searching through 19th century letters at Great Britain's National Archives in London.

It is a bit ironic that the Declaration of Independence was found at a time when Haiti couldn't be more dependent on other governments for its very survival. Donors led by the United States, Europe and Brazil have pledged nearly $4 billion in reconstruction aid over the next two years.

The donation amounts are especially impressive when viewed against the skepticism many countries have toward giving to Haiti, which has a long history of government corruption and misspending.

The discovery of the freedom document will do little to fix what ails Haiti at the moment, especially with the rainy season fast approaching and threatens to flood areas where earthquake refugees have settled to escape damaged buildings.

But as Haitian ambassador to the U.S. Raymond Joseph said after the document's discovery, every bit of good news is welcomed.

"It will help to build their pride," Joseph said of Haitian people in an interview with the Associated Press. "When people have pride in themselves and their country, they do great things."