Synthesis and structural characterizations of nitro- and aminobenzyl cellulose were carried out. Cellulose derivatives were synthesized by etherification. Nitrobenzylation produced 80 % yield by treating a mixture of microcrystalline cellulose, 4-dimethyl aminopyridine, and 4-nitrobenzyl chloride at $80^{circ}C$ for 10 h. Nitrobenzyl cellulose was then reduced to aminobenzyl cellulose with 93 % yield using indium metal in ethanol and saturated aqueous ammonium chloride. In addition to their structural characterizations by FT-IR and $^{13}C$ CP/MAS NMR, TGA will also be described. These reactions serve as models for future cotton fiber finishing technology with applications in flame resistance.