3 December 1870

Lee, Mary Custis, 1808-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Colonel Marshall

Possibly to Colonel Charles Marshall, Lee's aide during the Civil War. Mary writes "to collect some incidents in the early life of my husband." States she is "too feeble and unwell to do the subject justice" and asks him to correct errors in dates. Asks that her name not be used. States he had included a sheet with extracts of letters Lee wrote to her (included). Says that when she is well again she can supply more letters and information. The handwritten sheet of dated extracts she includes deal with subjects such as Lee's good treatment of slaves, the death of Stonewall Jackson, the…

GLC05728

1839/07/30

Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas G. Morgan

A detailed personal letter of condolence for the death of Bedford Morgan during the second Seminole War, written to Morgan's brother, Judge Morgan of Baton Rouge, at the insistence of their sister, Ann Gibbes Barker. Explains the circumstances of Morgan's death, as one of eighteen killed on a mission to trade with the Seminole Indians. Claims that the surprise attack and murders by the Seminoles violated a recent peace agreement made with General Macomb at Fort King. Describes the Seminoles as "the most evil & treacherous savages that ever existed."

GLC05737

10 May 1878

Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Greenleaf Whittier

Garrison replies to a letter from Whittier, the Quaker poet and abolitionist. Discusses the deaths of other abolitionists. Whittier had informed Garrison of the death of Captain Jonathan Walker, a fellow abolitionist. Laments Walker's death, describing him as "a kind-hearted, honest, unsophisticated man, who, for attempting to aid certain slaves to escape from their taskmasters, bore with martyr-like fortitude and serenity the penalty burnt into his living flesh by the decree of a court acting in accordance with the provisions of the Slave Code." Notes that the "SS" which was burnt on…

GLC05748

11 February 1786

Adams, Abigail, 1744-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Thomas Jefferson]

Regrets that Colonel Humphries will be leaving Monday because her admiration for him and their friendship has grown over his stay. She believes that the two American Secretaries of Legation are worthy of more distinguished stations because "in Europe every being is estimated, and every country valued in proportion to their show & splendor." Expresses her wish to return to America and a private life. "I am really surfeited with Europe, and most heartily long for the rural cottage, the purer & honester manners of my native land." Begins discussing the appointment of a minister and…

GLC05749

16 April 1861

Sheldon, J., fl. 1861

Print

Title: Departure of the Lynn Light Infantry for the Defense of Washington

Color lithograph by artist J. Sheldon, lithographed by J.H. Bufford's Company at 260 Washington Street, Boston. Shows regiment in red beefeaters style uniform marching toward viewer. A three story stone building in a salmon color dominates the left side of the image, while smaller wooden frame houses are seen in the fore and backgrounds. Civilians gather in the foreground and in building windows to see the troops off, including a black boy playing a drum in the lower right corner of the image. Girl at the center of the image carries a rolling hoop. Verso has note in pencil that says "…

GLC05508.273

10 February 1845

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Angier

Sends Angier a condolence letter upon the death of his wife (and Adams' niece), Abigail Smith Adams.

GLC05513

circa 1987-1989

Leigh, Janet, fl. 1987-1989

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Atlee Kohl

Response to Kohl's solicitation letter. Leigh discusses the influence religion has had on her and her belief in God. As she matured, a structure to house her God, labels, and denominations became unnecessary because, she believes, the Supreme Being is in each person. Whenever she mutters before a take she is saying "Life is the showing forth of the very Self of God." She says science cannot explain everything, and comments that she needs the conception that there is a more powerful spirit than just her.

GLC05508.276

3 November 1988

Cartland, Barbara, 1902-2000

Typed letter signed

Title: to Atlee Kohl

Response to a solicitation by Kohl. Cartland sends a poetic prayer about eternal life.

GLC05508.279

27 February 1987

Day, Doris, 1924-2019

Typed letter signed

Title: to Atlee Kohl

Response to Kohl's solicitation letter. Although at first reluctant to include her religious views in the Woodland Historical Document Collection, Day writes: "My religion is what I feel inside, and my own personal contact with my maker. I talk to God, but don't feel that I have to go to church to do that. I always try to live the Golden Rule, and that, to me, is religion." She asks Kohl's donation be given to the Doris Day Pet Foundation.

GLC05508.282

3 October 1988

De Havilland, Olivia, 1916-2020

Typed letter signed

Title: to Atlee Kohl

Response to Kohl's solicitation letter. Olivia de Havilland writes that she cannot adequately describe her religious views at this time because her life is too demanding to afford her the necessary time for reflection. She does add, however, that she has a strong faith in a universal, benevolent power and the efficacy of prayer.

GLC05508.283

2 December 1988

Neal, Patricia, 1926-?

Typed document signed

Title: to Atlee Kohl

Response to Kohl's solicitation letter. Neal includes an excerpt from her 1988 autobiography, "As I am," written at the Abbey of Regina Laudis, a Benedictine monastery, where she made "sense of all the tragedies in her life" and renewed her faith in God. The excerpt discusses God's roll in her recovery from a stroke. An accompanying card requests Kohl's donation be given to the Abbey of Regina Laudis.

GLC05508.288

16 April 1673

Bradstreet, Simon, ?-1697

Document signed

Title: Elizabeth Stevenes widow being now in the 60 year of my age.

Deposition sworn before Bradstreet concerning the medical mis-treatment of her brother's son Samuel.

GLC05534

circa 1850s

Longfellow, Henry W., 1807-1882

Manuscript document

Title: [Allegorical verses on slavery]

Written in Harriet Beecher Stowe's hand. Her clipped signature ("H B Stowe") has been pasted to the end of the poem. Despite being in Stowe's hand and having the addition of Stowe's signature, both poems are actually 1842 works on slavery by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the first being a poem in five stanzas dedicated to William E. Channing. The second in three stanzas is titled "The Warning."

GLC05570

8 June 1890

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to May Delany

To "the daughter of the daughter of my friend who sheltered me forty and five years ago, when I was a man without a country, a stranger and or sojourner, with little money and few friends, shall now have my autograph. No effort of memory is required to recall the welcome visit of yourself and your precious mother at that dingy hotel overlooking the Thames...." Hopes to meet up with Delany later in the summer, if she passes through Washington D.C. (Douglass had a home in D.C. called "Cedar Hill"). Writes, "I have grown somewhat old in this fierce tropical climate but I am still quite wide…

GLC05906

1861 October

Photograph signed

Title: [William Farquhar Barry]

Carte de visite of the Union Chief of Artillery, 1/2 length portrait. Inscribed to Ms. Belle Riley." Barry served as Chief of Artillery from 1st Bull Run through the Peninsula Campaign.

GLC05918.01

23 February 1827

Royall, Anne Newport, fl. 1827

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Knapp

Novelist and travel writer Royall asks "Col. Knapp" to help her promote her novel, The Tennessean, which had been privately published in New Haven that year. His promotion would encourage the Boston house of Richardson & Lord to republish the work. She neglected to bring enough copies and suggests he borrow a copy either from Massachusetts Congressman Edward Everett or Mr. Watterson. Docketed. Address on verso of last page.

GLC05956

1 May 1789

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nathaniel Freeman

An amusing and friendly letter to his former Harvard classmate. Discusses their correspondence. Also discusses the visit to town of two young women (Miss Charlotte Geyer and Miss Breck) who Adams wishes to meet "under the shade of an amorous myrtle." Mentions a magazine and publishing by Geyer and other women. Also comments on his legal education and his study habits: "I have no reason to boast of my industry...mere professional books should claim but a small part of a student's application." Asks for a subscription to the Herald of Freedom.

GLC05902

29 November 1859

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Stearns

Written three days before his execution. He asks to be "spared from having any mock; or hypocritical prayers made over me, when I am publicly murdered: & that my only religious attendants be poor little, dirty, ragged, bare headed, & barefooted Slave Boys; & Girls led by some old gray headed Slave Mother...Farewell, Farewell." Docket reads "please mail this to her." Addressed to "Mrs. George L. Stearns." Mary's husband George was a member of The Secret Six, the group that financed Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry.

GLC05925.01

1851/11/06

Hale, Sarah J.B., 1788-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Caroline Gilman

Apologizes for the publisher's loss of Gilman's portrait that Hale had borrowed for the printing of her book, "Women's record" (New York, 1853).

GLC05955

1858

Stowe, Harriet Beecher, 1811-1896

Book

Title: Father Henson's story of his own life.

Life of Father Josiah Henson with frontis portraits. Published by John P. Jewett & Co. in Boston and Henry P. B. Jewett in Cleveland. First edition.

GLC05957

29 November 1861 - 6 December 1861

Boughton, Nisbet & Barnes

Header Record

Title: Daily federal union.

The collection contains five 1861 issues with particular attention to war news and minutes of the Georgia Legislature. Many of the same articles appear reprinted in each issue, namely lists of the members of the various standing committees of the state House of Representatives, lists of elected senators and representatives, and instructions for the collection of war taxes, as well as gubernatorial proclamations and information on the Georgia Hospital of Richmond. Some individual and collective women's efforts are highlighted. (1861/11/29, 1861/12/1, 1861/12/3, 1861/12/5, 1861/12/6)

GLC05959.01

3 November 1879

Schurz, Carl, 1829-1906

Autograph letter signed

Title: to A. C. Barstow

Secretary of the Interior Schurz writes to the Chairman of the Board of Indian Commissioners about the Meeker Massacre at the White River Ute Reservation in Colorado. Mentions that Special Agent General Charles Adams secured the return of women and children held as captives. Discusses reaching a settlement with Utes, arguing against an all-out war because other bands of Utes friendly to the United States might become involved. Written on stationery of the Department of the Interior.

GLC06009

14 March 1863

Broadside

Title: [Poem attacking Benjamin F. Butler]

Consists of an unsigned acrostic poem with the name "BF Butler" as the basis. An attack against General Benjamin F. Butler [possibly for his "women around town" order while he was administering New Orleans]. The notorious declaration was issued on 15 May 1862 said if any woman should insult or show contempt for any officer or soldier of the United States, she shall be regarded and shall be held liable to be treated as a "woman of the town plying her avocation", i.e., a prostitute. This order provoked protests both in the North and the South, and also abroad, particularly in England and France…

GLC05987.39

24 October 1864

Williams, W.T.C., fl. 1864

Broadside

Title: To the relatives of deceased soldiers of of Leake County

File contains two documents, a broadside and an autograph letter signed. Broadside, which says "Circular" at the top, says he has received from Major J.L. Power, Superintendent of the Army Records of Mississippi Troops, many blanks for the "collection of deceased soldiers arrearage." Says those wishing their claims made out and forwarded to the government should call on him at Carthage, Mississippi with a credible witness. Asks if claimants who have been furnished with accounts of the deceased by company captains, that they should be brought along. Service is free to widows, others have to…

GLC05987.45

16 February 1782

Ridley, Matthew, 1749-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gouverneur Morris

Comments on the arrival of Benedict Arnold in England. Claims that "England is not disposed to Peace." Contains some personal discussion, including comments about their correspondence, his sons, and French women.

GLC05992