August 21, 1918

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Typed letter signed

Title: to Helen H. Gardener

Wilson expresses his distress at Helen Gardner being hospitalized. He explains that his distress arises mostly from her inability to continue to do her fine work. He also offers his assistance in helping her attain her goal. Typed on White House stationery in green ink with header, The White House Washington. Stationery watermarked Whiting's Woven Linen. One bust engraving of Wilson included.

GLC00118.07

April 30, 1813

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George G. Channing

In his letter, William Ellery thanks his grandson for his letter and advises him to stop apologizing so much for the delay in writing. He apologizes for the character of his own writing, which has resulted from not taking proper care of his pen. He discusses his understanding of feminine psychology and sends his love to the family.

GLC00108.06

17 November 1854

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Lucy Wheeler, "a negress," convicted of two counts of aggravated assault.

Wheeler, convicted of two counts of aggravated assault: sentenced in one case to 1 year imprisonment, and to pay a $0.50 fine and court costs; sentenced in the other to 6 months imprisonment [to be served following the first term], and to pay another $0.50 fine and court costs. Pardoned after serving out her first prison term and paying $0.50 fine. (c/s William L. Marcy)

GLC00173.05

October 21, 1862

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Emily J. Semmes

Gives instructions to his wife to secure their property from the Union occupation of General Benjamin Butler during the Civil War. Directs her to go immediately across the Mississippi river to their plantation. Doubts that the Federals have visited the plantation yet but believes it possible that Dye (possibly the overseer) has run off. "...or, if he has remained at the plantation, that some of the negroes have run off to the Yankees." Advises that if she cannot get to the plantation, to secure any property and move the negroes. If she cannot stay on the plantation, he tells her to rent a…

GLC00175

1799

Adams, Hannah, 1755-1831

Book

Title: Summary history of New-England

Title continues: "from the First Settlement at Plymouth, to the acceptance of the Federal Constitution. Comprehending a General Sketch of the American War." First edition, printed by H. Mann and J.H. Adams of Dedham, Massachusetts, for the author. Signed by the subscriber, Eliza Price. Collateral to John Adams, Defence of the Constitutions (see GLC00177.01). Rebacked.

GLC00177.02

February 3, 1829

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Poem

Title: to Miss Anna McKnight

A poem in which he expresses his attachment to her and asks her to consider him a true and honest friend: "My pulses, mix'd emotions blend, unchang'd by wind or weather. Of lover-brother-father-friend, to take them all together." Adams was President of the United States from 1825 until March 1829.

GLC00209

October 3, 1780

Hand, Edward, 1744-1802

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Kitty Hand

Writes to his wife that he hopes he can alleviate her distressing situation soon. Informs her of the treason of Benedict Arnold and the hanging of the British spy, John Andre. "A few days ago Gen Arnold detected in his views of Betraying the Garrison of West Point & its dependencies into the hands of the Enemy, deserted to them leaving Major Andre Adjt. Genl. to the British Army to pay the forfeiture that should have falen on the traitor--Andre was yesterday Hanged as a Spy." Mentions the weather being warm in July and August and states that the army is still remarkably healthy. Talks…

GLC00189

1862-1865

Jackson, Edwin, fl. 1862-1865

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Edwin Jackson, D company, 6th regiment, Minnesota, infantry] [decimalized]

Fighting the Sioux [18 letters]. Edwin Jackson 6th Regt. Minn. Vols. collection of letters, many written on patriotic stationery. Very detailed and descriptive accounts of Indian atrocities against civilians and battles. On 12 October 1862, he writes "we found men women and children all along the road...the Indians killed them with a Club I have the club, when I got it there were Blood some of the brain and pieces of skul bones in the wood and still another case of a poor woman that was in the family way they killed her cut her head off placed it betw in her legs cut the child out of…

GLC00203

July 3, 1863

McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Moses Grinnell

Asks Grinnell if he can assist the bearer of the letter, supposedly the wife of one of McClellan's soldiers. The woman who is delivering the letter to Grinnell "represents herself as being Mrs. McCormick," the wife of a soldier who served under McClellan. She claims she is destitute, and McClellan asks Grinnell to help her, since he has "control of a fund destined to the relief of such cases."

GLC00221

October 8, 1859

Unknown

Autograph letter

Title: to Mother

One letter from an enslaved man to his mother dated Alexandria, Va., October 8, 1859. Pertains to visiting with his friends at the Widow Bailys' in Faquier [Fauquier County], Virginia. Mentions meeting a young woman that he would like to marry and that he hopes the man who enslaved him will purchase her in order to have a "Virginia wife." Instructs his mother to direct further correspondence to Portland, Alabama, and writes, "We have bought all our servants."

GLC00226

1751-1865

Header Record

Title: Christian discipline, and anti-slavery broadsides. [Decimalized .01-.07]

GLC00246

August 14, 1830

Burritt, Ann W., fl. 1830

Broadside

Title: Mrs. Burritt's defence of her husband; first published in the Southern recorder, Milledgeville, Geo. August 14, 1830.

Elijah Burritt's former partner, John G. Polhill, had charged that Burritt had distributed incendiary pamphlets written by African-American abolitionist David Walker. In this open letter to the editors, his wife states that her husband only sold the abolitionist pamphlets privately to known slaveholders, accompanying his sale with suitable cautions. She adds that he fled Millidgeville because his defense was not being heard in the heat of passion aroused by Polhill, who was stating that the case would not be bailable. The editors of the paper were Seaton Grantland and Richard M. Orme.

GLC00246.03

1693

Mather, Cotton, 1663-1728

Book

Title: The Wonders of the Invisible world: Being an Account of the Tryals... [witches]

One of the most famous of early New England books, here in the first British edition printed at London, following the first edition published in Boston the same year. Mather meant to expose witchcraft and to support his friends in the government. He gives detailed descriptions of each case, thus providing an invaluable record. All the early editions of this work are extremely rare, especially the Boston edition and the present one. Printed by John Dunton, with errors in pagination and spelling: "Ex[e]cuted" "Bostun" and "Gove[r]nour" on titlepage (per NUC). Small quarto in 19th century…

GLC00264

1863

Kemble, Fanny, 1809-1893

Book

Title: Journal of a residence on a Georgian plantation in 1838-1839.

First edition, first issue. Published by Harper & Brothers. Text is 337 pages followed by ten pages of advertisements for new Harper & Brothers' books.

GLC00267.072

June 6, 1927

Coolidge, Calvin, 1872-1933

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon to restore Robert E. Hicks' civil rights, convicted 29 May 1903 of mailing abortion-related materials and sentenced to 10 months]

Hicks was convicted of sending "unmailable matter" (i.e., abortion materials, possibly a violation of the Comstock Law) through the mail by the U.S. District Court of Southern New York. He was sentenced to ten months in Kings County Penitentiary, Brooklyn, New York and to pay a $1,000 fine. He fled the country, but returned in 1915 to serve his sentence. Wilson commuted his sentence (see also GLC 230.06) and Coolidge pardons him to restore his civil rights because "since his release he has conducted himself in an exemplary manner." Countersigned by William D. Mitchell. Printed document…

GLC00230.02

14 July 1915

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Document signed

Title: [Presidential commutation for Robert E. Hicks, convicted of placing abortion related materials in the mail on 29 May 1903 and sentenced to ten months]

Convicted for violation of Section 3893 of the Revised Statutes (possibly in reference to the Comstock Law). While on bond Hicks fled to Europe, where he remained a fugitive until 10 July 1915, when he surrendered to the court. Commuted by Wilson so Hicks sentence would expire at once, no reason given. See also GLC 230.02 which restored his civil rights. Printed document with blanks filled in by hand.

GLC00230.06

July 6, 1844

Washington, John A., 1821-1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isaac R. Douglass

One letter from John A. Washington to Isaac R. Douglass dated July 6, 1844. Pertains to arrangements to enslave a woman named Julia. Notes that William G. Cazenove told him Douglass would either pay $350 cash, or $400 in two installments, for Julia. Accepts Douglass's offer of $400.

GLC00236

circa 1865

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Photograph

Title: Carte de visite portrait of Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln, and Tad from lithograph

GLC00241.03

circa 1861-1877

Abbott (photographer), fl. 1860-1880

Photograph

Title: Half length seated carte de visite portrait of woman in black dress

Imprint by Abbott, Little Falls, N.Y., on verso. Photograph is either heavily retouched or from a lithograph.

GLC00241.11

circa 1861-1877

Harman, fl. 1923

Photograph

Title: Full length carte de visite portrait of two women in black dresses

Imprint of Harman, York Springs, Pa., on verso.

GLC00241.13

circa 1861-1877

Photograph

Title: Three quarter length carte de visite portrait

"Miss. Mansfield" printed in lower margin on recto.

GLC00241.21

circa 1861-1877

Suluma, Melek, fl. 1861-1877

Photograph

Title: Full length seated carte de visite portrait

Imprint of H.D. Ward, North Adams, Mass., on verso. Pencil inscription on verso reads: "Suluma Melek, Circassian Lady, Born in Solder Cale, Asia Minor, Age 20 years." Melek's dress is tinted bright purple, her underskirt is tinted deep pink, and the tassels of the chair upon which she is seated are yellow-green.

GLC00241.26

circa 1861-1877

Woodbury & Page

Photograph

Title: Full length carte de visite view of Javanese girl brushing her hair

Imprint of Woodbury & Page, Java, on both recto and verso. Pencil and ink inscription on verso reads: "A Porto Rico Belle."

GLC00241.29

circa 1861-1877

Woodbury & Page

Photograph

Title: Full length carte de visite portrait of Javanese woman in elaborate headdress

Imprint of Woodbury & Page, Java, on both recto and verso.

GLC00241.31

circa 1861-1877

Woodbury & Page

Photograph

Title: Half length seated carte de visite portrait of young Javanese woman

Imprint of Woodbury & Page, Java, on both recto and verso.

GLC00241.33