14 December 1852

Stowe, Harriet Beecher, 1811-1896

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ralph Wardlaw

Writes to thank Wardlaw for his invitation to visit Scotland. Mentions her surprise at the success of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," her belief that the work was divinely inspired, and her hope that its popularity shows Christ has mercy to the cause of abolishing slavery. States she will visit Scotland and notes that she is currently working on a "Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin." Stowe published the "Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin" in 1853 and shortly after left America for a tour of Europe. She visited England, Scotland, France and Switzerland and was met by crowds in each place. Ralph Wardlaw (1779-1853)…

GLC04631

February 26, 1775

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Autograph note signed

Title: to David Hartley

Signed in text in the opening of the note and written in the third-person: "Dr. Franklin presents..." Sarcastically explains British methods for taxing the American colonies. Date from docket.

GLC04632

2 April 1862

Plattenburg, Alfred W., fl. 1862

Broadside

Title: to Alfred P. Putnam

Plattenburg, an agent working for the Western Sanitary Commission, sends Reverend Putnam a report of his mission to deliver hospital stores to Union troops fighting in Arkansas and Missouri. His report is printed on the same page with the orders he received to undertake the journey. To encourage donations to the Commission, he states "I am fully convinced that no army was (so far as provision for the wounded was concerned,) ever sent into the field in such destitute condition as ours ... Could the kind and sympathizing men and women of our loyal States, who place these abundant…

GLC04633

7 December 1864

Defoe, William W., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Emery Defoe

Defoe, a Civil War soldier, updates his parents on Union progress, stating "as yet we have had few killed the soldiers are all in good Spirits and fear nothing." Continues writing at a later time, requesting that if he is killed in battle, his parents ensure that his son George W. Defoe receives a proper education. Again resumes writing at a later time to relate the events of a recent battle, stating "this has been one of the bloodiest battles that has been fought since the war began. the Rebs have lost in killed and wounded Near (17,000) seventeen thousand." Accompanied by a United States…

GLC04634

16 September 1864

Kappes, Charles, fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sim Van Winkel

Kappes, a Union soldier waiting for his discharge in the Annapolis United States General Hospital, relates the events of his capture to friends in New Jersey. Reports that while engaged in battle near Richmond, Virginia, his corps was surrounded by Confederate soldiers and forced to surrender, after which he was taken as a prisoner. Complains of poor conditions prisoners were exposed to while on Belle Island, near Richmond, stating "I was almost starved and then such rations as they do give why the farmers of the north would not be guilty of giving it to his hogs if he did the old Pig would…

GLC04635

30 June 1862

Campbell, Fannie, fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas E. Vermilye

Campbell, a nurse, informs Pastor Vermilye of events which took place while she rode aboard the Union hospital steamer, the Kennebec, travelling to White House, Virginia. States that while on the Pamunkey River, the Kennebec met many transports traveling in the opposite direction, escaping fires and battle that raged behind them. The Kennebec then retreated to Yorktown, Virginia, as "mild flowers were blooming on the banks Nature in her rich June dress enthroned like a queen sat bland and smiling as if the bloodred hand of civil war was not lifted in her domain." Reports that General…

GLC04636

circa 1864

Gillespie, Elizabeth Duane, 1821-1901

Broadside

Title: [Announcement for the Central Fair Letter Boxes]

Gillespie, postmistress for the Central Fair, directs Fair participants to "Letter-Boxes, as a great convenience to all desiring to correspond with visitors to the Fair; as well as for letters to be delivered throughout the City, or at the Post Office for mailing." Summarizes mailing requirements and rates.

GLC04637

1807/03/26

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Threlkeld re: arboriculture, tree planting and forwarding seeds

Discusses arboriculture and tree planting. Also forwards seeds. With a spray of leaves and three pecan nuts said to have been collected from the trees grown from the seeds originally enclosed.

GLC04888

24 June 1805

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Theodorus Bailey

Secretary of State Madison discusses the arrangement to furnish American ministers abroad with newspapers and the problems with them not being received. Bailey was the postmaster of the city of New York.

GLC04890

31 March 1843 - 8 April 1843

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph document signed

Title: [Expenditures for first telegraph between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore]

Records expenditures for many of the key components for the first telegraph line between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland. Entitled "United States in account with Samuel F. B. Morse." Includes traveling expenses, advertising, office supplies, salaries, and wire.

GLC04894

22 August 1828

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Rush

Comments on "An Act for the relief of surviving officers and soldiers of the Army of the Revolution," Secretary of Treasury Rush's health, and the difficulty of his position. Anticipates Rush's resignation and thanks him for his service. Also discusses a classical essay by Rush's son, commenting on ancient Rome and the superiority of the statesman over the warrior. Docketed by Rush.

GLC04899

12 August 1826

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Printed document signed

Title: [Ohio land grant to Robert Parks of Harrison County, Ohio]

Partially printed document granting Robert Parks seventy nine acres in Steubenville, Ohio. Signed by John Quincy Adams as President and countersigned by George W. Graham as Commissioner of the General Land Office. Certificate No. 1251. Recorded in Vol. 3, p. 207. Features remnants of a paper and wax seal.

GLC04900.03

1840/05/16

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Dr. Francis Barclay re: predicting defeat of Harrison

Predicts the defeat of Harrison. Also comments that the Whigs are raising the senseless cry of "hard cider and log cabins" in an attempt to win the election.

GLC04901

1842/01/09

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isaac Winters re: Whig administrators and the removal of Democrats

Discusses his lack of influence with Whig administrators, the removal of Democrats from office. Also, proscription suspended.

GLC04902

1927/01/07

Coolidge, Calvin, 1872-1933

Typed document signed

Title: [Message to Congress on appropriations for the Disarmament Conference]

Typescript of Coolidge's message recommending a $75,000 appropriation to cover the continuing expenses of U.S. participation in the "Preparatory Commission for the Disarmament Conference" in Geneva. Coolidge writes that he believes the U.S. delegates have played a useful role there.

GLC04904

4 December 1839

Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Solomon G. Haven

Discusses a debate at the opening of the 26th Congress. When New Jersey's representative seats were contested and the House was unable to count a full quorum to make necessary organizational decisions, issues such as states' rights and nullification entered a premature dialogue in the House of Representatives. He begins with the comment, "Here we are yet debating an impalpable abstraction." A member from Georgia, Cooper, "is now enlightening us on the sovereignty of the states, alias nullification." Fillmore compares the beginning of the 26th Congress, to the birth of a baby. He calls…

GLC04906

9 March 1841

Harrison, William Henry, 1773-1841

Document signed

Title: [Presidential authority to the Secretary of State to affix the seal to the pardon of James P. Smith].

Smith, convicted of larceny, was pardoned under the recommendation of judge and jury due to his youth and good character.

GLC04911

1803/05/21

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jared Mansfield re: recruiting replacement for incompetent surveyor

Recruiting a replacement for a surveyor who has "fixed an indelible blot on the map of the U.S."

GLC04917

1868/04/14

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: Authority to affix the seal to copy of Act for protecting witnesses [judicial]

Permission to affix the seal to the official copy of an act providing protection for "persons making disclosures as parties or testifying as witnesses."

GLC04920.01

30 October 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Lincoln note to Edwin M. Stanton on letter of George C. Burling to William A. Newell]

Lincoln endorsement on an autograph letter signed by Colonel George C. Burling to William A. Newell dated 25 October 1862 concerning an order of the War Department that would result in the disbanding of the New Jersey volunteers. Burling stresses the sacrifices made by the Second Brigade of New Jersey volunteers by saying, "Virginia's soil made sacred with the blood and body of a large number ... That is what we left home and its comforts for, to sacrifice health and even life to sustain our glorious flag, and country." Informs Newell that the War Department has issued General Orders No.…

GLC04921

9 November 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Letter signed

Title: to Robert B. Roosevelt, John J. Astor Jr., and Nathaniel Sands

Declining to endorse General Dix for Mayor of New York stating that it is beyond his power to interfere with New York politics. Written on a petition signed by R.B. Roosevelt and other Republican leaders of New York City, though Lincoln's letter includes Executive Mansion letterhead. Lincoln's note above salutation reads "Private except for Mr. Dix." Signers include Peter Cooper, William B. Astor, John Jacob Astor, Jr., M. Delano, Nathaniel Sands, Alexander T. Stewart, George Cabot Ward, William Orlon, Jonathan Sturpes, John Cochrane, A. R. Wetmore, Nathaniel Hayden, Edwin Hoyt, T. R.…

GLC04922

1808/04/04

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Letter signed

Title: to William Pinkney

A long letter discussing foreign affairs with France and Britain and the Chesapeake affair. Makes reference to copies of many letters sent along with this one (not included). Asks Pinkney, the American minister to Britain, to continue his "interpositions in behalf of our impresses or detained seamen" and to continue working to abolish the practice of impressment. Also comments on policy toward British deserters and the protracted session of Congress, due to discussion of augmenting the army and relaxing the Embargo Act. Half of page three, all of page four, and part of page seven are in…

GLC04924

27 April 1821

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Benton

Written by Monroe as President to Benton as the overseer of his properties in Loudoun County, Virginia. Says he has written to Harrison in Alexandria, Virginia and will have 20 barrels of herring and five of shad sent. If instructions need to change, he tells Benton to send the letter to him first and he will forward it to Harrison. Because of the prospect of war with Naples in Europe, Monroe discusses speculating in flour. Says price will likely rise and says he wants to hold it back from the market. Asks Benton to handle this because if he became involved it might get into the newspapers…

GLC04926

1846/10/31

Polk, James K. (James Knox), 1795-1849

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George M. Dallas re: patronage appointments and constitutional question

Written to his Vice-President. Discusses patronage appointments and research on a constitutional question, with reference to Madison's papers.

GLC04928

27 August 1908

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Typed letter signed

Title: to Herbert Parsons

Denies charges of undue influence by hand writing "I have no intention of 'forcing' the nomination or of trying to; but that, unless you object, I should like, as a good Republican and party man and a staunch believer...." Envelope is not original to letter as it is addressed to Wyndham Meredith of Brookside, West Virginia. Includes a two-cent stamp depicting George Washington.

GLC04930