1814

Charles, William, 1776-1820

Print

Title: John Bull making a new Batch of Ships to send to the Lakes.

War of 1812. A satire on British attempts to recover from the losses incurred in naval engagements on Lake Erie during 1813 & 1814. Phila: published and sold by William Charles.

GLC09391

20 December 1866

Lee, Fitzhugh, 1835-1905

Autograph document signed

Title: [Account of Army of Northern Virginia cavalry operations]

"…praise to the valor, endurance & patriotism of the noble band of troopers I had the honor to Comd. … they at least did their whole duty in the unsuccessful struggle in which we were engaged." Opening with the Wilderness and Spotsylvania battles, Fitz Lee provides a detailed account of Army of Northern Virginia cavalry operations, fighting practically non-stop from May 4, 1864 to April 9, 1865. Fitz Lee's account is especially informative for the campaigns of the spring and summer of 1864, including the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, the opening of the Petersburg siege, and Philip Sheridan's…

GLC09392

27 July 1871

Lincoln, Mary Todd, 1818-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Slataper

To friend Eliza Slataper regarding the recent death of Tad Lincoln. "In my great, great agony of mind, I write you. I pray you, by all that is merciful to come to this place - if but for a few days. I feel that I must see you. Can you not come next Monday - each day we could be together."

GLC09393

17 February 1812 or 1813

Adams, Abigail, 1744-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Hannah Cushing

Comforts Hannah Cushing on the death of her nephew, John Cushing Aylwin, who died aboard the U.S.S. Constitution after its battle with the HMS Java in December 1812. Adams quotes from Cato: "How beautiful is death when earned by virtue / Who would not be that youth? What pity is it / That we can die but once to serve our Country."

GLC09394

29 November 1869

Lincoln, Mary Todd, 1818-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sally Orne

To Sally Orne regarding her pension fight with Congress, friendship with Senator Charles Sumner, and Lincoln: "My bright little comforter Taddie, is of course with me today… The darkness is very great - we can only pray - that the dawn is at hand…If we fail, I fear, I shall sink under the blow. I have grown so nervous."4 p. With additional 4 pages, headed "Private & Burn." Though Turner calls this a separate incomplete letter, which he dates to 12-12-1869, it may be a lengthy postscript to the first letter: "My husband was so richly blessed with all these noble attributes that each day…

GLC09395

26 August 1848

Nickless, Samuel, fl. 1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Invitation to speak]

Samuel Nickless, treasurer of William Still's Philadelphia Vigilance Committee, part of the Underground Railroad, asks an unnamed lecturer to come and speak: "The members of the 2nd African Presbyterian Church take the liberty of asking you to give us a lecture, showing what we can do toward hastening the emancipation of the slave."

GLC09396

1789

Carey, Mathew, 1760-1839

Book

Title: The American Museum, volume 6

The American Museum Volume VI, Philadelphia, containing twenty articles on African Americans including Samuel Stanhope Smith's "Essay of the Causes of the Variety of Complexion and Figure in the Human Species," Ben Franklin's "Address to the Public from the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, and the Relief of Free Negroes, Unlawfully Held in Bondage," and a 46-page section of the proceedings of the Congress.

GLC09397

1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Pamphlet

Title: Message of the President of the United States, transmitting a copy of the treaty between the U.S. and her Britannic Majesty for the suppression of the African slave trade.

Lincoln: "It is desirable that such legislation as may be necessary to carry the treaty into effect should be enacted as soon as may comport with the convenience of Congress."

GLC09398

1846-1847

Header Record

Title: The Non-Slaveholder, volumes 1 and 2

The Non-Slaveholder, Volumes I and II. Contains two Frederick Douglass letters describing his treatment on the ship in which he returned to the United States in 1847. "…not one of all of them had paid more for their passage than I had, yet while I was confined like a criminal to a certain part of the ship because of my colour, they enjoyed the privilege of going at large, and in the spacious saloon from which I was excluded." Vol. I 200 pp. Vol. II 288 pp.

GLC09399

1869-1890

Bruce, Blanche Kelso, 1841-1898

Header Record

Title: [Collection of letters of the first African American to serve a full term in the Senate] [Decimalized .001- .660]

Over 600 letters and documents received by the first African American to serve a full term in the Senate. Born into slavery, Bruce was elected by Mississippi and served from 1875 to 1881. Includes over 100 letters seeking appointments, political favors, etc.; several House Bills regarding the Mississippi River Improvement Commission; a broadside by James Redpath outlining "A Policy For the Blacks-Letter to a Colored Mississippian-The Present Policy Discussed;" and letters regarding crimes and incidents of a racial nature.

GLC09400

4 October 1863

Boham, Milledge L., 1813-1890

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James A. Seddon

To James A. Seddon, Confederate Secretary of War, sending "a copy of the Report of the Provost Marshall's Court to whom the Negros--slaves and free--captured on James and Morris Island on the 11th and 18th of July last were committed for trial."

GLC09402

21 July 1863

Echols, William H., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to M.L. Bonham

Chief engineer of the Confederacy to SC Governor Bonham. "The matter of Mr. Maxwell's Negroes having appeared in the City was through neglect but is excusable when the facts are known. They were, at the time of the assault on Battery Wagner, on Morris Island (last Saturday) when the steamer landed the troops." The troops were sent to repel those of the 54th Mass. Vols. under Colonel Robert Shaw. Includes W.J. Maxwell's written statement.

GLC09403

29 July 1863

Echols, William H., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to M.L. Bonham

Medical treatment for slaves impressed by the Confederate Army, from the chief engineer in charge of the fortifications for the defense of Charleston, to SC Governor Bonham. "I have just received your letter concerning the medical attendance of the Negroes. There have been several complaints of the inattention of the physicians within the last 2 weeks…"

GLC09404

August 30. 1864

King, Robert M., fl. 1863-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joshua King

King, an African-American soldier who served as Color Sergeant of Company K, 55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment writes from Folly Island, SC to his father Joshua King in Ohio. "Father I want you to try & write little oftener then you doe write every week it is all the Consolation A Soldier has is to get letters from his Parriants & friends and loveers." King was killed at the Battle of Honey Hill on November 30, 1864.

GLC09406

1940s

Photograph

Title: [Collection of photographs of African American soldiers]

10 panoramic photographs of various WWII black units of the armed forces, including that of General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.; Company "G" 11th QM Training Regiment, Camp Lee, Virginia; and others.

GLC09407

1852

Thompson, George, fl. 1852

Book

Title: Thompson in Africa: Or, an Account of the Missionary Labors, Sufferings, Travels, and Observations of George Thompson in Western Africa, at the Mendi Mission.

Thompson in Africa: Or, an Account of the Missionary Labors, Sufferings, Travels, and Observations of George Thompson in Western Africa, at the Mendi Mission. Abolitionist's diary of his African trip. Includes several eye witness accounts of the slave trade, an engraving of the decks of a slave ship, and a foldout map. "In this condition, naked, they are stowed in close to one another. Frequently they are also shackled and handcuffed together, two and two (right leg of one to the left leg of the next and also the arms) to prevent their rising on the captors."

GLC09408

1864

Stokes, George, fl. 1864

Manuscript document

Title: [Report on evacuating contrabands]

Union chaplain's report on evacuating contrabands. "I cannot help wonder at the management of the evacuation of Huntsville-a memorable event in the history of this wicked rebellion. The gov't property destroyed and the apparent determination that the colored people should be left in the hands of the fiends in human shape and when they had resolved to accompany the Federal troops that no guard should be left to protect them…Fifty or one hundred good cavalry men might have saved much property and many men women and children from rebel hands…I am still satisfied that the colored population can…

GLC09409

1857-1864 ca.

Photograph signed

Title: [Carte de visite of Owen Lovejoy]

Signed carte-de-visite of Radical Republican congressman Owen Lovejoy from Illinois. Lovejoy's Princeton, Ill. homestead was an important Underground Railroad station.

GLC09410

21 August 1865

Bryan, L.W., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Letter about avoiding conscription...]

Leon County, Texas man writes about avoiding conscription and slaves being told of their freedom. "When I reached Palestine [Texas] last July a year ago, the conscript officer of that place notified me to take my place in the army or he should instantly conscript me…Hundreds of white men here are continually talking to negroes about there being free and fools to work for their former owners...the negro will never work for pay as he would through fear of the lash…"

GLC09411

17 September 1811

Ogden, T.L., fl. 1811

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Insurance for Spanish slave ship]

Insurance for Spanish slave ship Schooner Victoria. "Insured at New York against all Risks for a voyage round from the Havana, to, at, and from, the coast of Angola, to Havana, with Slaves..."

GLC09412

1865

Hammond, Cyrena, fl. 1865

Diary

Title: [Journal]

One hundred and thirty three pages of diary entries and handwritten notes. Fourteen pages with preprinted text, including a title page and printed calendars. Previous research indicated that this is a "journal of Western New York teenager;" the title page cites "North Bergen" as Hammond's location. Discusses school and her friends: "Danced all the morn, & at recess we went out on the meeting house steps and danced for sharp to fiddle" (6 January 1865). On 9 January 1865, mentions attending a temperance meeting. In a note at the end of the diary, Hammond writes: "The 29 of this month,…

GLC09413

7 January 1778

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript document

Title: Instructions for visiting the hospital

Headquarters, Valley Forge. "The Commander in Chief being informed that many disorders and irregularities have taken place at the Hospitals and in some the sick are not tended with due care thinks it necessary that each Hospital should be visited by a prudent and careful Field Officer, who should govern himself by the following rules.… He is to examine critically whether the sick are well taken care of, and if in his opinion there be any fault or neglect in their management to report the same to the director Gen of the Hospitals or… if a remedy be not applied in a reasonable time, then to…

GLC09246

1867

Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874

Pamphlet signed

Title: 50th Annual Report of the American Colonization Society

Fillmore's copy of the 50th Annual Report of the American Colonization Society, Washington. The Society supported returning former slaves to the newly established colony of Monrovia in Liberia.

GLC09287

circa 1862-1865

Gordon, George Washington, 1836-1911

Autograph album

Title: [Prisoner of war autograph book]

Prisoner of war autograph book of Capt. George Washington Gordon of the 48th Tennessee Regt. of Volunteers, from Union prison at Johnson's Island, in Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie. Over 650 autographs of Confederate soldiers and sailors, most listing their names, ranks, units, where and when captured, and hometown.

GLC09309

4 March 1864

Sayles, Nelson, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isora Skinkle

Writes to his cousin. Informs her that his regiment is on picket duty. Reports that his colonel is the acting Brigade General and believes that if he tries hard enough, he will receive a star. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.

GLC03523.32.32