December 23, 1885

Younger, Cole, 1844-1916

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Fannie Truman

Younger writes to his aunt while in prison in Stillwater, Minnesota. Discusses the travels of Captain and Mrs. Barton. Relates news received while in prison including Harts Bonnys' marriage on December 25 to Alice Sumner, and Ciry Jones' fall from his delivery wagon. Insists Frank James does not fit the description of anyone in the party at the Northfield, Minnesota bank raid in 1876 any more than the "man in the moon." Discusses the Missouri River waterway convention, scheduled to meet in Kansas City on December 29. Those expected to attend include "all the leading men of state," among them…

GLC01694

December 12, 1863

Polk, Leonidas, 1806-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Thrasher

Confederate General Polk writes to the wife of a man identified as Colonel Thrasher to inform her that he has began an inquiry into the affairs of a man she wrote to Polk about. In an initialed postscript, he comments on the removal of Braxton Bragg from command of Army of Tennessee.

GLC01696

November 3, 1862

Benjamin, Judah Philip, 1811-1884

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Louis Janin

Benjamin informs his friend Janin, who is in Paris, of the death of his son Eugene Janin at the battle of Antietam. "He fell in the battle of Sharpsburg...doing his duty to his country in the front ranks...He was wounded so severely...it was found impossible to convey him and he was left...with not a hope of recovery." Eugene is buried "with numbers of the other victims to the Carnage now which the insensate ferocity of the accursed and demoniac Yankees now wage against us." Letter written on "Confederate States of America, Department of State," stationary. Military records indicate that…

GLC01697

1864

Broadside

Title: Election news.

Election broadside announces Lincoln and Johnson elected, prints returns for many states, and states that Wayne County, Illinois, "stands firm."

GLC01698

1864

Democratic Party

Broadsheet

Title: The Democratic platform. Gen. McClellan's letter of acceptance.

An official printing of General George McClellan's acceptance of the Democratic nomination for president on first page. The rest of the broadside is a Pro-Democratic comparison of the Democratic and Republican platforms, and military policies. Reprints campaign songs, military policies, and excerpts from letters and quotes of President Abraham Lincoln.

GLC01701

1864

National Union Executive Committee

Broadside

Title: Is the War a Failure?

Pro-Lincoln,Union ticket election broadside defending the Civil War, which the Democratic Convention at Chicago called a failure. Reprints letters of Generals Ulysses S. Grant, Truman Seymour, William T. Sherman and John Adams Dix on the conduct of the war.

GLC01702

1864

War Democratic State Committee, 1864

Broadside

Title: Watch words for War Democrats!

Published by pro-war, pro-Union Democrats in New York. Quotes a speech made by Peter Cooper 20 years ago advocating Union principles. Reprints an article from a Catholic newspaper titled condemning slavery and an article from the impartial Boston Herald on the lack of freedom in the South.

GLC01703

June 13, 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Simon Cameron

Lincoln writes to Secretary of War Cameron to allow Colonel William H. Emory's resignation to be withdrawn and to have him reinstated to Colonel 1st Cavalry. Emory was stationed in Indian territory. Lincoln bases his decision on Commanding General Irvin McDowell's affirmation of Emory's loyalty.

GLC01568

July 20, 1862

Hay, John, 1838-1905

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Jay

Letter written while serving as Assistant Secretary to President Abraham Lincoln to a family friend. Writes of General George McClellan and his failed Peninsula campaign, "...What a wretched conclusion of all our little General's boasting addresses and orders have we seen on the bloody banks of the Chickahominy! Sad as is the result to himself and the country..." Mentions General David Hunter's attempt to emancipate enslaved people, "How gloriously General Hunter has justified my statement that the future would prove his soundness in hatred of Slavery..." Hints of the coming of Lincoln's…

GLC01569

November 6, 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin F. Butler

Seeking details about "free black labor" in Union-occupied Louisiana.

GLC01570

June 19, 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Letter signed

Title: to E. Malhiot

Signed as President, insisting that Louisiana will not be allowed to have an election until the new state constitution abolishes slavery. Demonstrates the hardening of Lincoln's attitude towards slavery.

GLC01571

June 15, 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ulysses S. Grant

Lincoln writes to Grant prophesying Grant's victory. Very brief telegram: "I begin to see it. You will succeed. God bless you all." A very famous letter.

GLC01572

January 27, 1863

Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Pitt Fessenden

Letter written as Secretary of Treasury on department stationery. Discusses the national banking system and tax on circulation. States that against his urgings, Congress has insisted on a conversion clause. Writes that in his first report in July 1861, he suggested a tax on bank notes and other internal taxes but that no duties were imposed. In his second report, he says he proposed a national banking system and a tax on circulation. Remarks, "It is my considered judgment that had these views been adopted at the last session...there might have been comparatively little financial embarrassment…

GLC01574.01

April 14, 1825

Clay, Henry, 1777-1852

Letter signed

Title: to William C. Somerville

Secretary of State Clay informs Somerville of Somerville's appointment as Charge d'Affaires of the United States in Sweden. States that Somerville will replace Christopher Hughes, who will assume the post of Charge d'Affaires of the United States in the Netherlands. Refers to the inclusion of a letter of introduction addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Sweden, a copy of this letter, and of Somerville's Commission (not included). Offers instructions regarding the duties Somerville will assume at his new post. Informs that Somerville will receive more papers…

GLC01574.03

April 4, 1840

Clay, Henry, 1777-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander Miller

States that he would be happy to assist him in procuring a loan but feels that now is not a good time. Remarks, "There is a want of Capital and a want of confidence." Explains that he would be able to represent him well but that there is a tendency to not lend money to distant borrowers. Offers to supply him or his agent with letters of recommendation. Comments that chances are good for the election of General William Henry Harrison, who won the Presidency in 1840.

GLC01574.04

March 29, 1808

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

This document refers to the Monroe-Pinkney treaty of 1806 (per Monroe Papers). The discusses sending the text of the treaty.

GLC01575

April 19, 1821

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Jefferson

Mentions funding appropriations for the University of Virginia, and states that he enclosed a report on the subject. Pledges continued support for the University. A discussion of foreign relations with Europe follows. Comments on an Austrian attack on Naples and its possible consequences, and tariff disagreements between the United States and France. Describes the people of Europe as "ripe for revolt."

GLC01576

December 17, 1810

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Header Record

Title: Letter and copied note from Timothy Pickering to James McHenry [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC01578

October 16, 1775

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Holton

Letter written to fellow jurist Samuel Holton discussing the qualifications of a justice, the readiness of the American forces, and George Washington's opinion of his own army. Satirizes another judge who thinks all judges should have "the prime qualities of an executioner." He believes "the proper qualifications of a judge" are "integrity, ability, & knowledge of the law...a discerner between truth & falsehood, right and wrong." Believes that the colonies were not ready for war, and are still unprepared now, but insists in his full patriotism despite these doubts. Says Washington "…

GLC01579.01

26 September 1864

Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869

Autograph document signed

Title: to William T. Sherman

In this telegram Stanton, Secretary of War, writes "The Richmond Enquirer of Saturday rejoices that 'Beauregard has been assigned to the Command of the Army in Georgia, that his star ever led to victory and his very name inspires confidence of success.' A report comes to the Navy Department via Memphis and Cairo that Mobile has surrendered. I do not credit it." Mentions Union General Philip Henry Sheridan's Campaign in the Shenandoah Valley.

GLC01583

July 1776

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Franklin

A cryptic but important letter written in the same month as the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, as commander in chief, in response to Franklin's letters. Possibly a draft since Washington has left the day and a name blank, but soon or shortly after July 30, when Franklin's response to Howe was delivered. Letter discusses belated peace initiatives of the Howe brothers. This letter responds to two letters from Franklin, one commended Washington for his work with the inventor Joseph Belton to construct a submarine, while the other (now lost) was a copy of his response on behalf of…

GLC01588

1785 after

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Print

Title: G. Washington. Alexandre Tardieu, after Houdon [collateral]

Accompanied letter, GLC 1588. A print by Alexander Tardieu, designed and engraved after Houdon, with poem in French by J. Castera: "Pour saver sou pays du pouvoir arbitraire, / Washington combattit en guerrier valeureux...." Presumably the Houdon piece is the 1785 bust of Washington. It depicts Washington in profile with long hair and the words "G. Washington" on left inside a coin-shape.

GLC01588coll

April 1789

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph manuscript

Title: Inaugural address [leaf from 1st draft of discarded first inaugural = pp.57-58]

Concerning trade and population growth, with allusion to the postal service, newspapers and manufactures. This was a first draft which Washington later discarded. The manuscript was disassembled by Jared Sparks (whose unsigned autograph note "handwriting of Washington" appears in the margin) and leaves or clippings were given away as samples of GW's handwriting. Sparks regarded the document as unimportant since Washington had not actually used this draft. See also GLC# 639.25 and 4443.01.

GLC01589

February 15, 1944

Baruch, Bernard M., 1870-1965

Book signed

Title: Report on war and post-war adjustment policies

Co-authored with John M. Hancock. Report on how best to demobilize soldiers and civilians after World War II, and return them to work. Also discusses how to return the government's workforce to peacetime leadership. Commissioned by James F. Byrnes, Director, Office of War Mobilization. Bound in blue cloth. Signed on free front endpaper by both authors. Printed, U.S. G.P.O.

GLC01592.01

February 18, 1945

Baruch, Bernard M., 1870-1965

Typed letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Mary L. Simon

Letter regarding "human demobilization." Typed on personal stationery.

GLC01592.02