19 August 1776

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Holden Parsons

Written by Adams as a delegate to Continental Congress from Massachusetts to Parsons, who became a Brigadier General on 9 August 1776 and was to take part in the fighting at the Battle of Long Island on 27 August 1776. References Parsons's letters of 13 and 15 August 1776 and says his recommendations for appointments in the army will be considered by the Board of War, which Adams sat on. Also references Parsons observations of officers Patterson, Shepherd, and Brooks, but says he is unfamiliar with all of them. Says the issues of promotion make him "so vexed sometimes as almost to resolve to…

GLC04424

7 March 1799

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of Samuel C. Crafts as Commissioner for fifth division of Vermont]

Countersigned by Secretary of State Timothy Pickering. Crafts was given power to act as one of the five commissioner in Vermont under "An Act provide for the valuation of lands and dwelling-houses and the enumeration of slaves within the United States." The act was passed on 9 July 1798 after the XYZ Affair became public and the public clamored for war. Five days later, on 14 July 1798, another act was passed to lay and collect a direct tax within the United States. The monies collected from this tax were designated to help arm the country for an impending war with France. Crafts was…

GLC04426

15 May 1864-18 May 1864

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Draft message to the Army of Northern Virginia prior to the Battle of Spotsylvania].

First draft of an address to the troops of the Army of Northern Virginia, written on the verso of (a clerical) telegram to Lee from General John D. Imboden at Sharpsburg. In an effort to rally morale, Lee recounts recent Confederate victories, reminds the men of the cause for which they have taken up arms and the gravity of the current situation, calls upon the memory of fallen comrades, and invokes God's blessing for their cause. Imboden's telegram relays news about engagements in the Shenandoah Valley, including Imboden's stop of General Franz Sigel's advance, which Lee mentions in his…

GLC04429

19 June 1788

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Resolution of Massachusetts Legislature]

Signed approved by Hancock. Also signed by Theodore Sedgwick, Speaker of the House, and Samuel Phillips, President. Certified as a true copy by John Avery as Secretary. Concerns levying taxes on the polls and estates in Worcester County, Massachusetts in order to discharge debts. One seated engraving of John Hancock included.

GLC04432

8 August 1816

Lee, Henry, 1756-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Carter Lee

Counsels his son, Charles Carter Lee, who was attending Harvard. Tells him to acquire knowledge from its foundation and not on the surface: "this last turns man into a puppet & the first fits him for the highest activity & the most lasting pleasure." On writing he says: "never mind yr style -- ony write yr first impressions quickly & clear & honestly. Style will come in due time, as will the maturation of judgement." Tells him to love virtue. Enjoins him to correspond with his parents. Written from the West Indies, where Henry Lee was attempting to recover his health.

GLC04434

21 May 1860

Seward, William Henry, 1801-1872

Letter signed

Title: to the New York State Republican Central Committee

Addressed to Charles C. Nott, William H. Ball, A. J. Williamsin, C.S. Spencer, and F. W. Shepherd. Thanks the members of the committee for their support. Expresses his disappointment at not receiving the Republican nomination for president but states that he is willing to support the Republican platform and Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin. "I find in the resolutions of the Convention a platform as satisfactory to me as if it had been framed with my own hands, and in the candidates adopted by them, eminent and able Republicans with whom I have cordially cooperated in maintaining the…

GLC04435

1860

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Pamphlet

Title: The Address of... delivered at Cooper Institute [ed. by C.C. Nott & C. Brainerd]

Printed by George F. Nesbitt & Co. Edited by Charles C. Nott and Cephas Brainerd and issued by the Young Men's Republican Union of New York. This pamphlet is collateral to Lincoln's letter to Nott, taking him to task for taking liberties in editing the Cooper Institute address. With printed cover printed on white-colored coated paper.

GLC04436.02

1784

Muhlenberg, John Peter Gabriel, 1746-1807

Diary

Title: [Diary of a journey over the Alleghenies to the Ohio River]

Writes this journal while travelling from Pennsylvania to Ohio after obtaining appointment by the Assembly of Virginia to locate lands intended for Virginia officers who served in the Continental Army.

GLC04438

8 June 1798

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frederick Jacob Wichelhausen

Letter forwarded to Wichelhausen, American Consul in Bremen, by Rufus King, American Ambassador to Britain. King's signature appears on the address. Secretary of State Pickering says he received Wichelhausen's letter of 16 January 1798 as well as several other letters and states he is providing diligent service. Comments on Wichelhausen's idea of issuing certificates to American merchant ships that state no British goods are being carried in order to counter a French decree of seizures. Says the French decrees are contrary to international law and will only be countered with force and…

GLC04439

January 23, 1837

Tyler, John, 1790-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to H. A. Weber

Discusses tariff reduction at length and the opposing views of the southern states on the matter. Also brings up sectionalism, the failed Whig campaign of 1836, and fear that " ... no union can be formed between us and the latitudinarians of the north." Written from "Gloucester Place."

GLC04440

18 June 1859

N.B., Onthank, fl. 1859

Photograph signed

Title: Original painted photograph of Abolitionist John Brown, inscribed by Brown to his children

This is a photograph which has been painted in watercolor by N.B. Onthank. Written on front bottom corner of mount is Brown's signature and salutation, which reads "June 18th 1859. Your Affectionate Father, John Brown." With the oval blind embossment of J.B. Heywood, 176 Wash. St., Boston.

GLC04447

23 September 1861

Hunter, R.M.T., 1809-1887

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Appointment of James M. Mason as Confederate Special Commissioner to England]

Credentials appointing James M. Mason Confederate Special Commissioner to England. Signed by Hunter as Secretary of State. Partly printed document, in calligraphic hand with blind stamp of the Confederate States of America, Department of State. The arrest of Mason and John Slidell on their diplomatic voyage to Europe began the Trent Affair.

GLC04448

8 June 1778

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Hartley

Written by Franklin as a diplomat in France to Hartley as a member of the British Parliament. The two were friends since the 1760s. References a letter he wrote to Hartley on 25 May 1778 concerning 200 British prisoners of war. Franklin says "We are oblig'd to keep the Prisoners on shipboard where I doubt they can be comfortably accommodated" and hopes they can be exchanged. Hartley and Franklin would later work together in Paris to sign the peace treaty ending the war. Docketing appears to be in Hartley's hand.

GLC04449

circa 1863

Giers & Co.

Photograph signed

Title: [Andrew Johnson]

Carte de visite signed twice below image and on verso, by Giers & Co. Probably signed as military governor of Tennessee.

GLC04451

2 July 1903

Pach Bros.

Photograph signed

Title: President Roosevelt and Family.

One image entitled, "President Roosevelt and Family," dated July 2, 1903. The portrait is of the family sitting outdoors in front of a garden. President Roosevelt's head has been cut from a similar photograph and pasted onto this one. The printed label beneath the image lists the names or nicknames of each of the family members. In addition to these printed names, the family members have signed below their places in the portrait. President Roosevelt and Edith Roosevelt sit while the children stand behind them, except for Theodore Jr., who sits on his father's knee. According to the label, the…

GLC04459

March 14, 1861

Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant, 1818-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Manigault

The letter discusses sending ammunition & weapons to Morris & Sullivan Islands.

GLC04461.02

1819-1943

Header Record

Title: Letters and documents relating to John Brown & Family [decimalized .01-.10]

GLC04463

11 October 1856

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frederick Brown & Jeremiah Brown

Leaving Kansas, his poor health, and the health of his sons. Says he is leaving Kansas "both on business: & to recover my health," as he is suffering from "Dysentary & Chill Fever." However, "I expect to go back should the trouble continue" Mentions his half-sister Fiorella Adair and her family. Says John Jr. "is very much broken down; & altered by his troubles" which included being beaten and imprisoned. Brown was also inclined to leave Kansas because he was a wanted man there, and because his homestead had been destroyed. Written to his brother Frederick and half-brother…

GLC04463.01

28 April 1855

Brown, Frederick, 1830-1856

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Brown

Journey to Kansas, staking claims in Osawatomie, and plans to build a settlement. Says he, Owen, and Salmon arrived in Osawatomie, without John Jr. and Jason, and have found good land. They "intend to put up some cabbins and get to ploughing as quick as possible." Says he has the Ague, Calves are doing well, mentions their relatives the Adair family. Written to his father.

GLC04463.03

31 October 1824

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Everett

Written by Monroe at the end of his presidency to Everett, his family physician and neighbor in Virginia. References Everett's previous letter and says he remained behind an extra day in the hope of seeing him. Relates that his duties are forcing him to go back to Washington "immediately & reluctantly." Laments not being able to see Lafayette before his sudden departure to the capital. Lafayette was on his farewell tour through America in 1824-1825. He was previously entertained by Monroe in September 1824, but Monroe expresses disappointment to Everett at not being able to attend an…

GLC04374

February 13, 1869

Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882

Photograph signed

Title: [Group portrait of signers of the Treaty of the Isthmus of Darien]

One group portrait of the Treaty of the Isthmus of Darien's signers dated February 13, 1869. The image was taken by Alexander Gardener. Pictured is Secretary of State William H. Seward, who sits in the center. He holds a document labeled "Treaty - Isthmus of Darien - Feb. 13 1869" in his hand. Below the image are the subjects' signatures. The men photographed are from left to right: William Hogan, R.S. Chilton, F.W. Seward, William H. Seward, [unidentified], [unidentified], George E. Baker, and Thomas C. Cox.

GLC04383

29 May 1788

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Gilpin

Writes as President of Potomac Company informing fellow director Gilpin about the arrangements for an impending meeting of the Company's directors at the falls of the Shenandoah River. He stresses that he hopes the meeting will be productive and that Colonel Fitzgerald and the Maryland members will attend. Advises him to bring the papers related to the charges against Richardson Stewart, the assistant manager of the Potomac Company. One bust engraving of Washington included.

GLC04387

12 November 1794

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Signature

Title: Notes on the State of Virginia (George Washington's copy)

Signed by Washington on the title page. The book is the second American edition of Notes on the State of Virginia, published by Mathew Carey in Philadelphia, with original worn sheep binding. Jefferson's book not only covered geography of Virginia, but also government, Indians and slavery. Washington's papers show he purchased this on 5 January 1795. There are no notes inside the book. This edition lacks the Fry-Jefferson map sometimes found in the first American edition (and usually found in the first edition published in London).

GLC04389

1857

Howard, Benjamin C., 1791-1872

Book

Title: Report of cases argued and adjudged in the Supreme Court of the United States. December term, 1856.

Published by William M. Morrison and Company. Includes report on Dred Scott v. Sandford.

GLC04394

4 September 1951

Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972

Book signed

Title: Address of the President at the Opening of the Conference on the Japanese Peace Treaty

Inscribed to Oscar Ewing as a Christmas present. Dated 25 December 1951. No. 32 of 60 copies privately printed for Truman to give as Christmas presents.

GLC04400