April 20, 1813

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Monroe

Written in his neatest hand. Adams thanks Secretary of State Monroe for a favorable report concerning his son's diplomatic service, at St. Petersburg, and alluding to the appointment of his son to peace commissioner. John Quincy had been appointed peace commissioner on 17 April, with Russia as mediator between the U.S. and Britain, but the attempt proved abortive. However, young Adams remained and was eventually part of the peace commission the negotiated at Ghent. John Adams seems to be recalling his own diplomatic service during the Revolution as a peace commissioner and how it caused…

GLC01481

August 18, 1807

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Caesar A. Rodney

Written as President to his Attorney General. Recipient from address leaf. Free franked. Written in Monticello

GLC01483

April 19, 1844

Calhoun, John C. (John Caldwell), 1782-1850

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Silas M. Stilwell

Encloses further respite of execution for David Babe, alias William Brown. Silas M. Stillwell was the U.S. Marshall at New York.

GLC01486

February 15, 1866

Brisbin, James S. (James Sanks), 1837-1892

Typed letter

Title: to Edwin M. Stanton

Typed and signed as a true copy by Albert L. Mills as First Lieutenant and Adjutant First Cavalry. Captain Brisbin informs Stanton, Secretary of War, of the battles he participated in during the Civil War. Relates in detail injuries he obtained and various events and engagements which marked his service. Includes the details of 1862's Battle of Malvern Hill (described also in GLC01504.01). Refers Stanton to Generals Alfred Pleasanton, Stephen Burbridge, Nathaniel Banks, and Devens (possibly Charles Devens) for other details of his service. These typewritten copies date to circa 1887-1891…

GLC01504.02.08

February 28, 1866

Cameron, Simon, 1799-1889

Typed letter

Title: to Andrew Johnson

Typed and signed as a true copy by Albert L. Mills as First Lieutenant and Adjutant First Cavalry. Cameron, former Secretary of War, and John Cerode request that President Johnson appoint Brisbin as a Colonel or Brigadier General in the regular army. These typewritten copies date to circa 1887-1891 based on Mill's rank and assignment at the time.

GLC01504.02.09

April 25, 1866

Burbridge, Stephen Gano, 1831-1894

Typed letter

Title: to James S. Brisbin

Typed and signed as a true copy by Albert L. Mills as First Lieutenant and Adjutant First Cavalry. Major General Burbridge wishes to aid Brisbin in preserving his reputation following recent slander. Recounts Brisbin's meritorious service as Burbridge's Chief of Staff and as "Superintendent of Organization of Colored Troops of Kentucky, at a time when it was especially unpopular there to enlist colored men or induce any other troops for the Union service." Refers to Brisbin's successful recruitment of 25,000 African American soldiers. Praises Brisbin's courage and excellent judgment in the…

GLC01504.02.13

August 12, 1851

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William M. Lowry

Written as Congressman. Marked "Private" at the top of first page. Johnson relates that he is powerless to stop Lowry from being removed from his position as postmaster in Greeneville, Tennessee: "So you may consider the die as being cast." Mentions that an article will be released to the Nashville newspapers, such as the (Greeneville, Tennessee) Spy, regarding Lowry's removal. Counsels, "Do as Caesar did in the Roman Senate: adjust your robe and fall as decent as possible."

GLC01516

March 22, 1933

Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ellison DuRant Smith

Concerns Smith's amendment to the farm bill of 1933. Worries that he may lose the support of organized farm forces. Advises him to discuss the bill with Secretary of Agriculture Henry A. Wallace. Date inferred from contents. Written on White House stationary.

GLC01520

December 26, 1961

Kennedy, John Fitzgerald, 1917-1963

Typed letter signed

Title: to Nate White

President Kennedy informs White, the Business and Financial Editor of the newspaper "The Christian Science Monitor," that the Marshall Plan was implemented to "encourage the economic integration of Western Europe," not to establish Europe as a "band of followers." States that the economic markets of the United States and Western Europe have the combined resources to "rally men and nations to the cause of freedom the world over."

GLC01521

circa 1 November 1864

Ringwalt & Brown, fl. 1863-1865

Broadside

Title: [Broadside regarding recruitment of African Americans and celebrating emancipation in Maryland]

Printed in commemoration of the adoption of emancipation in Maryland. The print incorporates five illustrations, three documenting African American combat valor and two related to emancipation and the future of African Americans. At the top of the transparency is a long illustration of African American troops in the Battle of Port Hudson, above it the words (from George H. Boker's poem): "God Save the Republic: Never in field or tent scorn a black regiment." Portrays these images on the front of the headquarters of the supervisory committee for recruiting colored regiments, located on…

GLC05701

4 March 1865

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Broadside

Title: The Inaugural address of President Abraham Lincoln delivered at the National Capitol, March 4, 1865.

Contemporary printing of Lincoln's second inaugural address. Printed in dark blue ink. Title is in large, bold type with the text of the address in double columns underneath.

GLC06044

1897

Hammond, B.F., fl. 1897

Print

Title: Afro-American Monument

Oil process chromo-lithographic poster. A picture of an angel putting her hand on the head of a slave, surrounded by nine vignettes depicting scenes from slavery to results of emancipation. Includes pictures of Booker T. Washington and Frederick Douglass, the death of Crispus Attucks, the initial arrival of African slaves in 1619, and Abraham Lincoln "breaking the chain of bondage," among other scenes. There is also related statistical information.

GLC08941

circa 1880-1890

Volck, Adalbert John, 1828-1912

Print

Title: Lincoln writing the Emancipation Proclamation

Depicts a menacing-looking Lincoln slumping in his chair writing the Emancipation Proclamation with his left foot sitting on top of a copy of the U.S. Constitution. Demon imagery is found throughout. The Statue of Liberty's head is covered by Lincoln's Scotch cap to simulate a baboon. Background has two paintings. One depicts the slave rebellion on Saint Domingo and the other John Brown as "St. Ossawotamie." Osawotamie is a reference to a battle at the town of Osawatomie, Kansas in August 1856 when some 250 border ruffians attacked the free-soil town. Brown defended the town with 30 men, but…

GLC00493.03

1861, 1863-1865

Harpers Weekly

Header Record

Title: Harper's weekly. [Vol. 5, no. 210 (January 5, 1861); vol.7, no. 314 (January 3, 1863) - vol. 9, no. 470 (December 30, 1865)] [Decimalized .01-.04]

Features article and illustration on emancipated children in New Orleans.

GLC00623

January 13, 1622

Brandt, Sebastian, fl. 1600-1625

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Hovener

Requests having the London Company send him supplies. Requests his nephew (the son of Phillip Brandt) be sent to Virginia from Derbyshire. Mentions Admiral of the Jamestown District John Pountis. Written in Elizabethan secretarial hand. Docket, in another hand, reads: "Sebastian Brands letter to Mr. Hojener 13 January }1622/1 That ther is Mynes of Gould and Silver and Copper in Virginia." It is unclear if the date is old style or new style.

GLC00708

September 22, 1779

Groves, William, fl. 1769-1779

Letter signed

Title: to unknown

Groves reports the capture of the British schooner Revenge. The schooner, formerly commanded by Hugh Gorden, is expected to arrive at Beverly Port.

GLC01412.57

December 20, 1776

DeBlois, Elizabeth, 1761-1843

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isaac Winslow Esq. and wife

Deblois writes to her sister and brother in New York. She comments on her good health and hopes that she sees her family again soon. A postscript mentions rebels leaving Cumberland (Nova Scotia). Paper contains a loyalist watermark.

GLC01412.60

September 11, 1783

Prevost, Augustine, 1744-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Dr. Stringer

Writes to inform Stringer that he has been ordered to disband provincial troops and will be embarking for St. Johns [Saint John River in present-day New Brunswick, Canada].

GLC01412.63.01

October 26, 1777

Cotton, Theophilus, fl. 1767-1777

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Spencer

Reports to Major General Joseph Spencer that some boatmen refused to obey orders in a "mutinous manner". Cotton asks that Spencer try the men because the crime is of too high a nature for him to try them himself. The men's names are included in the letter. The verso of the letter contains instructions on how returns should be made.

GLC01412.63.02

1783-1815

Harrison, Benjamin, 1726-1791

Free frank

Title: to Jonathan Hudson or Benjamin Levy

This is the address leaf for a letter sent by Benjamin Harrison, a Virginian Continental Congressman and Declaration of Independence signer, to Jonathan Hudson or Benjamin Levy, merchants in Baltimore. It was sent using a free frank under Harrison's signature, which has partial text loss. Faint postmark includes the word "Phila" and the month "August." No year could be ascertained.

GLC01412.65

May 11, 1776

Lee, Charles, 1732-1782

Letter signed

Title: to Edmund Pendleton

Discusses the differences in pay for Continental and state soldiers. Comments on the activities of "Mr. Agnew who was lately tryed by the Committee" and other Tories as they related to the British assault on Hog Island. Written to Pendleton as President of the Virginia Convention.

GLC01421

1493

Columbus, Christopher, 1451-1506

Pamphlet

Title: Epistola Christofori Colom... de insulis Indie supra Gangem.... [exploration]

First edition, in Latin, second (corrected) issue, printed at Rome after 29 April 1493. Gothic type; 33 lines per page. Pamphlet printing letter to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain concerning his first voyage to America, the so-called Barcelona letter. The earliest printed Columbus letter, describing his discovery of the Caribbean islands of Juana and Hispaniola.

GLC01427

February 18, 1863

Jones, William, 1760-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Philip B. Jones

One letter addressed to Philip B. Jones from William W. Jones dated Feburary 18, 1863. Pertains to paying $1,400 for a 35-year old enslaved man named Joe currently being held in Gradys Jail. Also mentions that Joe's wife (unnamed) was included in the bill of sale but found her unattractive. Details another enslaved woman named Maria being sold by a man named Cross for $3,500. Writes, "If this war is ever Ended [fairly], Women and Children are the property to put money in."

GLC01449.02

March 24, 1778

Hillegas, Michael, 1729-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Clarke

States that he is transmitting from the Treasury Board to Clarke Continental Loan Office certificates amounting to $521,000 escorted by Mr. Norton Brailsford and William Dodd. Reports that he sent $21,000 in certificates from Baltimore last summer when the Treasury Board was in Philadelphia, but they were returned so he is sending them again. Asks Clarke to give bearers duplicate receipts to bring back. Details amounts of each certificate and how they should be numbered. Docketed received 7 April 1778. The Continental Loan Offices administered loans to the Continental Treasury to help…

GLC01450.008.06

March 7, 1779

Montgomery, John, fl. 1778-1795

Autograph letter

Title: to Mr. Newton, Gordon, and Johnston

Signed as Montgomery, Sealy, and Co. Discusses their business accounts dealing with wine and brandy shipments to and from Portugal in the first part of the letter. States that they will only send letters by packet boat as other ships are not safe. Describes what has occurred in the Revolutionary War recently. Informs that the British under Admiral Samuel Barrington and General James Grant have captured the island of St. Lucia (12-28 December 1778), which French Admiral Valerie d'Estaing failed to counteract. The French troops suffered heavy losses. States that there is great dissention…

GLC01450.022.04