21 November 1846

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Letter signed

Title: to John Serretta

Denies three Mexican priests serving in the United States permission to aid their colleagues in Mexico. Suggests that the priests try traveling with a neutral ship. Signed as Secretary of State during the Mexican War. Impression in upper left corner reads "Bath Superfine."

GLC02776

27 September 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of John W. Demaine, who had been convicted in the District of Columbia of larceny in August 1856].

Demaine was pardoned near the end of his term because he was young and inexperienced at the time of the commission of the crime and under the influence of older persons and because the jurors who had rendered the verdict against him were recommending it, as well as a number of highly respected citizens. Signed by Abraham Lincoln. Countersigned by Secretary of State William H. Seward.

GLC02777

30 April 1863

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Document signed

Title: [Amendment to an act approving letters of marque, prizes, and prize goods]

Signed as President of the Confederate States and countersigned by Speaker of the House Thomas S. Bocock and President of the Senate (and Vice President) Alexander H. Stephens. This document amended the original act that approved letters of marque, prizes, and prize goods on the high seas, which was passed 21 May 1861 (Bill #170 of the second session of the Confederate Provisional Congress). The amendment allows the Board of Naval Officers created under the original act to have the power in cases of any armed vessel sunk or destroyed "to take and receive such depositions, affidavits,…

GLC02778

circa 29 April 1965

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Header Record

Title: Documents relating to Andrew Johnson and Eliza C. Skidmore [decimalized .01-.04]

Three documents related to Eliza C. Skidmore's passage across battle lines during the Civil War. She received permission from President Andrew Johnson to cross from the Union side to the Confederate side to obtain supplies and bring them back to sell to the Union. Also included is a medal with Andrew Johnson's likeness.

GLC02779

1 June 1868

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of George Stoneman]

Lists military retirements and promotions of John M. Schofield and George Stoneman. Signed as President. Docketed on verso by Secretary of War John Schofield (who had replaced Stanton).

GLC02780

19 July 1870

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Document signed

Title: [Permission for John Lothrop Motley]

President Grant authorizes John Lothrop Motley "to exchange the ratifications of the [Addition] Convention to the Convention of April 7. 1862 between Great Britain & the U.S. for the suppression of the African Slave Trade." One engraving, "H.M. Gun-boat 'Teaser' Capturing the Slaver 'Abbot Devereaux,'" and one bust engraving of President Grant included.

GLC02781

1873/03/04 ca.

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Object

Title: Ulysses S. Grant / President of the United States

Possibly an inaugural medal. Sculpted by W. & C. Harris. Paint is slightly worn and there are glue remnants on verso.

GLC02781.02

15 March 1881

Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of A.M. Kimball as alternate commissioner for treaty anniversary]

Certificate appointing A.M. Kimball to act as Alternate Commissioner of an "international exhibition of arts, manufactures, and products of the soil and mine," to be held in New York City in 1883. The exhibition would mark the "one hundredth anniversary of the treaty of peace and the recognition of American independence." Kimball was nominated by the Governor of Wisconsin. Marked with a white paper presidential seal on bottom left.

GLC02783.01

22 October 1895

Cleveland, Grover, 1837-1908

Document signed

Title: Extradition of Gilbert Coutant, charged with larceny (c/s Edwin F. Uhl)

Partly printed document signed as President and countersigned by Uhl as Acting Secretary of State. Written to Henry M. Howell of Canada.

GLC02784

1912/04/17

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Document signed

Title: Extradition of William R. Shaver, charged with embezzlement & forgery

Partly printed document signed as President and countersigned by Wilson as Acting Secretary of State. Written to P.D. Howell of Canada.

GLC02785

1922/01/16

Harding, Warren G., 1865-1923

Typed letter signed

Title: to Jere H. Barr

President Harding writes to the president of the Reading Chamber of Commerce (in Reading, Pennsylvania) as a greeting on the occasion of the organization's annual dinner. Advocates for the Conference on Limitation of Armament. Typed on White House stationary.

GLC02787

8 June 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of Benjamin Wood, who had been convicted in December 1857 in the District of Columbia of manslaughter].

Wood was pardoned by Lincoln because it is believed that he was insane at the time of the offense, because it was his first offense, and because the jurors at his trial and others had petitioned for his release. Countersigned by Secretary of State William Seward.

GLC02789

1792/08/20

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Trumbull re: American prisoners in Algiers

Written as President to Trumbull, Speaker of the House of Representatives, concerning the petition of American prisoners in Algiers which Trumbull forwarded.

GLC02793.001

1793/01/20

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Lee re: his reluctance in accepting a second term

Written as President to Lee, Governor of Virginia, who has congratulated Washington for his re-election. The president writes "to say I feel pleasure from the prospect of commencing another tour of duty, would be a departure from truth" and continues that it has been "my fixed determination to return to the walks of private life, at the end of my term." He concludes with news of acquaintances and his nephew, and sends with Mrs. Washington his best wishes for the new year.

GLC02793.002

1795/02/15

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Jameson re: the Dismal Swamp Land Co. and profits from slave labor

Responding to Jameson's call for $80 (on behalf of his deceased uncle), Washington writes that he had hoped to see profits from the company since the elder Jameson had the money in his own hands. He notes in passing that the profits would have been "expected to arise from the labor of the slaves...." Washington also mentions the Potomac Canal Company and the timber owned by the Dismal Swamp Company.

GLC02793.003

1795/08/20

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Adams re: career prospects of John Q. Adams, the Jay Treaty

Written as President to his Vice President. Washington writes that young Adams should not think of retiring because his fair prospects may bring him to the head of the diplomatic corps. Washington also mentions the protests in Boston and elsewhere against Jay's Treaty. He calls "these meetings in opposition to the constituted authority... useless, as they are at all times improper and dangerous." J. Q. Adams eventually served in St. Petersburg.

GLC02793.004

1796/07/22

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriot Washington Parks, his niece, re: congratulations on her marriage

Written as President, offering his congratulations and suggestions for "a prudent deportment" towards her husband, including "the accomodation of your views to his circumstances." Also advocating frugality, he adds "always keep the old adage in remembrance - 'Take your measure according to your cloth' and do not... endulge yourself either in dress, or mode of living that will be productive of embarrassmen[t]." He concludes by noting the amount of company present at Mount Vernon and their best wishes for her marriage. Harriot Washington Parks (1776-1822) was the daughter of GW's brother…

GLC02793.005

1797/01/22

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Anderson re: instructions for management of Mount Vernon

Written as President. Washington goes into considerable detail regarding farming, especially innovations (a new red clover). He also mentions building a new road and the drought of the previous fall.

GLC02793.006

1808/12/09

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Pittsburgh

Written as President in response to the Society's "friendly address" concerning religious freedom and mentioning the "time of trouble" in which they live.

GLC02793.010

1815/04/08

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Harrison Smith re: costs of moving Jefferson's library to Congress

Written as President. Jefferson sold his library to the nation (for what became the institution known as the Library of Congress) after the British burned the capitol. "Jos: D." is Jefferson's coachman, Joseph Dougherty. The Madison papers identified Dougherty's cargo as the books in Jefferson's library.

GLC02793.011

1816/02/25

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother Nelly Conway Madison re: money for her and Dolley's health

Sending $400. Written as President. Signed "Yr affe. son." The Madison Papers reports that this letter is one of three surviving letters of Madison to his mother. Normally Dolley Madison would write to his mother, but apparently she had been quite ill.

GLC02793.012

[1817]/04/02

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Col. Samuel Lane re: a proposal to sell his own furniture to the White House

Written as President, noting "a considerable deficiency, in the sum appropriated" to furnish the White House and proposing that he leave some personal furniture "at a fair price".

GLC02793.013

1818/10/28

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [William Benton] re: sending supplies and slaves "the business of the slaves"

Written as President. Recipient inferred from content.

GLC02793.014

1818/01/21

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Letter signed

Title: to Edward Livingston

Acknowledging a bronze casting of Napoleon, and offering thanks for the gift. Written as General in the U.S. Army.

GLC02769

1835/07/25

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Letter signed

Title: to Democratic Committee of Pennsylvania

Jackson refuses to endorse either candidate, or say anything to interfere with a gubernatorial race. He chooses to do so because both candidates, Wolf and Muhlenburg, are his friends. Also claims it is his policy not to involve himself in local matters of this kind. Written as President, to the twelve members of the Democratic Committee. Signed by Jackson with the date, place, names of recipients, also written in his own hand. Written from Fort Wool, also known as Fort Calhoun, in Hampton, Virginia, which served as Jackson's summer home for a time, and was nicknamed Rip Raps, spelled Rip…

GLC02771