8 October 1846

Dorr, Thomas Wilson, 1805-1854

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Metcalf Marsh

Discusses complaints against a physician for neglect. Asks Marsh to obtain a position in a post office for a friend of the "constitutional cause." Marked "Private." Dorr had been released from prison the previous year; he had been convicted of treason to the state of Rhode Island after the Dorr Rebellion.

GLC05240

1826

Shaler, William, 1773-1833

Book

Title: Sketches of Algiers, political, historical and civil...

Printed by Cummings, Hilliard and Company. First edition. Original worn paperboards and quarter leather. Written by Shaler as American Consul General at Algiers. Includes chapter 7 "Extracts of the journal kept in the consulate of the United States, at Algiers," which appears to be the only original materials. (The rest appears to derive from other works, as per Shaler's preface.)

GLC05246.04

June 14, 1849

Houston, Sam, 1793-1863

Letter signed

Title: Legal document in re Houston v. Jas. Hastarr re: land bought from Austin

GLC05248

1820-1890

Cooper, James Fenimore, 1789-1851

Header Record

Title: Collection of two items pertaining to James Fenimore Cooper [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC05258

27 April 1835

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Letter signed

Title: to George A. Waggaman

Massachusetts Senator Webster informs Waggaman, a former Senator from Louisiana, that Webster's friend, Mr. Loring, will be visiting New Orleans. Commends Loring to Waggaman's notice.

GLC05264.04

10 June 1820

Clay, Henry, 1777-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Caesar A. Rodney

Written as Speaker of the House. Acknowledges Rodney's letter of 22 May 1820. Rodney asked Clay to hold off on retiring from the House of Representatives, but Clay is adamant, saying "I have reasons, altogether of a private nature, for retiring from the H. of R. which if it were worth while to trouble you with them, I think you would admit justifys my resolution." Says he believes in the maxim of one belonging to his country, but says now is not the time to sacrifice himself since he predicts the country will be at peace for the short term. Believes there is interesting matters to take care…

GLC05265

June 1848

United States. Congress

Pamphlet

Title: A short statement of the causes which led to the war with Mexico...

Title continues "showing the inconsistent course of the Whig party on the subject." Record from Congress detailing contradictory Whig votes in the 29th and 30th Congresses, first supporting the Mexican War and then declaring that it was "unnecessarily and unconstitutionally begun by the President of the United States." Abraham Lincoln's name appears in the voting lists.

GLC05162

3 March 1841

Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862

Book

Title: Message from the President of the United States, transmitting a report from the Secretary of State, in relation to seizures or search of American vessels, & c.

House doc. no. 115. Pertains to "Search or seizure of American vessels on coast of Africa, & c."

GLC05163

February 23, 1833

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James A. Hamilton

Writing to James Hamilton, son of Alexander Hamilton, Jackson comments on the rush of official business at the height of the Nullification Crisis. Mentions that he heard from Hamilton's mother, wife of Alexander Hamilton, and is pleased that she is still well. Asks that Hamilton come to Washington before 4 March 1833, the date of Jackson's second inauguration. Comments on the positions of Henry Clay and John Calhoun on nullification. "Nullification cannot be recognized as a peaceful & constitutional measure, and the American system of M Clay being on the wane, a union between these two…

GLC05176

1817

Washington, Bushrod, 1762-1829

Pamphlet

Title: A view of exertions lately made for the purposes of colonizing the free people of colour, in the United States, in Africa, or elsewhere

A pamphlet containing Bushrod's memorial as president of the American Society for Colonizing the Free People of Color of the United States, along with other writings on the subject of colonization. Includes speeches by Henry Clay and many others, resolutions, and a "brief sketch of Sierra Leone." Printed by Jonathan Elliot. Disbound pamphlet.

GLC05181

22 August 1834

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Document signed

Title: [Patent for Otis Tufts' improvement in the power printing press]

Signed by Andrew Jackson as President. Countersigned by John Forsyth as Secretary of State and Benjamin Franklin Butler as Attorney General. Tufts' written description of his improvement is signed by Robert Henry Eddy and possibly Caleb Babbit as witnesses. Contains five pages of diagrams depicting the invention. Sealed and bound with yellow ribbon.

GLC05183

circa 1857-1859

Beckers, Alexander, fl. 1857-1859

Object

Title: [Becker's patent table-top parlor stereo viewer, one person model]

Alexander Beckers' stereo viewer, New York. One person viewer. Top opens so that multiple stereocards can be loaded. Turning knob on right side for changing to the next stereocard. Brass tag on one side reads, "Alex Beckers, New York, Patents, April 11, 1857, March 1 & 29, 1859, April 12 1859, Dec 13, 1859." Stereocards that came with it are cataloged in GLC 5139.03. Handle with care. Height is 45.5 cm.

GLC05139.02

circa 1843-1847

LeMoyne, Francis Julius, 1798-1879

Broadside

Title: To the free and independent voters of the city and county of Philadelphia

The Liberty Party of Philadelphia suggests nominations for an upcoming election. States the Party's principle as "opposition to slavery as the great moral and political evil of this land" and requests voters to consider the "continual encroachments of the slaveholding States upon the rights of the free States."

GLC05159

10 May 1824

Vanderbilt, Cornelius, 1749-1877

Document signed

Title: Statement of bills paid by Cornelius Vanderbilt for steamboat Thistle at first cost

Co-signed by William Gibbons. Lists bills Vanderbilt paid in April and May 1824, settled at $4617.88. Written on ledger paper.

GLC05179

1850s

Tieman, Daniel T., fl. 1850

Header Record

Title: Three portaits of a NYC reformer mayor: daguerreotype, ambrotype & later carte

The three items are: 1. Daguerreotype. Half view, seated, with left hand holding jacket label and right holding a book. Cased: 15.2 x 12.0 (2.0) cm. 2. Ambrotype half view, seated with hands in lap, no case, 8.2 x 7.1 (.6) cm. Varnished back. 3. Modern print of carte de visite by Brady-NY, tucked into slits on mount, with note of F.H. Meserve, CDV 8/2 x 5.3, mount: 21.6 x 13.9

GLC05188

1850

Truth, Sojourner, 1797-1883

Book

Title: Narrative of Sojourner Truth : a northern slave, emancipated from bodily servitude by the state of New York, in 1828. With a portrait.

Printed for the author by J.B. Yerrinton and Son. Original paper front cover but lacks original back wrapper.

GLC05194

January 20, 1842

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Brooks

Adams comments upon his "essay" in defense of British actions in China during the Opium War. He maintains that he confined himself "to the question of right from wrong between the parties, as it stood upon the ransom of Canton." He bases his judgments on two principles: the equality of men and the love of God and neighbor. Adams alludes to Chinese demands of submission, and contrasts that with the Britons, "a Christian nation of Freeman" whom he hopes will practice mercy and moderation.

GLC05508.001

12 October 1836

Key, Francis Scott, 1779-1843

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Apparently written to a clergyman friend who refused to baptize the child of unbelieving parents. Key dwells at length on the sponsors' obligations in baptism, supporting his friend's decision. He gives specific advice on how he would have proceeded. He also expresses sympathy for the child who would grow up unbaptized, but sees more danger from "profanation of a Sacrament." Key also mentions other options such as baptizing the child with religious sponsors (acceptable) or without sponsors (unacceptable).

GLC05508.007

January 11, 1838

Haughton, Richard, 1799-1841

Newspaper

Title: Atlas. [Vol. 6, no. 164 (January 11, 1838)]

Most prominent on this page is a report on the debate of "Calhoun's resolutions" concerning the parameters of the "gag rule," which was renewed by the senate annually between 1836 and 1844. The debate touches on states' rights, free speech, and secession, and provides an example of how the Senate avoided direct consideration of slavery by instead debating how they should discuss slavery. Contributions are made by senators John C. Calhoun, Daniel Webster, James Buchanan, and Thomas Morris, among others. The page also includes a resolution by Martin Van Buren urging U.S. citizens not to…

GLC05508.025

2 April 1836

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriet Henry

Buchanan writes to his sister because he is concerned for her health. He writes: "let me strongly urge you to resist the gloomy feelings & apprehensions which I fear you indulge." He asks her to submit to the will of God, but also acknowledges he is not a model Christian. Buchanan assures Harriet that should he survive her, he will comply with any requests she makes of him.

GLC05508.054

1855

Autograph letter signed

Title: Collection of two items pertaining to Thomas Sully [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC05503

31 August 1842

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary P. Payson

Jackson sends Miss Payson a sentiment: "Seek true wisdom[:] it is the pearl of 'great price' which cheers us thro' life, and ends in happy mortality." One black and white bust engraving of Jackson included.

GLC05508.005

3 January 1855

Jackson, Thomas J. "Stonewall", 1824-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his uncle

A heartfelt letter noting the spiritual guidance that Jackson's uncle gave to Jackson's now deceased wife, Ellie. Jackson expresses thanks for his uncle's condolence after her passing. He discusses his sadness and changed outlook on life. Jackson also writes of his faith in God overlooking him.

GLC05508.006

15 May 1815

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Letter

Title: to Jedidiah Morse

Adams thanks Morse for his pamphlet "American Unitarianism" (Review of American Unitarianism, published in 1815), but comments that he heard the doctrines maintained 65 years ago by a number of ministers. Adams resists what he perceives as Morse's attempt to convert him to Athanasianism, citing his reading of Samuel Clark (a famous anti-trinitarian) and others more than fifty years ago. By Athanasianism Adams means Trinitarianism.

GLC05508.016

December 1859

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Broadside

Title: Address of John Brown to the Virginia Court, when about to receive the sentence of death, for his heroic attempt at Harper's Ferry...

Small broadside with lithograph signature of Brown produced by the Liberator, reprinting his address to the Virginia Court before sentencing. Brown denies wanting to murder or cause an uprising. He argues that his raid on Harper's Ferry was just and aligned with the teachings of the Bible.

GLC05508.051