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

July 18, 1864

Hooper, Samuel, 1808-1875

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Pitt Fessenden

Hooper, a United States Representative from Massachusetts, discusses the prospect of obtaining bank loans for the United States Treasury. He informs Fessenden, Secretary of the Treasury, that "... I have become strongly impressed with the idea that an appeal to the people would be cheerfully responded to and if encouraged by liberal subscriptions the banks would furnish more money…I do not regret your failure to make a negotiation with them in New York." Hooper notes that he will be in New York for a day and will meet with Mr. Cisco. Also discusses the death of Lt. Mason, evidently in…

GLC01596.01

April 12, 1850

Clayton, John Middleton, 1796-1856

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander Woodruff Buel

Letter regarding passage of U.S. ships on the St. Lawrence river. In response to a letter from Buel, Clayton writes, "[I]t is believed the Canadian Government has recently announced its determination not to grant this privilege [of American ships passing on the St. Lawrence river to the Atlantic Ocean] to our citizens during the pending of the Canadian Reciprocity Bill which is now before Congress. The Department, however, has no official knowledge of this fact, but derives its information on the subject from the journals of the day."

GLC01596.02

March 2, 1870

Badeau, Adam, 1831-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry T. Tackerman

Badeau thanks Tackerman for his photographs of President Ulysses S. Grant and for a pleasant note Tackerman wrote, and declares that Grant was gratified and appreciative. Letter written on Executive Mansion stationery.

GLC01596.05

February 5, 1861

Conkling, Roscoe, 1829-1888

Autograph letter signed

Title: to C.G. Burke

Discusses their friendship and his "political fate." Mentions a speech that Burke said was "passionately condemned" which related to the Civil War: "the preservation or partition of a great empire, the fate of a nation the greatest in the future, the world has ever seen." Notes a "sinister purpose" Burke and others have warned him of. Marked "In Confidence." Conkling was then a Republican U.S. representative from New York.

GLC01596.06

January 1864

Sickles, Daniel Edgar, 1819-1914

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Birney

Discusses a congressional investigation into General George G. Meade for disciplining officers who testified before the Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the War after Meade let Lee escape after Gettysburg. Tells Major General Birney to give his true opinion to Congress and that he will urge his contacts in the Congress and the Secretary of War to back off. Also mentions having dinner with President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln, where he also met Henry Halleck and Meade. Meade was later exonerated and received a vote of thanks from Congress.

GLC01599

March 18, 1806

Gallatin, Albert, 1761-1849

Letter signed

Title: to William Few

Informs that he has directed the Treasurer to remit to Few $240,000 to be used for discharging the interest on stocks. Addressed to Few as the Commissioner of Loans at New York City.

GLC01602.01

December 12, 1808

Gallatin, Albert, 1761-1849

Letter signed

Title: to John Pooler

Gallatin informs Pooler that he has directed the Treasurer to remit to Pooler $1000 to pay the dividends on stocks. Letter addressed to Pooler as the Commissioner of Loans for Georgia.

GLC01602.02

March 2, 1877

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Wallace

Appears to allude to the count of electoral votes for president. Declares, "I have just got out of bed (10 1/2 hrs) having got home from the final count at 4 1/2 this morning. Tired to the bone." Letter written on House of Representatives stationery.

GLC01603

January 30, 1879

Hayes, Rutherford Birchard, 1822-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Hayes agrees with his recipient that public business "ought to be conducted on business principles." He seclares, "A public officer can in no way serve the party of his choice more effectively than by thoughtful and efficient performance of his office duties." Letter written on Executive Mansion stationery.

GLC01607

17 March 1815

Van Dyke, Richard, fl. 1815

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Land sale agreement between William and Charles Gardiner and Richard Van Dyke]

Also signed by William Gardiner and Charles Gardiner. Mentions eight Iroquois for whom Van Dyke was making the transaction. The Indians names were Lieutenant Colonel Lewis Atayataghroughta, Captain James Wakarontharane, Captain Honyere Tewahongarakon, Captain John Otaawigton, Lieutenant Cornelius Kahiktoton, Lieutenant John Sagoharase, Lieutenant Hanyost Thaosagwat, and Lieutenant Nicholas Kaghantshonan. The agreement records a transaction to transfer lands to the Gardiners from the Iroquois Indians. Outlines the process by which Van Dyke will obtain the patents for the land in…

GLC01608

January 25, 1819

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rachel Jackson

Andrew Jackson writes to his wife that he has arrived in Washington, a day after Henry Clay made an inflammatory speech against him. However, he is confident, because he believes that "a very large majority" of Congress sides with him. He has also learned that Jefferson and Madison have written to Monroe in his favor, and that all three Presidents appear to support him. Congress was investigating Jackson for his conduct during the First Seminole War is 1818, when he pursued a group of Seminole Indians into Spanish Florida, upsetting a number of powerful foreign nations.

GLC01609

1867/10/18

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: Authority to affix the seal to the pardon of Perry Murphy

GLC01611

19 June 1867

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: Pardon of John W. Paxton, convicted of larceny.

Convicted of larceny; sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment. Pardoned after serving prison term for his good conduct and penitence. (c/s William H. Seward)

GLC01612

5 June 1794

Randolph, Edmund, 1753-1813

Document signed

Title: An Act laying duties upon carriages for the conveyance of persons

Signed in his hand by Randolph as Secretary of State. Signed with printed signatures of Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ralph Izard, President of the Senate, and approved by George Washington as President. Printed act establishes a yearly tax on all carriages used for the conveyance of persons. Decided at a session of the Third Congress in Philadelphia 2 December 1793 and approved on 5 June 1794.

GLC01618

April 20, 1908

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Typed letter signed

Title: to Victor Howard Metcalf

Roosevelt writes as President to Secretary of Navy Metcalf regarding a meeting designed to take stock of America's natural resources. Also invited were the justices of the Supreme Court, both houses of Congress, and his cabinet. Includes a stamp of receipt from the Navy Department dated April 23. Letter written on White House letterhead.

GLC01619

14 May 1813

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Broadside

Title: Cartel for the exchange of prisoners of war, between Great Britain and the United States of America

Broadside reprinting terms of prisoner exchange agreed to by the American and British governments. Includes notations on the right and left margins of the document. Signed by Secretary of State James Monroe and Tho. Barclay.

GLC01621

6 March 1920

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Document signed

Title: [Sentence commutation for Charles Manfri, convicted of selling heroin in New Jersey 19 December 1918, and sentenced to four years imprisonment]

Charles Manfri, alias Charles Mansfield, was convicted of violating the Harrison Anti-Narcotic Act in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey and sentenced to four years in the State penitentiary in Baltimore, Maryland. Wilson commuted his sentence to end April 3, 1920 and signed in purple pencil, no reason given for clemency. Countersigned by A. Mitchell Palmer. Printed document with blanks filled with type.

GLC01622