August 18, 1865

Van Valkenburgh, Gerrit S., 1835-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary B. Van Valkenburgh

Written by Gerrit to his mother Mary. Says he loves his relatives in the North and often thinks of them. Mentions that his brother, Frank, has already written about his release from the prison. Says the charges against him were false. Since he has been in Pine Bluff, he has been sick with chills and fever - he thinks typhoid. Reports that he is feeling better though. Says he boards with his employer, who is originally from Connecticut. Mentions an uncle who lives in Warren, Arkansas and says "their slaves - or former slaves - [are] still with them." The uncle bought a flour mill and his sons…

GLC00686.24

March 28, 1866

Van Valkenburgh, Gerrit S., 1835-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary B. Van Valkenburgh

Gerrit writes to his mother Mary, declaring that he wrote two or three weeks ago, but he knows many of his letters do not make it, so he is writing again. He reports that he has recovered from his bout of Erysipelas and that he weighs more now than he ever has (Gerrit also suffered from the disease in February 1865; see GLC00686.16). He says he has not suffered from chills since January. He mentions that communication in Arkansas is not good because of the lack of bridges, and discusses his garden and fields.

GLC00686.25

June 27, 1897

Willard, Frances, fl. 1897

Typed letter

Title: to unknown

Typed transcript excerpting original letter (not included). Undated transcript. It is not clear if this has anything to do with the Van Valkenburgh family. Note at top says this is a typed copy of the last letter written by Willard to his/her mother. It is dated June 27, 1897, but it is unclear when this manuscript was typed. Sent to "My dear desk-mate of well-nigh 40 years ago." Can picture mother perfectly: "straight well-built figure...grace, the fine face and brow, and the dark eyes." Says she was studious and earnest.

GLC00686.26

July 22, 1901

Van Valkenburgh, Franklin Butler, 1835-1924

Typed letter

Title: to Faith Van Valkenburgh

Unsigned, with a short postscript hand-written on page 3. Several corrections made in pen throughout. Written on letter head of Van Valkenburgh's own law firm. Letter written by Frank to his daughter, Faith, in Buffalo, New York. A funny letter with many puns throughout. Filled with esoteric information of family and friends. Pages 2-3 are the size listed in the extent field. Page 1 is 26 x 20.7 cm. Contains a small, undated newspaper clipping about Faith's trip west.

GLC00686.27

October 22, 1905

Van Valkenburgh, Franklin Butler, 1835-1924

Typed letter

Title: to Edward Porter Van Valkenburgh

Written on stationary of the law office of Frank B. Van Valkenburgh. Provides some family history for his brother Captain Edward Porter Van Valkenburgh. Gives a run down of Edward's Civil War service: enrolled September 18, 1861. Made a 1st Lieutenant in Co. A of 107th New York on May 6, 1863. Mustered out of that company as a captain on June 5, 1865. Makes reference to an enclosed medal from the Grand Army of the Republic (not included). Hopes his brother enjoys the honor.

GLC00686.28

July 3, 1909

Van Valkenburgh, Franklin Butler, 1835-1924

Typed letter

Title: to Dr. W. H. Merritt

Written on stationary of the law office of Frank B. Van Valkenburgh. Written to Dr. Merritt, the Chairman of the Norwalk, Ohio Centennial Committee. He is flattered that he would receive an invitation to be present at the "Norwalk Home Coming Week Celebration." Says he remembers Norwalk as a "lovely village" where he sojourned as a printer 57 years before. Says he is not so much an "OLD SETTLER" as one of "the antiques" of the village. Says he would be proud to go since his grandfather, the Reverend David Higgins, settled there the year he (Frank) was born, but that circumstances will keep…

GLC00686.29

1900-1929

Unknown

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frank Van Valkenburgh

Illegible signature at end of letter. Pencil note at the bottom of the letter says it is Garrit [likely Gerrit] S. Van Valkenburgh, but it is too obscure to be certain. Pokes fun at his brother for such a bad letter to him. Says it is cold and that they are clustered around a rousing fire in the store. A dust storm is obscuring the day. Says mother is well and that their father is with Ed (another brother). Says Carrie Van Singer, probably a relative, gave birth to a son. Reports that there is peace in Europe and plenty in America. Mentions that crops are good. Gives update on family and…

GLC00686.30

1900-1929

Van Valkenburgh, Franklin Butler, 1835-1924

Document

Title: Robins and Robbins

Poem on two typed pages. The type is green instead of black. Size in the extent is for the larger sheet. The smaller sheet is 13.8 x 21.6 cm. Two stanzas on the smaller sheet and two longer stanzas on the the bigger sheet. Pencil note says the poem was by Franklin Van Valkenburgh. Several corrections made in pencil. Poem is a nonsensical and seems to revolve around a family story or an inside joke.

GLC00686.31

1815-1860

Van Valkenburgh, Mary, fl. 1849

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh

Written by Mary to her brother Frank. Reports that their parents are well. It appears that Frank is an editor a newspaper from the content of this letter. She asks him to send a copy to several friends. Updates him on family and friends. Says the lessons she has been taking for a musical instrument have not gone well. Mentions Frank's twin brother Gerrit: "Give Ger all good advise with regard to Every thing. Don't let him get into bad habits, I think he is more Easily led astray than you." Letter on thin blue paper.

GLC00686.32

15 November 1854

Van Valkenburgh, Franklin Butler, 1835-1924

Photograph

Title: [Framed daguerreotype portrait of Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh]

1/9th plate daguerreotype of clean-shaven man. Date from seller, who found date behind frame. In brown case with elaborate scroll-work with gilt edges and red interior. On the paper lining of the recessed case bed are two pencil inscriptions, one much heavier and possibly later than the other. The later one reads: "Nov 15 / taken at / Bath 1854" while the former is very faint and only the date "Nov 15th / 1854" can be deciphered.

GLC00686.33

circa 1850-1860

Van Valkenburgh, Franklin Butler, 1835-1924

Photograph

Title: [Framed tintype portrait of Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh]

1/9th plate tintype in green oval velvet case, gilt around frame, portrait of clean-shaven man in suit, inscribed on inside cover "F. B. Van Valkenburgh."

GLC00686.34

circa 1850-1860

Van Valkenburgh, Edward Porter, fl. 1865-1908

Photograph

Title: [Framed daguerreotype portrait of Edward Porter Van Valkenburgh]

1/6th plate daguerreotype of clean-shaven man in suit. Square leather covered wooden frame with border, star and scrollwork design on back. Photo surrounded by gilt oval.

GLC00686.35

June 26, 1857

Van Valkenburgh, Franklin Butler, 1835-1924

Photograph

Title: [Framed ambrotype portrait of Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh]

1/6th plate ambrotype of bearded man with mustache in suit, wearing cap. Square leather-covered, possibly wooden frame, picture surrounded by gilt oval, back of frame has intricate scrollwork and oval design, while photo has 3-dimensional effect. Pencil notation on the green paper lining of the recessed case bed: "Maintown / April 20 / 1867." Ambrotype taken by an unknown creator.

GLC00686.36

circa 1860-1870

Van Valkenburgh, Robert B., 1821-1888

Sculpture

Title: [Plaster bust of Robert Bruce Van Valkenburgh]

Lifesize gilded plaster bust of Robert with a few areas of gilt loss.

GLC00686.37

1858-1909

Powell, George May, 1835-1905

Header Record

Title: Papers of George May Powell [decimalized]

The George May Powell collection contains personal and family correspondence. Also included are business papers relating to his Thirteenth Amendment anti-slavery photograph, his inventions, and his publications; a diary, letters, and essays regarding his post-war travel, and religious and pacifist correspondence and essays. The collection is divided into the following series: 1) correspondence with Emma C. Small, 1860-1868; 2) George May Powell Company business records (13th Amendment photo); 3) Post-war expedition to Egypt and Palestine diary, records, and maps; 4) American Christian…

GLC00687

April 18, 1865

Wheeler, Joseph, 1836-1906

Letter signed

Title: to Joseph E. Johnston

Joseph Wheeler writes that he arrived at camp and found half of his command had left during the night because they believed the entire army was to be surrendered. His men informed him they heard this from high ranking officers as well as from Union forces who said they were not to fire on the Confederate troops as Union General William T. Sherman was negotiating a surrender. He informs that he sent out officers to get the men back, and indicates that they may have to move because there is no food to forage. He comments that, "I would rather ten thousand times to have been Killed than to have…

GLC00688

March 31, 1864

Memminger, Christopher G., 1803-1888

Letter signed

Title: to Henry W. Allen

Memminger, Treasurer of the Confederacy, declines a request from Allen, Governor of Louisiana, to "purchase five millions of treasury notes with the Bonds of the State of Louisiana." He states that an act passed on February 17, 1864 reduced the value of Confederate currency, thus rendering Allen's request impracticable to fulfill. Letter written on Confederate Treasury Department stationery. Contains a "Rebel Archives" stamp. Marked "Duplicate."

GLC00690

October 3, 1933

Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964

Typed letter signed

Title: to Bruce Barton

Comments on retirement: "A smoking President receives enough pipes to last a life time. Likewise fishing tackle. It is the only endowment he gets, except a troubled soul." Also mentions that "The country is going sour on the New Deal." Expresses his fear that the country will veer further left politically, and after the "middle class (80% of America) realizes it ruin" will veer back to the far right, "into some American interpretation of Hitler or Mussolini." Marked "personal" with one manuscript addition at the end.

GLC00691

18 May 1796

United States. Department of the Treasury

Pamphlet

Title: Letter from the Secretary of Treasury [re: budget of 1796]

Entirely printed. Stitched pamphlet. Signed in type by Oliver Wolcott, Jr. as Secretary of Treasury. Wm Smith was Chairman of the Committee of Ways & Means

GLC00692

1818-1865

Header Record

Title: Collection of letters of presidents [decimalized]

[decimalized 00693.01-00693.05]

GLC00693

April 3, 1823

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lewis Brantz

Discusses his recommendation of Mr. Haessler, probably Ferdinand R. Hässler who was the first supervisor of the Survey of the Coast, to Virginia Governor James Pleasant. Recipient noted in a different hand. Formerly pasted with a printed label. Watermark "D Ames."

GLC00693.01

October 29, 1848

Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Replies very graciously to a request for an autograph. Addressee's name has been cut-out of the page. Taylor signed as Major General, United States Army.

GLC00693.02

May 12, 1818

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Tudor

Adams, in retirement, writes to Tudor, who was clerk of Supreme Judicial Court in Massachusetts. Says he wants to make Tudor laugh. Sends Tudor a copy of Jemmibullero's (probably Samuel Waterhouse) "The Song of the Drunkard," which is not included here. He compares the work to James Otis's Latin and Greek prosody. This is part of a series of letters Tudor and Adams sent back and forth between 1816 and 1819.

GLC00693.04

10 September 1864

Sandoz, Joel H., fl. 1840-1864

Newspaper

Title: The Opelousas courier. [Vol. 12, no. 15 (September 10, 1864)]

Notice of special orders from the Enrolling Office in the Parish of St. Landry requiring all African American men between the ages of 18 and 50 to report themselves immediately for military enrollment. Planters and enslavers who have not "reported their quota of negroes (between the ages of 18 and 45) for enrollment, will be promptly reported to Hd. Qrs. Bureau of Conscription." Proclamation by Louisiana Governor Henry Watkins Allen discussing a vacancy in the Confederate Congress. War reports, mentioning the activities of Lincoln, General Nathan Bedford Forrest, General Stephen Gano…

GLC00694

May 4, 1877

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Sherman

He mentions changes to the New York City Customs House. He writes on the behalf of an H. H. Smith, a weigher and also a brother-in-law of John Rawlins, a close personal friend of Grant and former Union General. He explains that Smith's "record has always been good in every respect" and is now the guardian of his sister's children. "[A]s executor I[Grant] feel an interest in whatever may be for their interest" and hopes that Sherman can help the family keep their present arrangements for taking care of the children since Grant will be leaving the country soon. Letter written on lined paper…

GLC00695