September 24, 1842

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George N. Briggs

John Quincy Adams declines an invitation to a Cattle Show and fair, citing age, and his inability to attend public functions, and previous engagements. He hopes to soon meet Briggs in Washington, D.C., "under better auspices than those which have overshadowed us since Captain Christopher Sly was installed at the white house," possibly referring to John Tyler. Briggs was a congressman from Massachusetts.

GLC00655.03

December 13, 1823

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John C. Calhoun

Andrew Jackson requests to the Secretary of War that he make sure that Rufus Bowyer be allowed to enter the military academy as a cadet. He recommends him based on his own merits, and those of his father, Colonel Bowyer. Docket labeled "Va. [77]."

GLC00655.04

October 2, 1844

Tyler, John, 1790-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Wilkins

John Tyler acknowledges the receipt of Pennsylvania Congressman Wilkins' letter and thanks him "for the Kindness furnished Mrs. Tyler to New York." He desires Wilkins quick return to Washington, D.C. so that he can expedite the removal of the Choctaw Indians, because Tyler fears "Mr. Crawford is inclined to present impediments, from a misapprehension of the true position of things."

GLC00655.07

April 7, 1864

Cheney, Edward, fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Roelzo J. Warren

From a soldier in the Vermont corps. Letter discusses the Rappahannock Wilderness campaign. Letter written while the solider was hospitalized. The letter has some military content and mentions General Ulysses S. Grant.

GLC00653.26

1785-1932

Header Record

Title: President's collection [decimalized]

[decimalized 00655.01-00655.20]

GLC00655

June 30, 1805

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Lee

Written to William Lee, who was serving as American consul at Bordeaux, France. Mentions that he arrived in Paris on June 20, 1805 after a 25 day trip and that he will soon proceed to London. He mentions the unsuccessful mission to Spain. In the autumn of 1804 he went to Madrid to assist Charles Cotesworth Pinckney in his efforts to secure the definition of the Louisiana boundaries and the acquisition of the Floridas. They negotiated with Don Pedro de Cevallos, the Spanish minister of foreign affairs, from January to May 1805, without success. This letter finds Monroe between missions. On his…

GLC00655.02

November 27, 1842

Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry D. Gilpin

The letter discusses electoral politics. Written from Martin Van Buren's estate, Lindenwald, in Kinderhook, New York.

GLC00655.05

October 1, 1836

Polk, James K. (James Knox), 1795-1849

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Gives the county official voting results for electoral candidates Martin Van Buren and Hugh L. White. The votes were 1695 to 1200 respectively.

GLC00655.06

July 9, 1826

Harrison, William Henry, 1773-1841

Autograph letter signed

Title: to B. Tappin

William Henry Harrison asks Tappin to send more lime for use in the construction of an aqueduct for Harrison's distillery.

GLC00655.08

circa 1856

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George C. Whiting

Franklin Pierce discusses the pension for the widow of Navy Commander Samuel Larkin. He mentions testimony given on the cause of his death which showed that Larkin contracted the disease while on duty in Africa. Paper watermarked "Joynson/1856." Letter written during Pierce's presidency and docketed "President Pierce."

GLC00655.09

October 17, 1856

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Campbell

James Buchanan writes to U.S. Postmaster General Campbell regarding his decision to delay the appointment of a postmaster for Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for political reasons. Date "17" was overwritten on "16." Docketed as 16th. Written as a candidate in the 1856 presidential election from his estate, Wheatland, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

GLC00655.10

December 1864

Header Record

Title: Collection of two items related to Abraham Lincoln and Lazarus Whitehead Powell [Decimalized]

GLC01011

12 September 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Petition for promoting Colonel Andrew Wood Denison].

Lincoln submitted this petition to Secretary of War Stanton. Fifteen prominent men from Maryland signed the petition asking that Colonel Denison be promoted to Brigadier General of Volunteers. The petition recounts Denison's service to the Union, including his recruitment Maryland soldiers and his efforts leading them in battle. Denison's contribution culminated in the loss of an arm due to being shot at the Battle of Spotsylvania, but the petition contends, he has recovered and wants to be of service to the U.S.

GLC01012

24 September 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Printed document

Title: General orders no. 139.

Preliminary version of the Emancipation Proclamation published for the Army War Department printing, removed from a compilation of general orders. Noted on pages 117-120 are the orders that all people enslaved in the south will be freed. Beginning on Page 120 but not complete is General Orders No. 140, order respecting Special Provost Marshals and defining their duties. Printed circa 1863.

GLC01024

April 26, 1844

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amos Kendall

Jackson writes to the former Postmaster General, also Jackson's close friend and biographer. Jackson relates how he learned that nullifiers secretly sent an agent to Great Britain for aid during the Nullification Crisis of 1832. "... the nullifiers of the south having sent a secrite agent to Great Britain to obtain aid in carrying into effect their designs against the Union." He details the source of his information so that it might be enclosed with his papers by Kendall. Without naming his former vice president, John C. Calhoun, Jackson accuses him and other nullifiers of being traitors and…

GLC01025

March 6, 1824

Clay, Henry, 1777-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John D. Godman

Letter discusses the upcoming presidential election. Speculates on the contest between himself, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, and William H. Crawford. Thinks it certain that the election will be decided in the House of Representatives (it was). Between himself and Crawford, he guesses that whoever wins New York will be considered by the House along with Adams and Jackson. Predicts that if he makes to the House, he will win; otherwise he suspects Adams will win. Comments on other states and possible outcomes. Discusses how Godman and his other political supporters in Philadelphia can…

GLC01028

2 August 1813

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Printed document signed

Title: [Appointment of Eleazor D. Wood to major in the corps of engineers]

Madison signed as President and countersigned by John Armstrong as Secretary of War. The commission was a brevet for Battle of Lundy's lane near Niagara Falls.

GLC01043.07

November 1794

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript

Title: Manuscript draft: [Sixth annual address to Congress]

Washington asserts the constitutional authority of the federal government during the Whiskey Rebellion. Written by GW's secretary Bartholomew Danbridge, on Washington's personal stationery, extensively corrected by Washington and signed by him at the end. Over 210 words struck by GW and 157 added. With docketing by John Jay on the verso of the last page.

GLC01054

September 29, 1794

Washington, Martha, 1731-1801

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Fanny Bassett Washington

Letter discusses Fanny's children's health and schooling, and a possible suitor named Tobias Lear, who was Washington's secretary. In regard to the Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania, she notes that "The insurgents in the back country has carr[i]ed matter[s] so high that the President has been obliged to send a larg[e] body of men to settle the matter."

GLC01055

21 September 1769

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph document signed

Title: The Deposition of John Posey, re: parcel of spoiled herring

Document signed by Washington in the text and at the end as Justice of the Peace, with a nine line docket in his hand. Concerning a parcel of spoiled herrings.

GLC01058

1832

Marshall, John, 1755-1835

Book

Title: The Life of George Washington, Commander in Chief of the American forces, during the war which established the independence of his country . . .

Title continues, ". . .and first president of the United States, complied under the inspection of the Honourable Bushrod Washington, from original papers bequeathed to him by his deceased relative." Inscribed by Marshall to Major Henry Lee, "For Major Henry Lee with respects of/the author." Not signed, but inscribed in Marshall's hand. Printed by Carey & Lea, Philadelphia. Second edition. Two volumes plus an additional atlas of engraved maps related to the life of Washington, published by J. Chrissy, Philadelphia. Atlas housed with volume 2.

GLC01066

May 29, 1811

Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Law

Robert Fulton, writing to economist Thomas Law, discusses steamboats, Benjamin Latrobe, and a "western Canal," and attacks John Armstrong for his criticism of Joel Barlow, Fulton, the Smiths, the Clintons, and Fulwar Skipwith. With integral address leaf. Fulton begins by lamenting the difficulty in hiring captains, presumably for his growing steamboat business: "I have taken much pains to find a captain with the qualifications you mention Honesty, activity, intelligence and capital, all such and whom we call smart fellows appear to be already engaged in some established trade." He goes on to…

GLC01067

05 November 1862 - 09 July 1865

Winegar, Daniel G., fl. 1862-1865

Header Record

Title: Collection of Daniel G. Winegar, B company, 95th regiment, Illinois, infantry [Decimalized .001-.189]

This collection consists exclusively of correspondence from Daniel G. Winegar, to his wife Elvira in Belvidere, Ill. Winegar enlisted as a private in August 1862, and was mustered into Co. "B" of the 95th Illinois infantry in September of that year. As these letters indicate, his service took him to Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee, with the largest concentration being in Vicksburg. These letters bear witness to the siege of that city, as well as the Battle of Franklin, and capture of Mobile. The letter dated 2 May 1865 mentions the official announcement of Lincoln's assassination. In…

GLC01014

1865

Header Record

Title: Diary and Photograph of Benjamin F. Thomas [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC01016

1902-1903

MacKay, Clarence H., 1874-1938

Scrapbook

Title: [The laying and completion of the Pacific cable]

Two volume scrapbook covering the completion of the Pacific cable linking North America to Hawaii, Australia, and the South Pacific. Includes cablegrams charting progress of the cable and sending congratulations from officials in places along the route such as California, Hawaii, the Philippines, etc., photographs with captions, and press clippings, all inlaid or mounted in two scrapbooks. Also includes two congratulatory telegraphs from Theodore Roosevelt (vol. 2), one draft autograph telegram signed by Grover Cleveland (vol. 2). Volume 1 entitled, "The Laying of the Pacific Cable,…

GLC01020