21 March 1802

Clay, Henry, 1777-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jacob Burdett

Written by Clay as a lawyer in Lexington, Kentucky, before he began his political career to Burdett as an attorney in Cincinnati, Ohio. References a previous letter by Burdett respecting Jim, a runaway slave whose status was in question. Says an answer was not necessary because he had already forwarded "a Copy of those papers on which Jim's right to his freedom is founded. He derives his title from an Indian ancestor who was in the early part of the last Century reduced to Slavery in Virginia, contrary to the laws of that State." The only difficulty of his claim arises from the uncertainty of…

GLC07098

21 November 1840

Baldwin, Roger Sherman, 1793-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Theodore Sedgwick

Discusses a two hundred page report (possibly of the Amistad case). Mentions Lewis Tappan, an abolitionist who supported the Amistad Africans' freedom. Discusses the authenticity of treaties admitted as evidence in the Amistad case at District Court. Refers to the Amistad Africans, whose recent importation to Cuba, reflected the violation of international and Spanish law. States that John Quincy Adams, who assisted with the Africans' defense, "Thinks the govt, when they see the record, may abandon their appeal without a hearing; as he is very confident they cannot hope to be successful.…

GLC07099

February 21, 1854

Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874

Pamphlet

Title: The landmark of freedom. Speech of Hon. Charles Sumner, against the repeal of the Missouri prohibition of slavery north of 36° 30'. In the Senate, February 21, 1854.

Printed by Buell & Blanchard. Senator Sumner declares, "As a lover of concord and a jealous partisan of all things that make for peace, I am always glad to express my attachment to the Union; but I believe that this bond will be most truly preserved and most beneficently extended... by firmly upholding those principles of Liberty and Justice which were made its early corner-stones." Contains unrelated account figures written in graphite on last page of pamphlet.

GLC07202.04

circa 1863

Women's National Loyal League

Printed document

Title: [Men and Women's Emancipation petitions]

Blank, unsigned petitions for the emancipation of slavery. Folded document. First page is titled "Women's Emancipation Petition," second page is titled "Men's Emancipation Petition." Calls on the U.S. House and Senate to abolish slavery throughout the United States and for a Constitutional amendment to prohibit its existence forever. Instructs sender to mail the form, when completed, to No. 20 Cooper Institute, New York.

GLC07202.05

1 November 1859

Newspaper

Title: Charleston mercury. [Vol. 53, no. 10688 (November 1, 1859)]

Contains coverage of John Brown's Harper's Ferry raid: "The insurrection at Harper's Ferry was simply no insurrection at all. Not a slave joined the reckless fanatics in their nefarious policy of emancipation by blood and treason. It was a silly invasion of Virginia by some eighteen men." Includes other opinions, that the raid was of great significance. Includes a report on the insurgents' trial. Last page contains an article on the San Juan affair and other international news. Also contains reports on a recent local meeting on "Revival of the African Slave Trade." Signed in pencil at…

GLC07203

1861-1877

Neafie, Theodore F., fl. 1861-1877

Header Record

Title: Letters 1st Cal. Regt. re: camp life; southerners; McClellan; slavery [decimalized]

Collection of 60 ALS by Foot Soldier, in first Ca. Regiment. "It is turned into a war to put money in political pockets and to free the niggers;" Lincoln: "His mind is not able to comprehend the simple game of checkers let alone the war like game of chess." Charleston; Maryland, Winchester; Richmond, Deserter Executed; with 8 collateral letters and gold nuggets (0.2 ounces) accompanying #7.

GLC07164

1847

Seward, William Henry, 1801-1872

Pamphlet

Title: In the Supreme Court of the United States [fugitive slaves]

Continued: "John Van Zandt, Ad Sectum Wharton Jones. Argument for the defendant." Unsuccessful defense by Seward and Salmon P. Chase of Ohio farmer Van Zandt, sued by slave owner for unwittingly picking up 9 fugitive slaves.

GLC07036

1851-1860

Stevens, Aaron D., 1831-1860

Header Record

Title: to his brother and sisters [Decimalized .01- .13]

Group of 13 autograph letters signed of John Brown's associate about abolitionist activities in KA, IA, NM, and Charlestown. Written from various locations, including Charlestown jail awaiting execution for his participation in Harper's Ferry uprising. With envelopes.

GLC07231

21 April 1859

Kagi, John, fl. 1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Thompson

Written from John Brown's secretary of war: "Received a note from J.B....requesting me to send writing case and package of papers...say to J.B. that I wrote him on my arrival here care of F.D., Rochester [Frederick Douglass]"; Docketed by John Brown. Accompanied by a collateral photograph (See GLC07235.02).

GLC07235.01

1819-1820

Fayette County (Ky.)

Header Record

Title: Court documents re: settlement of various estates [Decimalized .01- .07]

1. Carr, Thomas, and Thomas W. Clagett. DS: Fayette Co., [Ky.] 27 January 1820. Inventory of the goods and chattles of Asa Baker, dec'd. With attached sheet ordering the inventory of Baker's estate. 4 p. + docket. 2. Randalph, Moses, and Jediah Stout. DS: [Fayette Co., Ky.?] 29 January 1820. Settlement of the estate of Joseph Cooper, dec'd. 4 p. 3. Rodes, J.C. DS: Fayette Co., [Ky.] January 1820. Court order for an inventory of the estate of John White. 2 p. 4. Rodes, J.C. DS: Fayette Co., [Ky.] March 1820. Court order for an inventory of the estate of Abraham Bird…

GLC07237

circa 1862-1863

Bumm, Harry, fl. 1862-1863

Broadside

Title: Democratic creed!

National Union illustrated election broadside. "Democratic Creed! Love Creed! Love for Civilization and Niggers!... Worship of Southern aristocracy! Sneer for Northern Mechanics." An anti-slavery and anti-Democrat broadside for National Union candidate Harry Bumm. Appeals to the working class. Indirectly refers to the competition for jobs by free black labor in the North. The broadside quotes a supposed letter from Bumm's opponent for Philadelphia city treasurer, John Brodhead, to Jefferson Davis. Brohead is said to have Southern sympathies and favor the institution of slavery over…

GLC07240

2 December 1859

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Autograph quotation signed

Title: to Aaron D. Stevens

Written on the day Brown was hanged from Charlestown Prison, Virginia, present day West Virginia. Writes in full, "He that is slow to anger; is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit, that he, that taketh a city" Solomon."; with Stevens autograph endorsement "This was given me an hour or two before he was executed. A.D.S."

GLC07230.01

circa 1859

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Poem

Title: [We are going Home]

"We are going home and soon shall be / Where the sky is clear and all are free..." Written in pencil. (Enclosure with 7230.01)

GLC07230.02

3 July 1852

Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Adams

Thanks Adams, possibly an underground railroad conductor, for the invitation to Independence Day events at Fall River, Massachusetts, but cannot make it. Sends his sentiments instead which he calls trite but necessary. "Defenders of the Constitution, let us not forget the principles of the Declaration; but for the equal support of both, in the spirit of our fathers, without compromise & with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, let us mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes & our sacred honor." Addressed to Robert Adams as Chairman.

GLC07356.01

circa 1850

Phillips, Wendell, 1811-1884

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Adams

Informs Adams, possibly an underground railroad train conductor in Fall River, Massachusetts, that British abolitionist George Thompson will be coming next Friday, the 13th. Tells Adams to meet him and states, "..He is a stranger and will need a conductor." Says they have no tickets and will need to get them printed. Undated. Integral address leaf.

GLC07356.02

1 April 1854

Stith, C., fl. 1854

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt of sale for a slave]

Signed by Stith. Receipt for the sale of a "Negro Boy Richard about fifteen or sixteen years of age..." sold for $1,000 to James W. Goodman. Refers to Richard as "a slave for life."

GLC07356.03

6 January 1864

Couthouy, Joseph Pitty, 1808-1864

Letter signed

Title: to David Dixon Porter

Couthouy, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant commanding the U.S.S. Chillicothe, expresses his mortification at seeing the U.S.S. Osage, a ship formerly under his command, listed as having failed to comply with General Order No. 31, which required monthly reports of contrabands. Informs Navy Rear Admiral Porter that no list of contrabands was sent after August 1863 because Couthouy had been "instructed that freed blacks, regularly enlisting in the Naval Service of the United States, ceased thereupon, to be regarded as 'Contrabands.'" States that Lieutenant Commander Frank M. Ramsay, Commanding the…

GLC07308

1842

Channing, William Ellery, 1780-1842

Pamphlet

Title: Duty of the Free States, or remarks suggested by the case of the Creole

GLC07435

February 24, 1838

Broadside

Title: The Emancipator---Extra. February 24th 1838, Anti-Slavery Convention

Broadside inviting "Citizens of Connecticut friendly to immediate emancipation of the slaves of our Country, to send delegates to a convention to be held at Hartford" for establishing a state society. The names of the signers are printed in columns.

GLC07437

1893

Jay, John, 1817-1894

Book signed

Title: William Jay and the Constitutional movement for the abolition of slavery.

Written by Bayard Tuckerman. With preface written by John Jay, grandson of John and son of William Jay. Printed by Dodd, Mead & Company. Jay inscribes to the Honorable William Allen Butler, an author, lawyer, and poet.

GLC07440

1776

Sharp, Granville, 1735-1813

Pamphlet

Title: Law of Liberty, or the Royal Law ... [abolitionism]

Title continued: "... Earnestly recommended to the serious consideration of all slaveholders and slavedealers." With 4 pages of printed advertisements.

GLC07441

1797

Book

Title: To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States...

Printed Quaker petition, containing letters and what is apparently the first printing of the first petition brought before Congress by free Blacks (p. 7) appealing for intervention against the Fugitive Slave Act, which is called "a Flagrant proof of how far human beings, merely on account of color and complexion, are through prevailing predjudices excluded from common justice and...humanity."

GLC07442

1858

Giddings, Joshua Reed, 1795-1864

Book

Title: Exiles of Florida: or, the crimes committed by our Government ...

The "Maroons," who fled from South Carolina and other Slave States, seeking protection under Spanish Law.

GLC07443

1951

Jefferson, Isaac, 1775-?

Book

Title: Memoirs of a Monticello slave as dictated to Charles Campbell in the 1840's...

By Issac, one of Thomas Jefferson's Slaves. Modern edition.

GLC07445

1838

Clarkson, Thomas, 1760-1846

Book signed

Title: Strictures on a Life of William Wilberforce

GLC07446