December 21, 1785

Randolph, Edmund, 1753-1813

Autograph document signed

Title: [Manumission of mulatto slave Robert Cowley from the estate of Peter Randolph]

Signed and sealed in the presence of Beverly Randolph, Martha Randolph, and James Rim. Randolph purchases the slave, Robert Cowley, from Peter Randolph, deceased, with the intention of freeing the slave. Cowley purchased his freedom from Randolph for fifty pounds. Notes that Cowley is older than forty-five years. Document is a court copy.

GLC05490

circa 1850-1855

English, John G., fl. 1827-1869

Diary

Title: [Mississippi cotton plantation diary and journal]

Signed in inner front cover in August 1850, where English notes that his father, James English, moved from Kingsport, Tennessee to Madison County, Alabama in 1818. Records that James took him, and left his sister in Salem, North Carolina, and his brother in college at Granville, Tennessee. In the first two pages, English recalls his youth: a trip to New Orleans in 1827, working for John W. Lane of Livingston, Alabama, and managing a large warehouse for Robert King of Knoxville, Tennessee in 1833. Records events, such as the purchase of slaves in 1835 and a business trip to New York in May…

GLC05496

3 May 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Letter signed

Title: to John P. Usher

Discussing the Battle of Fort Pillow, Tennessee, President Lincoln informs Usher, Secretary of the Interior, "it is now quite certain that a large number of our colored soldiers, with their white officers, were, by the rebel force, massacred after they had surrendered ... " Requests Usher's counsel regarding the government's course of action following the Fort Pillow events. The letter was also sent to the rest of the cabinet, including Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles (see GLC07698). Signed by Lincoln. Written on Executive Mansion stationery.

GLC05620

January 24, 1963

Kennedy, Robert Francis, 1925-1968

Typed letter signed

Title: [Report to President John F. Kennedy regarding civil rights]

A signed carbon copy. Robert Kennedy, Attorney General, describes 1962 as "a year of great progress in civil rights, in large measure because of the responsibility and respect for law displayed by the great majority of the citizens of the South." Summarizes civil rights from the standpoint of the Department of Justice. Cites voting as the most significant civil rights issue, due to a lack of local compliance during federal investigation of voting procedures in specific areas. States that lawsuits were filed in Louisiana and Mississippi "challenging the constitutionality of the state voter…

GLC05630

7 January 1840

Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862

Document signed

Title: [Orders for transport of the Amistad captives]

Countersigned by John Forsyth as Secretary of State. President Van Buren writes to Norris Wilcox, Marshal of the District of Connecticut. States: "The Marshal of the United States for the District of Connecticut will deliver over to Lieutenant John S. Paine, of the United States Navy, and aid in conveying on board the schooner Grampus, under his command all the negroes late of the Spanish schooner Amistad, in his custody under process now pending before the District Court of the United States for the District of Connecticut. For so doing this order will be his warrant."

GLC05636.01

30 October 1839

Grundy, Felix, 1777-1840

Letter

Title: to William S. Holabird

The body of the letter appears to be clerically written; the signature has been clipped and someone has written "Felix Grundy" in a different hand beneath. Grundy, Attorney General of the United States, informs Holabird, District Attorney of Connecticut: "It is necessary that I should know, what legal proceedings are now pending in your District, in relation to the negroes and vessel Amistad- You will be good enough to give the information at your earliest convenience- You named to the President, that you intended to visit Washington; will you do so, and when? Where was the Amistad, when…

GLC05636.03

December 13, 1806

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Written by former president Monroe to an unknown recipient. Says the Secretary of the Colonization Society in Washington has informed him of the intent of the recipient of this letter to go to England to solicit funds. The Secretary asked Monroe to write letters of introduction for the recipient, and Monroe says he has enclosed a letter for that purpose (not included here). Wishes him success because "you know the interest I take, in the extirpation of slavery throughout the UStates." Hopes they will give aid "to extricate us, from any internal and domestick evil, with which we may be burden'…

GLC05664

1829-1853

Header Record

Title: Papers related to the Amistad mutiny [Decimalized .01-.59]

This collection contains the papers of William S. Holabird, who served as United States District Attorney for the state of Connecticut during the Amistad trial. These materials include a letter of Judge Andrew T. Judson which suggests executive interference in the proceedings (#5), depositions of the Spanish minister (#7-9), testimony of witnesses (#10-14), and important letters of Secretary of State John Forsyth instructing Holabird on the Amistad case (#17-23). Also includes Holabird's commission as United States District Attorney (#16). Contains political or legal letters for the period…

GLC05636

April-June 1840

Holabird, William S., 1794-1855

Autograph document

Title: [Brief from the Circuit Court regarding the Amistad case]

Referring to Lieutenant Thomas R. Gedney, includes information pertaining to the Amistad case: "Gidney & others v. The Amistad Negroes. Circuit court U.S." Considers four principle points: "shall the vessel, & the blacks, be restored to the Spanish Government from whence they came;" "whether these negroes shall be restored to the Spanish Govt or be sit at liberty here;" "The Spanish Govt claim that the Amistad being a Sp vessel, and not having violated the laws of nations, on the municipal laws of this country... that the Courts of no other nation can hold jurisdiction of them;" and…

GLC05636.02

1915

Matthews, Essie Collins, fl. 1915

Book

Title: Aunt Phebe, Uncle Tom and others

Title continues, "Character Studies Among the Old Slaves of the South, Fifty Years After." First edition published by Champlin Press. Has photographs of freed slaves after Reconstruction. Contains an advertisement for this book.

GLC05641

January 26, 1860

Virginia General Assembly

Pamphlet

Title: Report of the Joint Committee of the General Assembly of Virginia on the Harpers Ferry Outrages

Discusses Brown's attack at Harpers Ferry and the Abolitionist activity and legislation in northern states which encouraged him. The report quickly reviews the facts regarding Brown and then turns to larger issues. It reviews the history of legislated emancipation after the Revolution, the conflicts in Congress and then reviews northern legislation. It finds that the North's "statute books are filled with enactments conceived in a spirit of hostility to the institutions of the South, at war with the true intent and meaning of the federal compact, and adopted for the avowed purpose of…

GLC05644

1795

Franklin, Walter, 1773-1838

Pamphlet

Title: Minutes of the proceedings of the second convention of delegates from the abolition societies established in different parts of the United States...

(title continues)... assembled at Philadelphia, on the seventh day of January, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five, and continued, by adjournments, until the fourteenth day of the same month, inclusive. Printed by Zachariah Poulson, Jr. Franklin was secretary of the Abolition Society of Pennsylvania.

GLC05650

25 September 1831

Allyn, Nelson, fl. 1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Allyn

Nelson writes to his brother Joseph in Connecticut, roughly one month after Nat Turner's Rebellion. Discusses family and mutual acquaintances, noting he is in good health. Writes, "the insurrection of the blacks have made greate disturbance here every man is armd with a gun by his bed nights and in the field at work a great many of the blacks have been shot there heads taken of stuck on poles at the forkes of rodes some been hung, some awaiting there trial in several countys, 6 in this county... there is no danger of their rising again here." Discusses his journey to North Carolina and…

GLC05655

28 August 1832

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William B. Lewis

Writes to Lewis about the widespread opposition to the issue of nullification. Declares that "Alabama is firm as a Rock for [Martin] Van Buren and against nullification," and names a few men opposed to it as well. Proclaims that nullification is " ... too absurd to be attempted by the patriotic south... South Carolina to do an act to destroy her own Liberty & property, ... to become a vassal of a foreign government, or to fall a victim to the barbarous hands of their own slaves." Informs that he is " ... prepared to act with promptness & energy and should the laws be resisted…

GLC05661

1854

Foote, Andrew H. (Andrew Hull), 1806-1863

Book

Title: Africa and the American Flag. By Commander Andrew H. Foote. U.S. Navy, Lieutenant commanding U.S. Brig. Perry on the Coast of Africa, A.D. 1850-1851.

Signed by Rear Admiral Semmes on the inner front cover. 390 pages of text followed by 18 pages of advertisements. Includes lithographs as illustration. Published by D. Appleton & Co. Discusses Western European and American interests in the African coast.

GLC05675

3-4 November 1829

Byrne, John, fl. 1829

Document signed

Title: [Contract for the purchase of a slave named "Kitty"]

John Byrne "hires" Kitty to James B. Bailey for $200 for a term of seventy years. To uphold his part of the contract, Bailey has "to furnish the said negro girl Kitty with good holesome provisions & comfortable clothing & also to treat her with Humanity." Signed by Byrne and Bailey on first page. Contract dated 3 November 1829. On verso, signed by [H. White], an Austin official, and by George Robinson and Thomas H. Borden, as witnesses, on 4 November.

GLC05679

1840-1841

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

Book signed

Title: Bound collection of 45 Congressional speeches of various people

Bound volume of printed speeches from Congress signed on the front pastedown by James K. Polk. Most pamphlets have been printed at Washington by Blair and Rives. This bound volume of printed speeches from Congress is signed on the front pastedown by James K. Polk. The book has some damage; one pamphlet even has a portion razored out (#19) Most pamphlets have been printed at Washington by Blair and Rives. Two are signed (# 20, 39). Speech topics include Sub-Treasury Bill; Treasury Note Bill, debt assumption; appropriations; attacks on the Van Buren administration; and a few on abolition…

GLC05598

1 January 1842

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maunsel White

Jackson writes from Hermitage, his estate. Thanks White for a recent present of "sugar, syrup & oranges," characterizing the oranges as "the finest I ever saw." Expresses relief that White's family escaped a dreadful disease that swept through New Orleans the previous summer (possibly yellow fever). Assures White he (Jackson) will be a good host to White's British friend Joseph Courey, should Courey decide to call. Discusses business pertaining to a cotton shipment. Writes, "Our situation with England at present is critical. But a firm & energetic course if adopted by our…

GLC05614

27 July 1794

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Burgess Ball

President Washington discusses the construction of a tilt hammer. Relates that the United States Government may be interested in purchasing a tract of land from Ball, upon which to establish an arsenal. Discusses the character of Hyland Crow, who served as an overseer on Washington's Union Farm after Washington left to serve as President in 1789. Notes that if Ball hires Crow as an overseer on his own farm, he must be strict. Praises Crow's understanding of the farming business, but also received frequent reports of Crow's hasty temper, ill treatment, and frequent absence from his post.…

GLC05287

circa 23 August 1876

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to T. R. H. Johnson

No year cited, but preliminary research suggests the year of publication. Thanks Johnson, editor of The Monthly Elevator, for a bound volume recently sent. Remarks that the Elevator, an African American journal, is "laying the foundation of a literature which will in time reflect credit upon our long oppressed and benighted people." A pencil note at the top states, "An Encouraging word from Hon. Frederick Douglass." Enveloped addressed to Johnson in Washington, Pennsylvania. Includes a three cent stamp.

GLC05312

circa May 1, 1805

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown [in French]

Letter possibly written to Armand Duplantier on May 1, 1805. No date indicated on document. Lafayette discusses lands he was granted in the Louisiana territory and the building of a brick factory. In reference to the factory, he mentions thirty enslaved individuals. The letter is a fragment.

GLC05315

1861-1865

Van Nuys, Samuel Watson, 1841-1864

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Samuel Watson Van Nuys, F company, 7th regiment, Indiana, infantry] [decimalized]

Includes over 110 letters to his parents with commentary on seeing Lincoln, commanding colored troops, baseball, etc.; with tintype photo of Van Nuys and 2 other officers.

GLC07687

26 June 1825

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Smith Shaw

Former President Adams discusses Native American and African religion with Shaw, his nephew and former private secretary. States "Dr. Jarvis has assigned some good causes of the too general inattention to the religion of the indians. But those causes do not apply to the negroes. We have thousands if not millions of them domesticated with us. We might examine them. But who asks them a question? Or studies their languages ... Why are not Bibles translated into negro and sent to the gold coast?" Refers to a slave named Glasgow owned by Boston pastor Samuel Cooper. States that when Cooper…

GLC07533

1800-1820 ca.

Header Record

Title: Native American manuscripts re: Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Choctaw Indians [Decimalized .01- .23]

This collection consists largely of correspondence and legal documents pertaining to Native Americans, particularly the Cherokee Nation. Topics include despoiled property (#9, 17, and 18); compensation (#6, 7, 8, and 21); the Treaty of 1805 (#11); and slaves (#2 and 3). Individuals who figure prominently into these papers include Return J. Meigs, A. (Andrew?) Jackson, John Riley, and Native Americans, such as Bird Doublehead, Leaf Doublehead, and Black Fox. Itemized inventory available.

GLC07562.03

9 April 1891

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Franklin Auld

Thanks Auld for "an elegantly bound and finely illustrated volume containing a biographical history" of the Baltimore police. Recalls his boyhood days and many pleasant memories with the Auld family. Written on Cedar Hill, Anacostia, D.C. stationery.

GLC07484.02