November 7, 1851

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ezra B. Chase

Buchanan states his position on slavery and the legal implications of enslaved people seeking emancipation. Buchanan strongly supports the Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Act, and believes it will reduce sectional strife. He is "decidedly in favor of 'the finality' of the compromise measures" and finds that the Compromise favors the North, except for the Fugitive Slave Law. Mentions the Democrats of Pennsylvania repealed a law preventing jails providing shelter to enslaved people on the run. He has received many congratulations from the South for his work on this cause. He concludes…

GLC00529.06

August 22, 1901

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Typed letter signed

Title: to Robert C. Cornell

Vice President Roosevelt discusses the reappointment of W. C. Church, an African American who worked as assistant clerk at Jefferson Market City Magistrate's Court, New York City. Informs Cornell, a judge in the Magistrate's Court, that Church attended Columbia University. Declares "I always have a profound sympathy with the Colored man of education, for such a man has so few opportunities that it does seem that the hand of Providence was especially heavy upon him." Typed on Vice President's Chamber stationery.

GLC00529.08

1860

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Pamphlet

Title: The address of the Hon. Abraham Lincoln [Cooper Institute address]

Disbound. First edition but third printing of remarks. Annotated by Cephas Brainerd and Charles C. Nott. Not in Sabin but related to B41160. Known as the Cooper Union (Cooper Institute) address. This speech in New York was instrumental in Lincoln's election to the Presidency in 1860. Similar to Monaghan #68.

GLC00533

circa July 1838

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Speech fragment on the proposed annexation of Texas]

Report of Adams to his constituents on events in the 25th Congress, intended for newspaper publication. Adams mentions the speech of Vermont Congressman William Slade, which so offended southerners that they walked out. Discusses annexation of Texas, abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, duplicity of administration and Southern slave states as well as the suspension of the rules of the House of Representatives for debate. Beginning on 16 June 1838, Adams filibustered Congress for three weeks, giving up the floor only when Congress adjourned for the summer recess. He spoke…

GLC00567

1863

Moore, Marinda Branson, 1829-1864

Book

Title: The Geographical Reader for the Dixie Children

Published by Branson, Farrar & Co. A Confederate textbook of American geography that was written because the author "having found most of the juvenile books too complex for young minds, has for some time intended making an effort to simplify the science of Geography." Consists of 26 lessons, each about one or two columns in length. The first 10 are on the technical terms of geography and the last 16 are on specific places. Each Confederate state, as well as the border states of Missouri and Kentucky, has its own lesson, while no northern states are discussed. Includes 6 full page maps.…

GLC00566

November 15, 1860

Bethune, James N., 1803-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Paul Semmes

Discusses the meeting of the legislature in Milledgeville, Georgia on the issue of secession. Writes that the general consensus in Milledgeville is one of resistance. States that Georgia Senator Benjamin Hill is demanding that Lincoln enforce the fugitive slave law. If the laws are not enforced, Hill will "help us dissolve the Union and we will all go together." Informs that "Many prominent men who have been here to force violent Union Men are now openly and strongly for immediate Secession." Written on blue paper. Georgia seceded from the Union on January 19, 1861. Bethune was a prominent…

GLC00572.14

March 3, 1837

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: To the Inhabitants of the 12th Congressional District of Massachusetts

Discusses the attempts to censure Adams' conduct through the "Gag Rule," the machinations of House Speaker Polk, and attempts to expel Adams.

GLC00639.05

April 27, 1820

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Letter signed

Title: to John C. Calhoun

One letter from by Major General Andrew Jackson to John C. Calhoun, Secretary of War dated April 27, 1820. Jackson notes that he is sending documents (not included) from General Gaines related to the illegal enslavement of Black people and freed people in Georgia. Also sending along a letter (not included) from Major James Bankhead, commander at Fernandina, Florida on the same subject. Says he will take any measures Calhoun directs him to.

GLC00639.13

May 12, 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph note signed

Title: to Edwin McMasters Stanton

On a small card, President Lincoln requests that Stanton, Secretary of War, "see Mr. Dole & others, about the first colored regiment. Please do the best for them you can." Location inferred from outside sources.

GLC00602

December 26, 1866

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James W. Wall

In the letter, James Buchanan is attacking Radical Republicans, whom he sees as self-destructive. Also discusses strengthening the Democrats in New Jersey, and Johnson's failed veto on the Civil Rights Act.

GLC00576

November 11, 1840

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Roger S. Baldwin

Former United States President Adams writes to Baldwin, a lawyer and abolitionist. He acknowledges the receipt of Baldwin's narrative of the Amistad case, to be tried before the Supreme Court. He writes "I consented with extreme reluctance at the urgent request of Mr. Lewis Tappan and Mr. Ellis Gray Loring, to appear before the Court as one of the Counsel for these unfortunate men. My reluctance was founded entirely and exclusively upon the consciousness of my own incompetence to do justice to their cause. In every other point of view there is in my estimation no higher object upon earth of…

GLC00582

October 5, 1866

Foster, Lafayette Sabine, 1806-1880

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Wakeman

Foster, a U.S. senator from Connecticut, discusses his views on reconstruction with Wakeman, a lawyer. Foster says that he would restrict the right to vote to those with "capacity and virtue," but that it would be "arbitrary, unjust, and tyrannical to make any discriminations…on account of color…" He writes extensively about the rights, especially voting rights, of the "negro," and he states "There is no more sense in talking of a man's natural right to vote, than there is in talking of his natural right to be the Chief Justice, or the President of the United States…It is dangerous to commit…

GLC00544

1 November 1874

Whittier, John G., 1807-1892

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: G. L. S.

Poem in memory of George Luther Stearns. This copy was written for his wife, Mary Stearns. Mounted on a piece of letter sized paper. The poem was first published in May 1867 in the "Atlantic Monthly."

GLC00546

January 30, 1862

Payne, John A., fl. 1862-1865

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Journal of John A. Payne while serving on the USS Richmond]

Leather-covered ledger-paper notebook with 168 pages of entries followed by 15 blank pages. Inscribed "Jan. 18th 1862, John A. Payne / Portsmouth N.H." Begins on 30 January 1862, when Payne shipped out from New York on the USS Richmond for 3 years of service. Covers Payne's entire enlistment; includes a running tab of pay due and accounts for supplies; contains many references to ships encountered, as well as various admirals and generals. The "Richmond" ranged from Vicksburg, Mississippi to Pensacola, Florida, but appears to have been based in New Orleans. Among the entries: 7 May 1862…

GLC00497

14 April 1857

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Appointment of trustees]

Appoints George L. Stearns, Samuel Cabot Jr. and William H. Russell as "trustees to hold all funds and other personal property now in my hands...in my behalf for the aid of the free state cause in Kansas." This is to take effect only if Brown becomes unable to administer these funds himself. Written, witnessed and signed by Thomas Russell. Russell was a judge, and while he supported Brown, he was not as prominent as some of Brown's other supporters, which is why his house was chosen as a hiding place. Written while Brown was hiding in Russell's house. Having heard that a United States…

GLC00502

November 12, 1848

Van Valkenburgh, Loty, fl. 1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh

Written to Frank when he was 13 years old by his sister Loty who seems to be somewhere in the western part of the South. Frank is referred to as "Master" in the address. Frank is separated from his family (GLC00686.19 says he is at "the Academy") and Loty is writing him to alleviate his loneliness. Loty seems to have been married recently and writes of understanding about homesickness: she says "I have learned that contentment is the only true happiness." Goes into further reminisces about her old home. Mentions that the church is 6 miles away and that services are only every other week. Says…

GLC00686.02

March 14, 1861

Van Valkenburgh, Gerrit S., 1835-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mollie Van Valkenburgh

Written by Gerrit to his sister Mollie. Attempts to justify his decision, as a transplanted Northerner, to side with the South. Mixes support for his adopted home with love for the family he left in the North. He references her letter of from February 12 and says he will answer it now even though she takes six months to respond to him. Says he is at Warren, Arkansas attending court and collecting money. He reports that people in Warren are getting over the political excitement which has been the absorbing topic of conversation. He claims they are ending the talk and preparing for war. He says…

GLC00686.05

June 10, 1865

Van Valkenburgh, Franklin Butler, 1835-1924

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his wife

Date written in pencil at the top of recto as "June 10 1865?" Content of GLC00686.22 and GLC00686.24 suggest this date might be accurate. Signed twice by Frank, once in pen and once in pencil. Written aboard a ship on his way to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to assist his twin brother Gerrit, who was in trouble with the law. Mailed letter from Memphis. Says he has not stopped thinking about her and their son. Says "Our Crew of say 50 men are mostly negroes, and such a crowd you never saw." Mentions that the former enslaved people are toting their plunder onboard. Describes ship, passengers, and…

GLC00686.19

June 11, 1865

Van Valkenburgh, Franklin Butler, 1835-1924

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his wife

Written part in pen, part in pencil. Reports on conditions in the South after the Civil War. Frank was travelling to Arkansas to help his twin brother Gerrit who was in trouble with the law. Says he knows he wrote recently, but since he is stuck in "this God forsaken hole" he is going to write another. He mentions meeting a Confederate soldier who thought he was his twin brother Gerrit. The former soldier was released from prison the week before and Frank relates his story. He reports that many people know his twin brother, Gerrit. He says "they say Warren [Arkansas] never saw so exciting a…

GLC00686.20

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

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

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

17 September 1807

Harrison, William Henry, 1773-1841

Manuscript

Title: An Act concerning the introduction of Negroes & Mulattoes into this Territory

One clerical copy of a document entitled, "An Act concerning the introduction of negroes and Mulattoes into this Territory," dated September 17, 1807. Pertains to Black enslaved people over the age of 15, in the Indiana Territory which the government had split into 14 sections. Relays the territories mandates for fees and requirements to enslave Black people in Indiana. Notes that if a person is enslaved under the age of 15, it is lawful for a Black man to remain enslaved until the age of 35 and a Black woman to remain enslaved until the age of 32. Black children born from the aforementioned…

GLC00697

December 5, 1863

Davis, Robert S., 1832-?

Printed document

Title: [General orders No. 46 concerning the recruitment of non-white troops]

States "The recruitment of colored troops has become the settled purpose of the Government. It is therefore the duty of every officer and soldier to aid in carrying out that purpose, by every proper means, irrespective of personal predilection." Instructs recruitment to proceed "so that as few of the negros as possible shall become chargeable either upon the bounty of Government or the charities of the benevolent, and at the same time to do justice to those who shall enlist ... " Discusses the possibility of equal pay for white and non-white troops. Issued by Davis as Major and Assistant…

GLC00698

April 14, 1857

Toucey, Isaac, 1796-1869

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Sailing orders from the Navy Department, placing McBlair in charge of the sloop of war "Dale," and commanding him to sail to the African coast to combat illegal slave trading. McBlair is ordered to join the "United States African Squadron" and to stop ships transporting illegal cargo or falsely flying the American flag. Letter written from the "Navy Department." Pages bound with a green ribbon. Isaac Toucey was the U.S. Secretary of the Navy. He also served as a Congressman and Senator from Connecticut, United States Attorney General, and Governor of Connecticut.

GLC00722.01