March 1, 1781

Schuyler, Philip John, 1733-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Glen

Schuyler, then a major general in the Continental Army, reports to Glen, an agent for Indian affairs, complaints from Indians that they cannot mend their axes for want of iron and that "their women are almost naked and Incapable to fetch a sufficiency of wood for their own use." He seeks assistance for them, stating that "they highly deserve every aid we can give them."

GLC01406

February 12, 1864

Pleasonton, Alfred J., 1824-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to L. S. Perley

Major General Pleasanton transmits his autograph with a letter taken from a Confederate post office to Perley, Chairman of the Autograph Committee of the Soldier's Aid Society of Northern Ohio, for a benefit fair. Informs Perley that "It always gives me great pleasure to render any assistance to the Sanitary Commission, as the important benefits conferred by that institution upon our Armies in the field, have alleviated much of the misery, hardship, and suffering, to which our noble & gallant soldiers have been exposed."

GLC02607

6 November 1863

Yeatman, James E., 1818-1901

Broadside

Title: [Appeal from the Western Sanitary Commission to President Abraham Lincoln regarding the condition of freedpeople]

The Western Sanitary Commission informs President Lincoln that many freed enslaved people in the Mississippi Valley have no provisions, clothing, or bedding, and little cooking supplies or knowledge as to using such. States that "To meet the present emergency and to prevent or lessen the sufferings of the coming winter and spring, we offer our humble but active services, asking no reward of any kind, but the opportunity and encouragement to work." Reports that the Commission's efforts would be a work of philanthropy and patriotism, "for it would remove an increasing reproach against the…

GLC01545.11

1783/11/12

Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810

Autograph document signed

Title: to Colonel Fowler

Carrington, the treasurer of the recently formed Society of Cincinnati of Virginia, certifies that two officers have paid membership dues of one month's pay. The interest from the dues went to Cincinnati and their families who were in financial distress. Accompanied by a print of Carrington. 2 items

GLC01450.627.02

April 26, 1806

Kiteridge, Peter, 1750-?

Letter signed

Title: to Gentlemen

Statement by Peter Kiteridge to Medfield's selectmen for financial assistance. One document written by Peter Kiteridge dated April 26, 1806. Details that he was born to African parents in Boston. Kiteridge at the time of this document is a freeman, and requests financial assistance from the Medfield's selectmen. Provides information between the time that he was enslaved, to serving in the military and later as a sailor. Requests assistance from Medfield's Selectmen in supporting his wife and four children, claiming that none of the children are old enough to aid him in supporting the family…

GLC01450.702

February 6, 1876

Stowe, Harriet Beecher, 1811-1896

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Osgood

Writes to her publisher concerning reprinting her early book, "The Mayflower," for the benefit of "a great fair...at my brothers church in Brooklyn for the 'Mayflower Mission' supported by Plymouth Church for the care of the poor in a destitute section of Brooklyn." In a vertical postscript she writes, "I trust you are keeping an eye out about renewing the Copy right of Uncle Tom ["Uncle Tom's Cabin"]." Written from Mandarin, the Stowe's vacation home in Florida. Two black and white bust engravings of Stowe included.

GLC02506

January 1, 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Printed document signed

Title: Emancipation Proclamation

Wide margined copy of the Leland-Boker "authorized" edition, produced for raising money at the Philadelphia Great Central Sanitary Fair in June 1864. The Sanitary Commission engaged in hospital and other charitable work during the Civil War; it was a forerunner of the Red Cross. Countersigned by Secretary of State William H. Seward and Lincoln's personal secretary John G. Nicolay. Charles Eberstadt lists this as no. 32 (Leland-Boker autographed edition) in his bibliography of the Emancipation Proclamation. 48 copies were printed, but only half are known to survive. Mounted dimensions: 55.8 x…

GLC00004

June 4, 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Letter signed

Title: to the Convention of Maryland

Written by Hancock as President of the Continental Congress. Begins by saying "Our affairs are hastening fast to a Crisis; and the approaching Campaign will in all Probability, determine for ever the Fate of America." Says the King and Parliament has left no measure unemployed to accomplish their destruction. Says they are blockading the coast and about to pour in foreign troops. Says the affairs in Canada have "a melancholy Aspect" to them. Says it is likely the colonies will have to deal with Canada and the northern Indians as well as Great Britain. Sends resolves of Congress (not included…

GLC00639.12

1915/12/14

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Typed letter signed

Title: to R. Fulton Cutting

Asks Cutting to join Herbert Hoover's enlarged Commission for the Relief of Belgium during World War I.

GLC02339

6 June 1893

Edison, Thomas Alva, 1847-1931

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Friend Griffin

Orders several motors. Comments on his financial situation, "I am poor and needy, so if you could manage to do a neat bit of philanthropy I would like to buy them at shop cost plus 10 percent profit." Written on stationary from the Laboratory of Thomas A. Edison. One black and white bust engraving of Thomas Edison included.

GLC02480.03

1789/12/24

Livingston, J.H., fl. 1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Tobias Lear re: thanks for charity gift from President Washington

"The attention of the President of the United States to the Charity School under the care of the Dutch Church in this City is very acceptable [. . . .] Please to accept my thanks . . ." Docketed on address leaf.

GLC02794.009

1792/03/23

Peale, Charles Wilson, 1741-1827

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Tobias Lear re: a donation to Peale's Museum in Philadelphia

Requesting to make "the donation to the Museum" in Lear's name. Docketed on address leaf.

GLC02794.022

1805/08/17

Thornton, William, fl. 1805-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Tobias Lear re: praise for sending grain to relieve hunger in Algiers

Thornton praises Lear: "I cannot express the satisfaction I feel at the worthy Act you have done in sending Grain to Algiers when they were in destress [sic], & when it would have made you a very large Fortune you have done it on the part of Government . . . . Nothing can more reconcile the Barbarians to us than to shew such disinterested Conduct." Dr. Thornton treated Lear as a patient, and was also a prominent architect and inventor. Attached to GLC 2794.111.

GLC02794.094

1911/04/25

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Typed letter signed

Title: to Rev. John Wesley Hill re: declining to speak at Hadley Rescue Mission

Signed as President. Accompanied by a note on verso of recipient attesting to the President's unexpected appearance at midnight, despite his schedule.

GLC02793.059

1864 ca.

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: [Barbara Fietchie at the Great Central Fair]

Barbara Frietchie gained fame for telling T. J. "Stonewall" Jackson to harm her rather than the Union flag at the time he entered Frederick, Maryland. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow published the poem in Nov. 1863 and it was printed with the carte to raise money for the war effort. The Great Central (Sanitary) Fair in Philadelphia opened in 1864. (Lincoln addressed the fair in 6/16/1864)

GLC02909

1822/03/06

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Monroe re: correspondence with Jedediah Morse

Written to President Monroe and docketed by him. Jefferson asks Monroe to consider his letter to Morse and forward or suppress it. Morse wanted to establish a Society for the improvement of Indians, which Jefferson did not approve. Written in Monticello

GLC02708

January 11, 1865

Van Valkenburgh, Gerrit S., 1835-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brother

Written by Gerrit as a Confederate prisoner of war. References his brother's letter from December 23, 1864. He is glad because the letter was "the first word of tiding I have had from you in answer to my letter & I began to fear that your displeasure at my course had led you to think that I was not worthy of a word from your pen." He reports that a Miss [Hill] gave him $211 and brought photographs of his family. Says she was the only lady he has spoken to since being captured. Says he arrived at Johnson's Island on December 28, 1864. Declares that his Christmas and New Years were not…

GLC00686.12

December 19, 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ladies managing the Soldier's Fair

Letter written on Executive Mansion stationery. Lincoln alludes to the "good news" of Sherman's March to the Sea. Also mentions declining the invitation.

GLC01303

22 July 1783

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Receipt for Knox's donation to the Society of the Cincinnati]

Written in a secretarial hand and signed by Colonel Jackson in his capacity as the Treasurer of the Massachusetts branch of the Society of the Cincinnati. This receipt acknowledges that Knox gave one month's pay to be used for the establishment of a fund agreeable to the Society.

GLC02437.02313

26 March 1866

Porter, David Dixon, 1813-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Darius H. Ingraham

Written as Rear Admiral and Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy on Naval Academy letterhead. Written to Ingraham as the chairman of committee to aid widows and orphans of union soldiers. References Ingraham's letter about a "Grand Fair" in honor of the orphans of soldiers. Would be pleased if the orphans of Salem, Massachusetts are included. Also mentions his hope that orphans of sailors will not be forgotten. Porter had been an orphan himself.

GLC02998

February 14, 1844

Gilmore, Hiram Sandford, 1819-1849

Printed letter signed

Title: [Subscription letter for legal defense of John "Vansandt" (Van Zandt), who helped a fugitive slave]

Printed letter with blank subscription page summing up the case of Jones v. "Vansandt" (Van Zandt) and seeking contributions towards Van Zandt's defense. Van Zandt, a Cincinnati farmer, had transported an escaped Kentucky slave in his wagon, and was being held accountable in a Kentucky court for $1,700 for his actions. Trying to raise money for him to take his case to the Supreme Court and fight the "atrocious act of 1793" under which he was convicted. The act "renders any man liable to a fine of $500 for feeding, sheltering, or aiding a wayfarer." Says the suit is "one of the most…

GLC04555

March 1860

Medill, William, 1802-1865

Letterbook

Title: Letterpress copybook: [from the Treasury Department]

First Comptroller of the Treasury William Medill's letterbook for the month of March 1860. Letters are copied on tissue paper, the originals in various clerical hands, and those signed originally by Medill. Each has been signed by Medill, with the exception of one letter signed by Chief Clerk William Hemphill Jones. An alphabetical index of addressees is bound in to the front of the book. Addressees include: the secretaries of the U.S. Treasury and Interior; various senators and congressmen; U.S. ambassadors and consuls; U.S. marshals and district attorneys; and clerks in various federal…

GLC03519.01

9 April 1816

Dean, Philip, fl. 1816

Document signed

Title: [Taunton Selectmen request the Selectmen of Middleborough, Massachusetts to remove a Middleborough citizen from Taunton]

Partially printed document accomplished by hand. Dean, Ichabod Leonard, Thomas Lincoln, Samuel Stapels, and Abrathor Williams sign as Overseers of the Poor, also called the Selectmen, for Taunton. State that Alvina Traveller, "a black woman an inhabitant of your town" (Middleborough), "has been sick and become chargeable" in Taunton. Taunton charges the expense of Traveller's board and care from 8 January 1816, and requests Middleborough's Selectmen to remove her. Partially printed.

GLC04693

6 November 1771

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Instructing Paul Farmer to admit an indigent man to a Boston poorhouse].

Signed by Hancock and Jonathan Mason as Selectmen of Boston. Consented to by W. Greenleaf as Overseer of the Poor. Farmer is described as a stranger and "not an Inhabitant of any Town in this Province."

GLC04724

2 April 1862

Plattenburg, Alfred W., fl. 1862

Broadside

Title: to Alfred P. Putnam

Plattenburg, an agent working for the Western Sanitary Commission, sends Reverend Putnam a report of his mission to deliver hospital stores to Union troops fighting in Arkansas and Missouri. His report is printed on the same page with the orders he received to undertake the journey. To encourage donations to the Commission, he states "I am fully convinced that no army was (so far as provision for the wounded was concerned,) ever sent into the field in such destitute condition as ours ... Could the kind and sympathizing men and women of our loyal States, who place these abundant…

GLC04633