27 August 1837

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Catherine Pattison

Mentions visiting Boston, Plymouth, and Cape Cod where he made a search for the relics of the Mayflower and the Pilgrims. Updates her on the progress of the telegraph. Reports that the telegraph is testing well but expresses some anxiety over being beaten to the punch. " ... I have reason to fear that other nations will have taken the hint, and will rob me both of the credit and the profit." Mentions what is being printed in journals about the issue. Comments on visiting her and tells her he loves receiving her letters. Discusses the works of Hannah More, an English evangelical writer…

GLC06328

7 November 1826

Speakman, Esther, fl. 1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Martha Richardson

Thanks her for her letter. Discusses Robert Dale Owen's change in the plan of the New Harmony community, so that "every person who joins themselves to the community for the term of five years gives in his or her propity for the use of the community." There is discontent in the community because some are finding it difficult to change their former lifestyle, however disgruntled individuals have left the community. Now "there is more virtue and less immorality among us than in any other town in the known world." "We think before long we shall be able to boast of the best schools in the…

GLC06364

11 April 1847

Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866

Document

Title: Al pueblo sensato de Mexico. Proclama [in Spanish]

"To the sensible town of Mexico. A Proclamation." States that Americans are not enemies of peaceful Mexicans and respect their religion. Discusses martial law and the power of the army to prosecute offenders. Also mentions that all food and supplies needed by the soldiers will be paid for in full, as opposed to how guerillas have ransacked villages and stolen property. Adds that vendors will have the protection of the U.S. Army. Duplicate of GLC04070.

GLC06366.03

6 November 1861

Snowden, E., Jr., fl. 1861-1862

Newspaper

Title: The local news. [no volume or number information (November 6, 1861)]

Union occupation newspaper. Also published by W.F. Carne (fl. 1861-1862). Short item says the body of "the negro lad Sam," who had drowned in Hunting Creek during a previous storm, had been found. Report on the popularity of "Foot-ball" -- says it is played everywhere by both boys and men but "We suggest, however, that the game be discarded in all the business streets - so that passers-by - especially ladies, be not incommoded by dashing balls and gangs of lads running at full tilt." Quick line says General Winfield Scott is leaving for Europe. News items from the South, including remarks on…

GLC06107.02

1844

Newspaper

Newspaper

Title: [The Times and seasons; Vol. 5, nos. 1-24].

Title continues: "containing a compendium of intelligence pertaining to the upbuilding of the Kingdom of God, and the signs of the times, together with a great variety of useful information, in regard to the doctrines, history, principles, persecutions, murder of the prophets, at Carthage, and the onward progress of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." One of six volumes of the official Mormon newspaper published in Illinois from 1839 to 1846. This volume contains detailed information about the early history of the Church, troubles in Illinois and Missouri, the murders of Joseph…

GLC06045

14 June 1723

Wall Street Real Estate

Manuscript document

Title: [Sale of land near Dutch Reformed Church abutting Wall Street]

Signed by Samuel Waldron and countersigned on back by Simon Pasco and Thomas Thong. Sale of land to Abraham Gouverneur, Isaac Gouverneur, Isaac De Riemer, Jr., and Henry Coerten. The sheets are joined at the bottom with ribbon.

GLC06059

19 November 1863

Stockton, T. H. (Thomas Hewlings), 1808-1868

Broadside

Title: Prayer at the dedication of the National Cemetery at Gettysburg

Published by William S. & Alfred Martien, Booksellers. Delivered 19 November 1863, though a precise print date for this document is not cited. Delivered by Reverend Thomas Hewlings Stockton, who previously served as Chaplain to the United States House of Representatives. States "our enemies-- they came unresisted ... They prepared to cast the chain of Slavery around the form of Freedom, binding life and death together forever."

GLC06072

10 May 1877 circa

Ladies Memorial Association of Charleston, South Carolina, 1865-1880

Broadside

Title: Memorial Day, May 10th, 1877, at Magnolia Cemetery, under the auspices of the Ladies Memorial Association, Charleston, South Carolina

Contains an announcement for a prayer and memorial ode delivered by Reverend W. H. Campbell. Includes odes by Grace Raymond and Reverend Charles Stuart Vedder. Announces the decoration of graves to be completed by ladies of the Association. The precise print date of this document is not included.

GLC06080

1830

Andrews, Charles C., fl. 1830

Book

Title: The history of the New-York African free-school, from their establishment in 1787, to the present time; embracing a period of more than forty years: also a brief account of the succesful labors of the New-York Manumission Society

Written by Andrews as the principal of the African Free School. Printed by Mahlon Day at 376 Pearl Street in New York. First edition copy. Includes engraving of the school building, from a drawing by a student, opposite the title page. Provides a history of the institution and how the manumission society attempted to provide for the future of free blacks. Andrews is overflowing with praise for the activities of the school, its students, and the famous political leaders who were members of the manumission society. Page 123 provides a list of the school's top five students: Peter Williams the…

GLC06084

2 May 1862

Broadside

Title: News-Letter Extra

Union Soldiers' newspaper printing correspondence between Commodore David G. Farragut and the Mayor of New Orleans (it is unclear which mayor, there were six in 1862). Copied from the "New Orleans Cresent" of 29 April 1862. Also includes a column titled "Eight Great Blunders" copied from the "Religious Herald," a Baptist newspaper out of Richmond, Virginia. Lists eight greatest blunders of the Confederacy, including #2: "In believing that there would be a divided North, and an apathetic Federal Government." List of the deaths of six men in the 13th Connecticut regiment since leaving New York…

GLC06107.19

28 December 1852

Crittenden, John Jordan, 1787-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John M. Fuller

Letter of introduction to Judge Sharkey, US Consul at Havana. He admits that he doesn't know Sharkey but jokes the letter will show he is not a filibusterer and has no "hostile designs against his most Catholic Majesty." He jokingly warns him about the "Spanish inquisitions."

GLC06042.03

circa 1864

Miller, Arnold W., 1822-1892

Broadside

Title: Christianity and slavery, by Rev. A. W. Miller, Petersburg, Virginia.

Written by A. W. Miller (possibly by the Rev. Arnold W. Miller, though most of Arnold Miller's sermons and writings were published in South Carolina). Justifies slavery through Christianity: "Thus, the relation of slavery will ever continue in the world, rendered perpetual by Christianity, because it points to Christ, who took upon Him the form of a slave... The Christianity of the Old Testament did not condemn it, neither does the Christianity of the New."

GLC05987.41

24 April 1887

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Franklin B. Sanborn [Incomplete]

Shares some of his views on business and religion, details events relating to his family and discusses his future plans. Does not mind being poor, so long as he can get by. Hopes to take up new work soon. Sends Sanborn a number of letters from other family members. Because his eyesight is so bad, and he is so busy with other work, Brown writes this letter over the course of a number of days, always writing extremely early in the morning. Pages five through nine are missing. The last page is a postscript written in different ink, and also signed.

GLC05993

16 March 1814

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Bentley

Thanks Reverend Bentley for his sermon given upon the death of General John Fiske, which Jefferson has just read. Praises Fiske as "a model of merit." Contains Dove watermark. Bentley's sermon, delivered in the East Meeting-House, Salem, Massachusetts, was published in 1797. Written in Monticello

GLC06021

16 April 1883

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Pamphlet

Title: Address by Hon. Frederick Douglass, delivered in the Congregational Church, Washington, D.C., April 16, 1883 : on the twenty-first anniversary of emancipation, in the District of Columbia.

"What Abraham Lincoln said in respect of the United States is as true of the colored people as of the relations of those States. They cannot remain half slave and half free. You must give them all or take from them all. Until this half-and-half condition is ended, there will be just ground of complaint... Until the colored man's pathway to the American ballot box, North and South, shall be as smooth and safe as the same is for the white citizen, this discussion will go on..." Bound in a light blue cover.

GLC06116

1835

Gurley, Ralph R., 1797-1872

Book

Title: Life of Jehudi Ashmun, late colonial agent in Liberia. With an appendix containing extracts from his journal and other writings; with a brief sketch of the life of the Rev. Lott Cary.

First edition. Printed by James C. Dunn. Engraved portrait of Ashmun opposite title page. With note affixed to the front endpaper: "This book was presented to me by the Revd. R.R. Gurley as a token of his Friendly Regard. Washington City, D.C., Oct. 25th 1847. J.Y. Van Tyne." First part (396 pages) consist of Ashmun's autobiography. Appendix, numbered 1-160, contains some of Ashmun's writings. Accompanied by a small maple leaf, which was previously pressed between pages 4 and 5 of appendix. Pages 4 and 5 are stained from the leaf.

GLC06128

circa 1870

Child, Lydia Maria Francis, 1802-1880

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Incomplete essay on religious tolerance on verso of letter fragments from Edmonia Lewis and Samuel J. May]

Contains an incomplete essay (pages five, six, and seven) discussing religious tolerance written by Child, an author, scholar, and abolitionist. Child discusses religious tolerance, stating "People who are educated under one system of religion can never perhaps quite realize how another faith appears to those who have grown up under its influence; but sincere efforts to do this are among the most hopeful signs of the times." Discusses books of different religions and differentiation between religious symbolism and language. In pencil below her signature, Child invites the recipient to…

GLC06114

1850

Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879

Book

Title: Elihu Burritt's miscellaneous writings

Published by Thomas Drew, Jr. Printed wrappers with illustration, including a print of Burritt. Second edition. Includes the essay "Buying a Brother from Bondage" which describes the purchase of Frederick Douglass' freedom. Cover and some inner pages contain water stain. Accompanied by a small card printed at the American Tract Society in Boston, Massachusetts. The card, entitled "Friend, Come to Jesus," encourages Christian conversion. Card measures 13.1 x 8.7 cm.

GLC06118

26 April 1887

Pamphlet

Title: A sketch of Henry Franklin and family

Date written as "4 mo., 26th, 1887." Contains an extract from the Philadelphia Inquirer regarding the death of Henry Franklin's son. The extract is included as a reflection of the lack of racial prejudice in France, where Franklin's son died. Includes a biographical description of Franklin, described as "the venerable colored janitor of the Academy of Fine Arts." Reports that Franklin's slave name was Bill Budd. States that Franklin serves as Treasurer of the Colored Baptist Church in Philadelphia. Also mentions his activism on behalf of fugitive slaves and his special invitation to…

GLC06120

1946

Graham, Lorenzo, 1902-1989

Book signed

Title: How God Fix Jonah

Published by Reynal & Hitchcock. Illustrated with prints from wood engravings by Letterio Calapai, an American painter, muralist, and printmaker. Signed by Graham on the dedication page; dedicated to Graham's sister Shirley Graham Du Bois, an African American author, playwright, composer, and wife of sociologist and civil rights leader W. E. B. Du Bois. Contains a foreword by W. E. B. Du Bois, who states "These modern bits of poetry rescued from passing oblivion remind us of what Africa has thought and done in the long past .. Africa gave the toil that made America and underlay the…

GLC06121

27 November 1919

Grimké, Francis J., 1850-1937

Pamphlet

Title: The race problem, as it respects colored people and the Christian Church, in the light of the developments of the last year.

Signed on title page by C.G. Neall. Reverend Grimke, the son of a wealthy white planter and a slave, delivers a discourse at a Thanksgiving service held at the Plymouth Congregational Church in an unspecified city. Examines the unrest following World War I. Discusses African Americans' lack of civil rights, stating "we are here also, not only as American citizens, but as colored American citizens- as citizens, and yet not citizens- citizens with rights guaranteed to us in the Constitution, but with those rights but very imperfectly recognized" (p. 3). Argues that African Americans should…

GLC06122

1806

Book

Title: The Koran, commonly called The Alcoran of Mahomet, translated from the original Arabick into French.

The first American edition of the Koran. Printed in Springfield, Massachusetts, by Henry Brewer for Isaiah Thomas, Junior. Rebound in cloth, boxed with original boards. Shaw & Shoemaker 10684.

GLC06127

1836

Barrows, Elijah Porter, 1807-1888

Book

Title: A view of the American slavery question. By E. P. Barrows, Jr., pastor of the first free Presbyterian Church, N. Y.

Barrows remarks, "It is the duty of the churches to testify the truth respecting the system of slavery. It is true that it is a heinously guilty system, not to be in any way countenanced or abetted; and they ought unequivocally to say so." First edition. Printed by John S. Taylor. 114 pages of text, 15 pages of advertisements for other books published by Taylor, Theological and Sunday School bookseller, Brick Church Chapel, New York. Miniature book with printed paper boards. Fragile.

GLC06141

1861

Wilkerson, James, fl. 1861

Pamphlet

Title: Wilkerson's History of his travels & labors, in the United States, as a missionary, in particular, that of Union Seminary, in Franklin Co. Ohio. Since he purchased his liberty in New Orleans, La., &c.

First edition. No printer cited. In original yellow wrappers. Signed on back cover by Samuel Allen.

GLC06150

1884

Truth, Sojourner, 1797-1883

Book

Title: A narrative of Sojourner Truth; a bondswoman of olden time, emancipated by the New York Legislature in the early part of the present century...

(title continues)... with a history of her labors and correspondence drawn from her 'Book of Life;' also, a memorial chapter, giving the particulars of her last sickness and death." Published by the Review and Herald Office in 1884, Battle Creek, Michigan. Signed in 1885 on inner front cover by noted abolitionist Amy Post and close friend of Frederick Douglass, presenting this book to her son Willet E. Post. Olive Gilbert collaborated with Truth for the "Narrative." 320 pages, plus 32 page memorial chapter. Contains several engravings of Truth.

GLC06153