January 21, 1799

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Wayles Eppes

Written as Vice-President to his son-in-law. Jefferson discusses the Logan incident, in which George Logan, a Philadelphia Quaker, attempted to negotiate differences between the United States and the French Directory on his own initiative (the Logan Act of 1799 made it illegal). Jefferson thinks the Federalists forged documents "to ensnare Logan" in order to pass the act (he later in this letter writes that Logan's "enthusiastic enterprise" prevented war). Jefferson turns to revenue and expenses, which he lists, in order to show that additional army and navy will consume any budget surplus.…

GLC00148

July 5, 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Letter signed

Title: to New Jersey Convention

The letter announces the Declaration of Independence. Stamps on verso: "Sold by Merchantile Library" [red stamp] "Tomlinson Collection" [purple stamp]. With docket on page 2.

GLC00154.01

January 21, 1783

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Letter

Title: to Robert R. Livingston, re: peace preliminaries [letterpress copy]

Possibly a letterpress retained copy announcing preliminary peace accords between France, Britain, Spain and the United States.

GLC00154.04

April 20, 1798

Napoleon I, 1769-1821

Letter signed

Title: to General Menvu [in French]

Napoleon signs as General in Chief of the armée d'Angleterre (army of England). Written on stationery containing a printed image depicting Liberty enthroned. The words "Republique," "Francaise," "Liberte," and "Egalite" are printed above the depiction of Liberty.

GLC00154.11

30 May 1952

John XXIII, Pope, 1881-1963

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Endorsement of John XXIII written as A. Roncalli] [in Italian]

Roncalli's endorsement is written on verso of a letter signed by Myron Charles Taylor, a United States diplomat. Taylor's typed letter was created 30 May 1952 on Hotel Ritz, Paris stationery. Taylor writes "With reference to our conversation of yesterday concerning a closer union of denominations in the cause of peace, my personal culmination of effort along that line is in the creation of Anabel Taylor Hall at Cornell University, which is a limited University of ten thousand students, and is the first example of interfaith cooperation that I am aware of in the sense of this activity. I…

GLC00154.12

April 4, 1848

Burnett, Wellington Cleveland, 1829-1907

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his parents

Writes about his enlistment and his promotion to sergeant. Tells his family about his ability to learn the drills faster than anyone in his company and mentions having seen combat. Discusses camp life, rations, and not having a uniform. Mentions the possibility of a promotion to lieutenant. Impression in the upper left-hand corner of an eagle clutching a scroll with a picture of a galleon.

GLC00155.01

1847

M., Murguia, fl. 1847

Map

Title: [Map of the part of the valley of Mexico which has been a field of battle]

Black-inked lithograph map of Mexico with route of armies in brown, blue and green inks. Denotes military travel during August and September of 1847. On back, note by Wellington Cleveland Burnett explaining locations. On front, cardinal directions written in margins by Burnett. Captions written in English, French, and Spanish. Mounted on cardboard backing with frame, mounted size is 40.8 x 46 cm.

GLC00155.02

April 2, 1846

Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas W. Ringold

Writing from camp on the Rio Grande, Taylor discusses current military matters. Reply to Ringold focuses on their common aggravations and the problems of being a soldier.

GLC00162.01

August 6, 1858

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Cyrus W. Field

James Buchanan congratulates Field on his transatlantic telegraph enterprise. "Under the blessings of Divine Providence, I trust it may prove instrumental in promoting perpetual peace and friendship between the Kindred nations." Informs Field that he has not yet received Queen Victoria's dispatch.

GLC00162.03

27 October 1917

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Header Record

Title: to Herbert Hoover [Decimalized .01- .02]

Discusses the starvation relief in Europe and Hoover's part in its management. Expresses his support and advises Hoover as to the next steps in food distribution abroad. Discusses rationing. Stamped on page one by the U.S. Food Administration, received 30 October. Pages two and four have been written vertically by Theodore Roosevelt. Accompanied with photograph. [decimalized .13.01 - .13.02]

GLC00162.13

February 25, 1972

Nixon, Pat, 1912-1993

Autograph note signed

Title: to Lewis L. Strauss and Alice H. Strauss

Pat Nixon sends a postcard picturing the Monument to the People's Heroes with greetings from Peking, China. Written during the Richard Nixon-Zhou Enlai talks on the first ever presidential visit to China. Also signed "RN" by Richard Nixon.

GLC00162.27

August 31, 1827

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Clay

President Adams, writing to Secretary of State Clay, defends Joel R. Poinsett, the American ambassador to Mexico, against accusations of Masonism. Describes Congress' accusations as "vague, indefinite and sustained by no better evidence than morbid suspicions." Rejects calls to recall Poinsett.

GLC00104

October 1808

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Printed document signed

Title: [Thomas Jefferson's defense of the Embargo Act of 1807]

Sent to Elijah Brown, Jr. Esq. Circular sent in response to criticisms of the Embargo Act of 1807 by people in the town of Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Explains and defends the Embargo Act as a recourse for securing the United States' rights to freely navigate the ocean. Argues it is "the only honorable expedient for avoiding war." Jefferson received the petition from Brown on 13 October 1808. GLC00016 is a similar printed letter from another town in Massachusetts (now Maine), though it is the result of a different printing.

GLC00115.01

July 17, 1804

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Letter signed

Title: to Dudley Porter, Jr. & Co.

The letter gives advice to a ship owner whose vessel was seized near Dominica. He informs them that they must apply to the British government for relief. Written as secretary of state. Address leaf has been separated.

GLC00116

March 21, 1884

Arthur, Chester Alan, 1829-1886

Letter signed

Title: to Levi P. Morton

Chester Alan Arthur introduces an American newspaper man, Albert Pulitzer, to the American foreign minister to France, Morton, as Pulitzer will be travelling abroad. Also asks Morton to extend "any attention or courtesy you may be enabled, consistenly with your duties..." to Pulitzer. Written on executive stationery with header: Executive Mansion, Washington. Stationery watermarked as Royal Irish Linen Marcus Ward & Co. Number 143 is underlined and written in the upper left hand corner. One black and white bust engraving of Chester A. Arthur included.

GLC00118.02

June 25, 1924

Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964

Typed letter signed

Title: to John A. Stewart

Signed as Commerce Secretary to the chair of the George Washington Bicentennial Celebration Committee in New York. Declines serving on a George Washington Committee because he has too many commitments already. Typed on Department of Commerce stationery in black ink with header Department of Commerce/Office of the Secretary/Washington. Stationery has a United States governmental watermark on the upper left side. The initials HH.KA (typed) are on the lower left. One bust engraving of Herbert Hoover included.

GLC00118.09

September 9, 1799

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gov. Edward Rutledge SC

The letter discusses the European war and military preparedness.

GLC00122

January 15, 1791

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison re: attack on the Hamilton's Bank of the U.S.

In the letter Pendleton objects to Hamilton's Treasury plan. Also discusses taxes, disposition of public lands, standing army, and peace between Britain and Spain.

GLC00099.145

December 9, 1781

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison re: transmittal letter of the preceding legal document

Transmittal letter for legal brief in the suit of Jones v. Walker. Page 4 is docketed by Madison: "[illegible] inclosing the discussions in the Circuit Court of the US at Richmond on the subject of 'British Debts'." A pencil note identifies the handwriting as Madison's.

GLC00099.148

July 27, 1799

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James McHenry

The letter discusses fear or rising debt and taxes. Written as President to his Secretary of War. Adams approves McHenry's raising a company of cavalry [sic] but worries at cost. "This system of Debts and Taxes is levelling all government in Europe." John Adams was staying at his home at Quincy at the time.

GLC00103

circa 1776-1777

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Journal of William Ellery's journey from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Dighton, Massachusetts]

Signed "W.E." Discusses his travels and expenses through eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, southern New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Contains descriptions of Moravian settlements near Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; imprisoned Tories at Newton, New Jersey; room and board at Fishkill, New York; and news of General William Howe's evacuation of New York. William Whipple accompanied him on his trip.

GLC00107.01

20 October - 15 November 1777

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Journal of William Ellery's journey from Dighton, Massachusetts, to Yorktown, Pennsylvania]

Discusses British General John Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga and meetings with Generals Oliver Wolcott and Israel Putnam, and with Members of the Continental Congress Francis Dana, John Hancock, John Adams, and Samuel Adams. Includes allusions to Cervantes' "Don Quixote" and Laurence Sterne's "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman."

GLC00107.02

June 28, 1778-July 23, 1778

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Journal of William Ellery's journey from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts]

Discusses his travels through Eastern Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Princeton, New Jersey, southern New York State, Connecticut, Providence, Rhode Island, and Massachusettes. Describes the defeat of Sir Henry Clinton at the Battle of Monmouth and speaks of Philadelphia's mood after its liberation. Mentions Elbridge Gerry and Francis Dana, members of the Continental Congress. Item in original brown wrappers fastened with a pin.

GLC00107.03

24 October 1778 - 14 July 1779

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Journal of William Ellery's journey from Dighton, Massachusetts, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]

Discusses travels through Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania and Philadelphia. Describes preparations for Independence day in Philadelphia on the day of his departure (3 July 1779) and reports news of British marauding on the Connecticut coastline. Details his expenses as a Member of Congress. Note in Ellery's hand on back cover reads: "Mr. William Redwood of Philadelphia joined me at Providence in his way home." Item includes original sewing in margin.

GLC00107.04

November 10, 1779 - April 15, 1780

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Journal of William Ellery's journey from Cranston, Rhode Island, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]

Discusses his travels through Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The bulk of the journal records the journey from Rhode Island to Philadelphia. Discusses a debate about blood chemistry and other medical matters that he provoked between Dr. Graham of Westbury and Thomas Tillotson, the Surgeon General of the Northern Department. Mentions a letter discovered on the road, which speaks of the forthcoming British evacuation of New York. Details his expenses as a Member of Congress.

GLC00107.05