September 5, 1822

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel McKay

Suggests that two parties are essential to a functioning democracy. McKay was a farmer and local political leader in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The Fourth of July oration was entitled "An Address," delivered at the Request of the Republican Committee of Arrangements, at Pittsfield, on the Anniversary of American Independence, July 4, 1822. Someone has altered Jefferson's capitalization, inserted 18 before 22 in the date, added underscoring, and quotation marks, possibly for publication.

GLC00639.14

September 30, 1798

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James McHenry

Written during the Quasi-War with France. The letter discusses concerns about Democrats infiltrating and subverting the army. Washington remarks that "you could as soon scrub the blackamore white, as to change the principles of a profest Democrat; and that he will leave nothing unattempted to overturn the Government of this country."

GLC00581

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

December 8, 1877

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to General C.J. Wright

In the letter, Jefferson Davis writes about his political future and Reconstruction. Davis upholds the secessionist notion of the Union: "The word Union implies volition among the members...." The location where the letter was written is possibly Mississippi City or Missouri City.

GLC00578

December 8, 1812

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Dr. Benjamin Rush

"The history of the hobby horse" -page 4 (Adams's humorous name for the story he tells in this letter). Free frank on page 4. The letter also discusses the dream of American glory and early history.

GLC00599

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

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

October 3, 1933

Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964

Typed letter signed

Title: to Bruce Barton

Comments on retirement: "A smoking President receives enough pipes to last a life time. Likewise fishing tackle. It is the only endowment he gets, except a troubled soul." Also mentions that "The country is going sour on the New Deal." Expresses his fear that the country will veer further left politically, and after the "middle class (80% of America) realizes it ruin" will veer back to the far right, "into some American interpretation of Hitler or Mussolini." Marked "personal" with one manuscript addition at the end.

GLC00691

October 29, 1848

Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Replies very graciously to a request for an autograph. Addressee's name has been cut-out of the page. Taylor signed as Major General, United States Army.

GLC00693.02

1864

National Union Free Convention

Broadside

Title: The two roads to peace

Broadside printing of the Chicago Democratic and Baltimore Republican Party platforms for the 1864 election.

GLC00701

1864

National Union Free Convention

Broadside

Title: President Lincoln and General Grant on Peace and War.

Promotes the Union cause. Reprints an interview with Lincoln titled "Mr. Lincoln's view of Democratic strategy," and a letter of General Grant dated 16 August 1864 to E.B. Washburne. Grant's letter informs that the Confederacy is very weak and losing men each day. Also printed is the verses to a song, "On the Chicago Surrender." Same broadside as GLC05556.

GLC00702

April 18, 1790

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Dr. Benjamin Rush

The letter discusses corruption and Adam's unhappiness as Vice President. He is very affectionate towards Rush. Also discusses beliefs on government and other reflections.

GLC00704

March 17, 1864

Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John M. Forbes

James A. Garfield writes to Forbes after he visited and made a speech in Boston. He thanks him for his support. In lieu of an apparently requested copy of the speech he made (for which Garfield states he made no notes), he sends a similar speech (not included) on the confiscation of rebel property. He mentions that "The edition of 30,000 is almost exhausted" and suggests revising it for "publication by the society to which you referred." Letter written on stationery of the House of Representatives. Prior to his election, Garfield had served as an officer in the Union Army.

GLC00655.14

August 4, 1863

Geary, John White, 1819-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edgar Cowan

Geary writes to Cowan, a United States Senator from Pennsylvania, in attempt to obtain a recommendation for his promotion to Major General. He cites his qualifications and the achievements of his brigades. He declares "I have received four honorable wounds, and have never left my command for a single hour (Except once when my left arm was badly shattered) to devote even one moment to my own private affairs, or like many that you and I could name, parade ... around Washington to make political capital and ensure promotion." Discussing his opinions on current policy, he states that "Patriotism…

GLC00673

February 9, 1932

Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945

Typed letter signed

Title: to G. C. Hutcherson

Franklin D. Roosevelt thanks G. C. Hutcherson for his support and for his work in Indiana. He states that he is pleased others believe him worthy of a higher office. Letter written as New York State Governor on stationery, and addressed to Mr. G. C. Hutcherson, The Shirley Canning Co., Inc., Shirley, Indiana.

GLC00655.19

February 4, 1860

Helper, Hinton R., 1829-1906

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Sherman

Helper, a Unionist and anti-slavery North Carolinian, writes to Sherman, an Ohio congressman, about his opposition to slavery as a "Southern Republican." He discusses his controversial book, 'The Impending Crisis of the South.' He writes "For good or for evil, the result of my labor in that regard is now before the public, and in the desire always to know and perform my duty I am not, in this matter, moved to any apology or regret whatever. As a Southern Republican, as far from apologizing for my opposition to slavery where it does exist (as well as where it has no existence) I frankly and…

GLC00657

1864

Header Record

Title: Two pamphlets [decimalized]

GLC00676

1864

Mason, & Co., fl. 1864

Pamphlet

Title: Lincoln campaign songster.

Title page states songster is for the use of clubs and contains all the most popular songs. Miniature book with woodcut of Lincoln on paper cover and printer's advertisements on back cover. Intended for the 1864 presidential election. Uncut between pages 10 and 11.

GLC00676.01

1860

Burleigh, William Henry, 1812-1871

Pamphlet

Title: Republican campaign songster, for 1860.

Edited by Burleigh and published by H. Dayton. Original blue printed front wrapper (only), stab-stitched as issued. Intended for the 1860 Presidential election. Burleigh was a prominent New York journalist and social reformer.

GLC00676.02

4 April 1864

Hughes, Thomas, fl. 1864

Newspaper

Title: Natchitoches union daily. [April 4, 1864]

Advertises Lincoln-Johnson election ticket, proclaims fervent unionist sentiment, local and international news. Light brown (wood grain) wallpaper (on back).

GLC00678

July 8, 1933

Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964

Typed letter signed

Title: to Henry L. Stoddard

In a letter marked "Personal," Hoover writes critically about President Roosevelt and the New Deal. He comments on an economic conference and going off the gold standard. He provides a list of "misrepresentations and illusions held out from Washington" about New Deal policies that the American public is being fooled by, most of them pertaining to economic matters. He decries a lack of "encouragement to individual prudence and thrift, any encouragement to any holding to moral anchors in all of this situation" and blames it on the New Deal, an era "where white rabbits please and thrill the…

GLC00782.10

November 17, 1910

Harding, Warren G. (Warren Gamaliel), 1865-1923

Typed letter signed

Title: to William D. Street

Written after his defeat in the 1910 Ohio gubernatorial election to thank Street for his support in the campaign. He cheerfully accepts defeat and recounts humorous misconceptions of his positions. Letter typed on personal stationary in purple ink with penned corrections.

GLC00782.09

May 26, 1960

Reagan, Ronald, 1911-2004

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harold Ward

Quotes Barry Goldwater stating that the Herlong-Baker bill (concerning tax reform) can only be gotten out of committee through a letter-writing campaign. He rejects the idea of a third party of economic conservatives, saying that he joined the Republican party after being a life-long Democrat because, "we could...by our very numbers force the party to be the organ for Economic conservatism." Letter written on personal stationery.

GLC00782.17

November 13, 1915

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Typed letter signed

Title: to William R. Castle

Writes to the assistant dean at Harvard (later founder of a professional consular service of the United States). Roosevelt encloses an article (not included) from the November 1915 Metropolitan magazine which had been vetted by James Brown Scott, an expert on international law. Roosevelt condemns isolationism, pacifism, Wilson's neutrality policies, and American indifference to Germany's August 1914 invasion of Belgium in violation of the Hague and Geneva Conventions. Includes interlinear editing and manuscript comments by Roosevelt. Letter written on Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York,…

GLC00782.19