April 1789

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph manuscript

Title: Inaugural address [leaf from 1st draft of discarded first inaugural = pp.57-58]

Concerning trade and population growth, with allusion to the postal service, newspapers and manufactures. This was a first draft which Washington later discarded. The manuscript was disassembled by Jared Sparks (whose unsigned autograph note "handwriting of Washington" appears in the margin) and leaves or clippings were given away as samples of GW's handwriting. Sparks regarded the document as unimportant since Washington had not actually used this draft. See also GLC# 639.25 and 4443.01.

GLC01589

28 March 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: [Certificate to John Durham Alvey]

Certifies John Alvey's resignation from the position of Post Master of the American Army and gives a good character recommendation. Written and signed for Knox by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp.

GLC02437.02036

September 1776- December 1777

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document

Title: General Knox in account with [Samuel] Shaw

Lists account information regarding the purchase of a variety of goods: gloves, ducks, potatoes, oats, handkerchiefs, postage for letters, housekeeping, and various other items.

GLC02437.10456

January 11, 1861

Ransom, Robert, 1828-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lawrence O'Bryan Branch

Captain Ransom writes to Branch, a United States Representative from North Carolina, Ransom's home state. Reports that there has been no mail for two months, but the previous day, received shocking news (possibly referring to secession of several southern states): "The news which has reached us startles the most lethargic. Before what are we standing? I dare not answer it to myself... Let me now add that should our state need my services, I beg you will offer them, to be used by her in whatever way may to her seem best." Written at Fort Wise.

GLC02459.27

2 November 1783

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Notes that a previous reply he had written to Knox was stolen from the post office, along with other copies of letters sent to Colonel Varick (Richard Varick was Washington's recording secretary). Discusses military specifics regarding the soldiers in charge of providing wood for the garrison, the retirement of officers, and the provision of winter clothing for the troops. Relates that Sir Guy Carleton, Commander in Chief of British forces, informed him through a Mr. Parker of his intention to evacuate New York City in November. Instructs Knox to confer with New York Governor George…

GLC02437.09395

2 November 1783

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Later copy. Has discussed with members of Congress "in time of Peace of Uniting the Offices of Secty for War and Master of Ordinance in one person." Also upset with "stupidity of the Postmaster at Princeton" due to a great deal of his mail being lost. Letter copied on 3 February 1854 according to note at top of first page.

GLC02437.09314

2 June 1863

Blair, Montgomery, 1813-1883

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Daniel Clark

Declining an invitation to an event.

GLC02490.02

31 March 1778

Bland, Theodorick, 1742-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Caswell

Written by Captain Bland to North Carolina Governor Caswell. Express letter encloses letters from Congress (not included here). Says he has tried his hardest to get them to Caswell as quickly as possible. Messenger is to receive 50 Continental dollars, and since he has no public money he hopes Caswell can pay him. Docket says Caswell received the packet of letters on 6 April 1778. Page with address leaf and docket are separate from body of letter.

GLC02498.01

15 May 1862

Reagan, John H. (John Henninger), 1818-1905

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Daniel Ruggles

Reagan, postmaster general of the Confederacy, informs General Ruggles that his letter of 23 April (accompanied by a letter from Ruggles's son and a sealed letter to Confederate President Jefferson Davis), have arrived. Relates that he will present the letters to President Davis, and hopes Ruggles's son will receive the appointment he seeks. Notes, "The Enemy's gun boats are in eight or ten miles of this place, and have been exchanging shots with our batteries yesterday and to-day." Written on Confederate States of America, Post Office Department stationery.

GLC02469.19

9 September 1861

Walker, Leroy Pope, 1817-1884

Letter

Title: to William S. Morris

Walker, Confederate Secretary of War, writes to Morris, President of the Southern Telegraph Company. Includes a copied version of a dispatch Walker recently received from General Felix Kirk Zollicoffer, commander of the District of East Tennessee, Department Number 2. Zollicoffer writes from Knoxville, Tennessee, stating that it is necessary for Morris to immediately "connect the Knoxville Depot of East Tennessee & Va. R. R., by telegraph, with Bristol- and also establish a telegraph office at Mossy Creek, in East Tennessee." Walker asks Morris to estimate the cost of Zollicoffer's…

GLC02469.30

13 May 1805

Webster, Noah, 1758-1843

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Silliman

Webster mentions books he has received from Messrs. Bull & Co., and so no longer requires from Silliman. Asks Silliman to look for other specific books. Webster also mentions the majority by which Jonathan Trumbull had won the recent Connecticut gubernatorial election. Addressed to Silliman in England. Address leaf contains the note that this is a duplicate letter sent by the ship Polly. These books helped Webster in compiling his 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language. Two black and white bust engravings of Webster included.

GLC02513

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

30 December 1860

Cadwalader, George, ?-1884

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Sherman

Cadwalader, a Sacramento lawyer, discusses California politics with Sherman, a United State Senator from Ohio. Reports that the California presidential election will be held on the following day, with Lincoln holding a 134 count majority over Stephen A. Douglas. Referring to a different election, reports that James William Denver, a former United States Representative from California, "is the only person who can be elected." Discusses the postponement of an election in California in order to find a Republican associate for Colonel Edward Dickinson Baker, a United States Representative from…

GLC08647

09 November 1885

Cleveland, Grover, 1837-1908

Document signed

Title: Pardon of J. P. Shonebraker, convicted of robbing a mail coach.

Convicted of robbing a mail coach and its passengers; sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. Pardoned after serving 3 years and 6 months of his prison term due to his frank confession of the crime and his returning of the stolen property, and because of his precarious health. (c/s Thomas F. Bayard)

GLC00230.01

13 July 1889

Sarony, Napoleon, 1821-1896

Photograph signed

Title: [Sepia cabinet portrait of William T. Sherman]

Contemporary portrait of Sherman, published in 1888. Seated, upper torso, arms folded. Dated "1889" and signed by Sherman in pencil on front with his inscription on verso to General Frederick Tracy Dent in Denver on 13 July 1889. Dent was Grant's brother-in-law and West Point classmate, and an aide to Sherman (1869-1873). He lived in Denver at this time. This photo was used to design the $.08 Sherman stamp 1890-1894 issue.

GLC00478

November 21, 1793

Carroll, Charles, 1737-1832

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Pinckney

Mentions the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia. Fears that the political climate in France will hinder mail delivery.

GLC00496.140

May 19, 1814

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph note

Title: to Joseph Gales

Written by Monroe as Secretary of State. Recipient inferred from docket. "Mr. Gales" is Joseph Gales, the editor of the National Intelligencer newspaper. This is an advertisement titled "Letters miscarried," that was eventually printed in the May 21, 1814 issue. Advertisement says he sent two letters under his frank on May 5, 1814 to his brother Andrew Monroe in Aldie, Virginia, that were lost. In one letter there were seven notes for $50 each along with land papers and other accounts of value. Says there will be a $50 reward for their return.

GLC00496.066

June 26, 1809

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Dougherty

Complains about the mail taking a long time to arrive. Discusses sheep and gives advise on the amount of ewes and rams to purchase. Explains that he would like to assist him in purchasing the sheep but the heavy debt he incurred while president is crippling him. He must now pay it out of the his profits and will have to sell part of his estate. Reports that he has received his quilt from Mr. Carr. Mentions a ram that he will send for the last week of August and says that he will mate him in September, so the lamb will be born in February, as January is usually the severest month.

GLC00639.15

October 17, 1856

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Campbell

James Buchanan writes to U.S. Postmaster General Campbell regarding his decision to delay the appointment of a postmaster for Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for political reasons. Date "17" was overwritten on "16." Docketed as 16th. Written as a candidate in the 1856 presidential election from his estate, Wheatland, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

GLC00655.10

1790

Osgood, Samuel, 1748-1813

Pamphlet

Title: General post-office, New-York [postmaster's first report]

First report of the Post Office, by Postmaster general Samuel Osgood. Evans 22978. Folio.

GLC01033

1 July 1790

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Printed document signed

Title: An act for the relief of Nathaniel Twining

Signed by Jefferson as Secretary of State. Congress relieves Twining due to his "failure in neglecting to transport the mail between Charleston and Savannah" from September 1787 through January 1788. Authorized by Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, Speaker of the House of Representatives; Vice President John Adams; and President George Washington.

GLC00879

March 1, 1776

Walton, George, 1740-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Goddard

Walton writes about defense preparations in Georgia. He advises that a full board of devoted men has been assembled and are in very good spirits. Indicates that they have prepared several fire vessels to defend against the British navy and erected a small battery below the town. He states that no rice ships will be allowed to sail until the Continental Congress is fully resolved. Letter addressed to Goddard as the Inspector General of the Constitutional Post Office. Upper left corner is torn.

GLC00977

July 9, 1862

Bixby, Horace, fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Andrew H. Foote

Bixby, seeking a mail contract, asks Foote to recommend him to Postmaster General Montgomery Blair. He notes that Flag Officer Davis has already written such a letter. He adds that in the event of his flotilla being turned over to the navy, and there being a grade of pilot established, he would like to get the position of Pilot in Chief. Andrew Foote autograph note signed at bottom of recto says "Mr. Bixby is a clever, honest man. A. H. Foote U.S. Navy." Letter written while aboard the Flagship "Benton."

GLC00999

September 3, 1813

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Jarvis

Morse complains of problems with the mail. He lists books (and their prices) he obtained for Jarvis. Comments on politics in Europe and his hopes for peace in the War of 1812. Jarvis was rector of St. Michael's school in Bloomingdale, New York.

GLC01092

1775-1780

Header Record

Title: Receipts of payment from the State of Connecticut [Decimalized .01-.21]

Most of the receipts in this collection pertain to payment for post riding.

GLC01450.609