1840-1865

Thackeray, William Makepeace, 1811-1863

Print

Title: [Reproduction of an illustration, possibly by Thackeray]

Reproduction (woodcut) of a drawing. Depicts an old, haggard woman standing behind a young woman. Caption states "Let us see if this can be reproduced." A note in pencil states "Original drawing by Thackery?" Possibly reproduced after Thackery's death in the 1870s.

GLC00496.275

June 10, 1865

Van Valkenburgh, Franklin Butler, 1835-1924

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his wife

Date written in pencil at the top of recto as "June 10 1865?" Content of GLC00686.22 and GLC00686.24 suggest this date might be accurate. Signed twice by Frank, once in pen and once in pencil. Written aboard a ship on his way to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to assist his twin brother Gerrit, who was in trouble with the law. Mailed letter from Memphis. Says he has not stopped thinking about her and their son. Says "Our Crew of say 50 men are mostly negroes, and such a crowd you never saw." Mentions that the former enslaved people are toting their plunder onboard. Describes ship, passengers, and…

GLC00686.19

1815-1860

Van Valkenburgh, Mary, fl. 1849

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh

Written by Mary to her brother Frank. Reports that their parents are well. It appears that Frank is an editor a newspaper from the content of this letter. She asks him to send a copy to several friends. Updates him on family and friends. Says the lessons she has been taking for a musical instrument have not gone well. Mentions Frank's twin brother Gerrit: "Give Ger all good advise with regard to Every thing. Don't let him get into bad habits, I think he is more Easily led astray than you." Letter on thin blue paper.

GLC00686.32

circa 1860-1870

Van Valkenburgh, Robert B., 1821-1888

Sculpture

Title: [Plaster bust of Robert Bruce Van Valkenburgh]

Lifesize gilded plaster bust of Robert with a few areas of gilt loss.

GLC00686.37

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

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

1885

Hovenden, Thomas, 1840-1895

Print

Title: The last moments of John Brown

Etching on vellum, based on Hovenden's 1884 painting depicting John Brown kissing a black baby while on his way to the gallows. The painting was based on an incident reported in the New York Tribune, that later proved to be apocryphal. Printed by George Gebbie.

GLC00737

circa 1862

Benham, Henry Washington, 1813-18884

Print

Title: [Print of camp of H. W. Benham's engineering brigade]

GLC00919.18

1865

Map

Title: General Benham's winter camp near Poplar Grove Church, Va., with photo of troops

Printed map, "Winter Camp, Detachment 50th N.Y.V. Engineers" Brevet Colonel I. Spalding Commanding, near Poplar Church, Virginia, Army of the Potomac, 1865. Has been partially hand colored. An original albumen photograph of soldiers with musical instruments, standing in front of a church, has been mounted to the upper right corner of the print.

GLC00919.26

March 8, 1859

Tyler, John, 1790-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Tyler

John Tyler writes a letter to his son in which he touches on the issue of slavery and the election of 1860. He discusses "Healy's portrait of me" as admirable and being "often mortified at the misrepresentations of me which are occasionally seen in the print shops." He discusses the plans and character of James Semple. In regard to current affairs he writes: "The Country, I fear, is in a bad state." He attributes the dissension among Democrats as "about a mere abstraction." He comments that "A cotton region will have slaves, while a grazing country [western territories] does not want them."…

GLC00948

September 11, 1789

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bridge

Adams writes in detail about his journey from Boston to Newport via Providence. He describes his stage coach companions on the way to Providence, expressing a liking for an amiable eighteen year-old named Landman. He comments on Brown University. Adams then derides the music of some of the less genteel people he rode with by boat. Landman introduced Adams to a Mrs. Marchant and her daughters, of whom he was very fond, and spent the evening with, enjoying musical performances. Adams reports that he saw Bridge's friend, W. Amory. Adams will soon sail to New York.

GLC00958.04

24 November 1862

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Civil War Songbook]

Contains lyrics to several martial, sentimental, religious and romantic songs. Titles include "John Brown Song" (usually called "John Brown's Body") "Sung by Fletcher Webster's Regiment in Boston [sic]," "Traitor, Spare That Flag," "Oh, For a Home Amid the Hills," "Jane Feeding the Poor Robin," "Glory for the North (usually called 'Glory Hallelujah'')," "Bonny Eloise," and "Some Twenty Years Ago." The songs are illustrated with hand-drawn watercolors, including a woman (possibly Lady Liberty) holding a lamp and a patriotic shield, a man holding a rifle, a landscape with Indians hunting deer,…

GLC00968

February-May 1864

Allen, George Walter, 1842-1912

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Diary aboard the U.S.S. Nantucket]

Allen was an officer on the USS "Nantucket" during and before the bombardment of Fort Sumter. The diary appears to have been written within days of the actions. Includes manuscript pencil and ink "Sketch of Charleston Harbor and fortifications," and with his drawings of Fort Sumter after its bombardment and the ironclad USS Nantucket. An interesting table at the end lists the damage made by every mortar shot at Fort Sumter from his ship.

GLC01006

1844

Book

Title: The Negro forget-me-not songster, the only work published, containing all the Negro songs, that have ever appeared.

Signed on free front endpaper by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "H. W. Longfellow." Original cloth spine laid onto modern leather. Title on spine: "Nigga forget-me-not songster." Published by Turner & Fisher. Songs written in "dialect," and some are accompanied by black and white illustrations.

GLC00796

December 9, 1861

Pendleton, Alexander S., 1840-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rose

Alexander S. Pendleton writes to his sister. He discusses personal news, a skirmish, and General Rosecrans at Cumberland. She requests she send him a song. Letter written on blue paper.

GLC00835

December 25, 1864

Tower, Zealous Bates, 1819-1900

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William P. Fessenden

General Tower, chief engineer of Union defenses at Nashville, describes the Battle of Nashville to Fessenden, Secretary of the Treasury. He relates the strategies of Union Generals George Henry Thomas, Andrew Jackson Smith, James Harrison Wilson, and John McAllister Schofield, among several others. He reports on the actions of Confederate forces commanded by General John Bell Hood. he states "Probably at this date we have 8,000 prisoners. Hood's Army must be sadly demoralized & broken up. His force was counted at 40,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry. If he escapes with half that number he…

GLC00849.01

circa December 25, 1864

Tower, Zealous Bates, 1819-1900

Map

Title: [Pencil illustration depicting the area near Nashville, Tennessee]

Autograph map depicts roads, rivers, fortifications and estimated troop numbers and locations near Nashville. Tower, chief engineer of Union defenses at Nashville, possibly transmitted this map with a letter (refer to GLC00849.01) to William P. Fessenden, Secretary of the Treasury.

GLC00849.02

31 August 1778

Bayard, John Bubenheim, 1738-1807

Document signed

Title: [Receipt for drummers and fifers]

Orders David Rittenhouse to pay Captain William Duffield seven pounds, 19 shillings for obtaining drummers and fifers for his company. On reverse is a note signed by Duffield certifying that he received payment, 11 September 1778. Bayard signed as speaker.

GLC01450.130

circa 1783

Lodge, John, fl. 1783

Print

Title: View of the Attack on Bunker's Hill with the Burning of Charles Town, June 17, 1775

Marked that it is engraved by Lodge, but drawn by a Mr. Millar. Engraved for Edward Barnard's book "New Complete & Authentic History of England," which was published in 1783. Shows the bombardment, from both land and sea, of Charles Town. The town was bombarded after house-to-house fighting failed to dislodge the American militia. Officers asked that hot shot be fired at the town, which was done from ships and from Copp's Hill in Boston. The engraving shows the subsequent conflagration. Also shows British troops marching up Breed's Hill, where they were soon to be slaughtered. Condition…

GLC01450.169.05

circa 1770-1785

Header Record

Title: Collection of 5 engravings: John Andre, Rogers, Tarleton, Earl of Loudon & J. Sullivan [Decimalized .01-.05]

GLC01450.201

July 3, 1751

Bertram, Charles, 1723-1765

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Bertram, later discovered to be a literary imposter, writes to an unknown recipient (possibly to William Stukeley). Reports that when he receives the recipient's reply, he will deliver "Richard," a historical manuscript which he claimed to have found, to the press. Contains various questions related to British history and geography. Discusses the possibilities of the origin of "Richard's" author. Offers condolence regarding the death of the Prince of Wales. On page one, includes a watercolor of a prehistoric Celtic dolmen; Bertram states that he saw this kistvaen on the road toward Holt,…

GLC01450.449

October 26, 1782

Allen, Jeremiah, fl. 1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sam White

Allen has been "employ'd delivering letters, seeing plays operas &c" in Paris. Also reports "there are a number of English gentleman here, but for what purpose I know not." Asks White concerning his financial affairs in Nantes. Hears that "our Captain Barry has taken a number of prizes." Letter addressed to White at the house of "Mr. Williams" in Nantes. Seal in very good condition.

GLC01450.562

1781, 1862

Header Record

Title: Appointment of Stephen Griffin and print of George Clinton [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC01450.623