1819

Tiffin, Edward, 1766-1829

Manuscript document

Title: Instructions for district surveyors

Writes as Surveyor General of the Northwest Territory. Imparts specific methods for surveying land and subdividing townships.

GLC03528

1806

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Book signed

Title: Message from the President...communicating discoveries made...by...Lewis & Clark

GLC03644

1778

Hutchins, Thomas, 1730-1789

Map

Title: A New map of Virginia, Pennsylvania....[with book:] A Topographical description

First edition, second issue. One of the most important early geographical descriptions of the West. Graff 2029, Howes H846. Accompanied by book. Not in Nebenzahl, Battle Plans of the American Revolution. Ex-Newberry Library. The map on light color on rivers, political borders and lake shores. Full title on map: "A New Map of the western part of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and North Carolina: Comprehending the River Ohio and all the Rivers which flow into it; Part of the River Mississippi, the whole of the Illinois River, Lake Erie, Part of the Lakes Huron, Michigan &c. and…

GLC03638

20 April 1786

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Jay

Writing as a member of the Continental Congress, Monroe seeks Jay's attendance at a meeting and input on the issues of governing territories and establishing an Indian Department. Indicates that the questions will pertain to whether or not the territories should be governed like colonies, and if so, how should it be superintended. The same question applies to the Indian department.

GLC03654

9 April 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Tobias Lear

Knox, Secretary of War, transmits the rough draft of a letter (not included) to Edward Telfair, Governor of Georgia. Informs Lear, President George Washington's personal secretary, that the letter is for Washington's inspection.

GLC03593

1745

Great Britain. Acts.

Pamphlet

Title: An Act for giving a publick reward [to anyone discovering a north west passage]

24 George II.

GLC03562.07

17 October 1787

Huntington, Samuel, 1731-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses Connecticut's progress in raising troops for duty in the Northwest territory and the appointment of officers. Retained copy, as noted on docket. Written as governor of Connecticut to Knox as the Secretary of War.

GLC03729

1877

Jackson, William Hicks, 1835-1903

Book

Title: Descriptive catalogue of photographs of North American Indians

Printed by the Government Printing Office. This document is a catalogue intended to systematize the collection of photographs taken of Native Americans during the United States Geological Survey of the Territories.

GLC03775.01

February 14, 1820

Tyler, John, 1790-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Spencer Roane

Written by Tyler as Republican Congressman from Virginia to Roane as Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. Writes to Roane about issues surrounding the Missouri Compromise debates. Tyler was concerned with Northern arguments that claimed Congress could restrict slavery in the Territories through their Constitutional powers. Says he is worried "about the nature of the power which is attempted to be exercised by Congress[.] you and myself cannot fail to agree in pronouncing it a bold and daring assumption - warranted neither by the constitution or the principles of justice."…

GLC03670

December 11, 1790

Harrisson and Purdy, fl. 1790

Newspaper

Title: New York weekly museum. [No. 135 (December 11, 1790)]

Includes President George Washington's second State of the Union Address (page 3). Among other topics, Washington discusses the condition of public credit, the Western frontier, independence from foreign commerce, and the appointment of consuls to foreign countries. Contains various news and advertisements.

GLC03130

August 30, 1804

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of Benjamin Morgan as member of Legislative Council for Louisiana]

Countersigned by Secretary of State James Madison. Says the appointment was made in light of Congressional division of the Louisiana Purchase into two sections in 1804, Orleans Territory and the District of Louisiana. Morgan was appointed to the Legislative Council for the Orleans Territory, which consists of the modern day state of Louisiana. Given a one year term to begin on 30 September 1804. Large Seal of the United States on recto.

GLC03871

14 March 1805

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isaac Briggs re: reports on formation of government & surveying of Louisiana

With three drafts of letters by Briggs to Jefferson.

GLC03872

29 June 1854

Young, Brigham, 1801-1877

Letter signed

Title: to Thomas L. Kane

Young writes to Colonel Kane, an abolitionist and friend. Praises his acquaintance with Kane, and Kane's knowledge of the Mormon people. Thanks Kane for his assistance in a legal case, the "May case," noting "...it is no remedy at all, to put a man to death unjustly, and then punish his executioners, but actually makes matters worse." Remarks that President Franklin Pierce has not acted regarding the case, but Young doesn't think the prisoner will be hanged. Thinks Congress should spend more time developing the railroad than deliberating the slavery question: "Whether the principle [of…

GLC03888

circa 1870

Book signed

Title: Book signed and carte de visite of General George Armstrong Custer [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC04007

7 April 1779

Schuyler, Philip John, 1733-1804

Autograph letter

Title: to Goose Van Schaick

Detailed draft of General Schuyler's instructions to Colonel Van Schaick for a raid against the Onondaga Indians. Asks Van Schaick to exclude Indian allies from the expedition and to take measures to prevent the rape of any women taken captive. Van Schaick covered 180 miles in less than a week, severely punishing the Onondagas. The expedition was a retaliation for Indian attacks in 1778 and was executed in conjunction with the Sullivan Campaign.

GLC03982

1850

Johnston, Joseph Egleston, 1807-1891

Book

Title: Reports of the Secretary of War, with reconnaissances of routes... [in Texas]

Full title: "Reports of the Secretary of War, with Reconnaissances of Routes from San Antonio to El Paso. By Brevet Lt. Col. J.E. Johnston...Capt. R.B. Marcy's Route From Fort Smith to Santa Fe...Expedition into the Navajo Country; and also the Report of Lt. W.H.C. Whiting's Reconnaissances of the Western Frontier Of Texas." (Senate Executive Document no. 64.) With 2 folding maps and 72 lithographed plates. References: Jenkins 111, Howes J170, Raines p. 128, Wagner-Camp 184.

GLC04134

1807

Pike, Zebulon M., 1779-1813

Book

Title: An Account of a voyage up the Mississippi River, from St. Louis to its source

With folding map. Full title: "An account of a voyage up the Mississippi River : from St. Louis to its source, made under orders of the war department, by Lieut. Pike, of the United States Army, in the years 1805 and 1806 / compiled from Mr. Pike's journal." Told in the third person. This paraphrase of Pike's journal seems to be the work of Nicholas King. The manuscript copy in the Library of Congress, Division of manuscripts, is in the handwriting of King. Its title ends with the statement, "Compiled from Mr. Pike's journal by Nich. King." The last three words are partly erased. (-NYPL…

GLC04139

1843

Smet, Pierre-Jean de, 1801-1873

Book signed

Title: Letters and sketches: with a narrative of a year's residence among the Indian tribes of the Rocky Mountains

Published by M. Fithian. Dedication included on the inside front cover to the Sisters of St. John's Asylum from Father Felix Joseph Barbelin. Smet records his journey past Chimney Rock, Nebraska, along the Missouri River, travelling as far as Fort Vancouver, Washington. He resides for one year among the Rocky Mountain Tribes, including the Flat Heads. Discusses geography and the daily details of his journey with a focus on teaching Christianity to the Native Americans he encounters. Includes a fold-out pictorial diagram of the history of Christianity.

GLC04145

1848

Abert, James William, 1820-1897

Book

Title: Report of the Secretary of War, communicating, in answer to a resolution of the Senate, a report and map of the examination of New Mexico...

Title continues "made by Lieutenant J. W. Abert, of the Topographical Corps."

GLC04148

1853

United States. Army. Corps of Topographical Engineers

Book

Title: Report of an expedition down the Zuni and Colorado Rivers

By Captain Lorenzo Sitgreaves of the Corps of Topographical Engineers. Senate Executive Doc. 59 printed by Robert Armstrong, public printer. An important contribution to the knowledge of Arizona topography, Indian ethnology, and fauna of the desert southwest, especially Arizona. Contains a report on natural history and a medical report by S.W. Woodhouse; a report on reptiles by E. Hallowell; a report on fishes by S.F. Baird and Charles Girard; and a report on botany by John Torrey. With 78 plates (1 folding), some tinted, and large folding map. Large folding map: "Reconnaissance of the…

GLC04154

1850

Berlandier, Jean Luis, 1805-1851

Book

Title: Diario de viage de la Comision de limites que puso el gobierno de la Republica bajo la direccion del exmo. sr. general de division d. Manuel de Mier y Teran [in Spanish]

Written by order of the individuals on the Comision de Limites, Luis Berlandier and Rafael Chovel. Published by the Tipografia de J. R. Navarro. Inscription reads "John R. Bartlett from Jose Salazar, El Paso del Norte, Oct. 1832." Title page also signed by Bartlett. Scientific study of Texas during the colonial period. Berlandier went to Mexico to collect botanical specimens for a group of Swiss naturalists and to accompany General Manuel de Mier y Terán on his scientific expedition to Texas in 1828.

GLC04131

1847

Hughes, John T., 1817-1862

Book

Title: Doniphan's expedition; containing an account of the conquest of New Mexico; General Kearney's overland expedition to California; Doniphan's campaign against the Navajos; his unparalleled march against Chihuahua and Durango; and the operations of General Price at Santa Fé: with a sketch of the life of Col. Doniphan

Published by U. P. James, 4th edition.

GLC04133

27 April 1784

Thomson, Charles, 1729-1824

Broadside

Title: The United States in Congress assembled

Report from Congress concerning the debt, its interest and its apportionment among the states. The resolution urges the states to surrender their western territories and to help pay the foreign and domestic debt. Includes a list of debts to various foriegn and domestic entities.

GLC04136

1801

Mackenzie, Alexander, 1764-1820

Book

Title: Voyages from Montreal on the River St. Laurence...to the Pacific Ocean [1789-93]

With three folding maps. Full title: "Voyages from Montreal, on the River St. Laurence, through the continent of North America, to the frozen and Pacific Oceans; in the years 1789 and 1793. With a preliminary account of the rise, progress, and present state of the fur trade of that country" (Canada, Northwest passage, Arctic exploration, Indians of the Northwest). Describes the extraordinary travels of the author in northwest America in 1789, when he discovered the Mackenzie River, and in 1793, when he crossed the continent to the Pacific. Mackenzie also provides an excellent history of the…

GLC04137

1814

Brackenridge, Henry M., fl. 1814

Book

Title: Views of Louisiana; together with... a voyage up the Missouri River, in 1811

Full title: "Views of Louisiana : together with a Journal of a voyage up the Missouri River, in 1811" Printed and published by Cramer, Spear and Eichbaum, Franklin head office.

GLC04140