February 4, 1789

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Lafayette anxiously awaits ratification results of the U.S. Constitution, discusses debates between himself, Mr. [Thomas] Jefferson and "Common Sense" [Thomas Paine] regarding the need for Constitutional amendments, and stresses the importance of "the General's" [George Washington's] acceptance of the presidency. He begins by updating Knox on European affairs, saying that they are "too much Entangled together for me to give you an Exact description." He mentions that the Ottoman Empire, with the assistance of Great Britain, is attacking both the Russians and Austrians, and that Britain fears…

GLC02437.04105

February 13, 1791

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Urges Knox to write him as soon as he can, or make Lucy Knox "overcome her natural timidity" and write him. He has heard of the General (Charles) Scott expedition in the Miami Country and of the casualties Scott suffered. Discusses in great detail the Turk-Russian war along with other foreign affairs. The Russians are not far from Constantinople; the Empress (Catherine the Great) seeks to drive the Turks completely out of Europe and listens to no offers of negotiations. Prince Potemkin said that the Empress would consider stopping the war on several conditions; ceding Moldavia and Wallachia…

GLC02437.04853

September 1774

Thompson, Ebenezer, fl. 1774

Document signed

Title: [Oath to forswear the authority of the pope and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church]

Also signed by Israel Gilman. Signed as justices of the court at Exeter, Massachusetts.

GLC00376

1852

Beals, Greene & Co., (Boston, Mass.)

Pamphlet

Title: The Whig charge of intolerance against the New Hampshire Democracy and Gen. Franklin Pierce.

Written in response to rumors and allegations from the Whig party that Franklin Pierce is religiously intolerant. States that "[i]n American political contests the seraching questions out to be ever, as to a candidate, 'Is he honest? is he capable? Is He Faithful to the Constitution?' while an approach to any thing like the popery cry of the British Tory party, or an appeal to a sect as such, ought to be severely denounced as violative of the spirit of our institutions." Includes amendments of the Constitution concerning religion, Whig opposition, vote of the towns, letters and the Whig'…

GLC00267.191

04 June 1825

Austin, Stephen F., 1793-1836

Manuscript document signed

Title: Second colony contract with permission to settle 500 Catholic families

Written in English. Authorizing settlement of 500 Catholic families. The document says that official communications with the families must be in Spanish and lists other conditions such as requiring families to be industious, "Cat[ho]lics and of good morals." Docket indicates it was originally numbered 341 but was renumbered 415.

GLC01160

1763-1791

Macaulay, Catharine, 1731-1791

Header Record

Title: Correspondence of Catharine Macaulay [Decimalized .01- .63]

Collection of correspondence of Catharine Macaulay Graham with various people from England, Scotland, France, and America, including a folder of transcripts of letters not included in this collection. Materials in this collection consist of retained drafts, letters received, drafts written on other letters, and some occasional pieces. According to a later note in GLC 1795, these letters were returned by her second husband William Graham to daughter Catharine Sophia Macaulay Gregorie. Some letters are in French. A full inventory is available, and transcripts of some letters are also…

GLC01794

July 14, 1902

Root, Elihu, 1845-1937

Telegram

Title: to William Howard Taft

Copy of a telegram from Secretary of War Root to William Howard Taft. Root thanks him for the successful result of his negotiations with the Vatican about the Friar Lands in the Philippines. He explains the position of the United States government toward these lands. He is to represent this position to the Philippine government and to church authorities in the Philippines.

GLC01625.03

9 May 1902

Root, Elihu, 1845-1937

Document

Title: Instructions of the Secretary of War to Governor William H. Taft in the matter of the purchase of the Friar Lands in the Philippines.

Because Congress has not yet acted on recommendations of the commission in regards to the Friar Lands of the Philippines and Taft cannot delay his return there, the President authorizes Taft to travel to Rome to determine which authorities of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines have the right to sell the lands. His errand is not diplomatic, but official assistance will be rendered to him.

GLC01625.04

July 21, 1902

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Typed letter signed

Title: to James D. Fox

Roosevelt thanks him for his letter and writes, "I have received your letter in reference to the friars; and as it evidently proceeds from an entire misunderstanding of the facts, I take pleasure in reciting them to you." Fox was a member of the Holy Name Society, Church of St. Catherine of Siena, New York, who in mid July had sent resolutions of his society to Roosevelt protesting the banishment of friars from the Philippines. Roosevelt notes that the friars were removed by the Philippine people, not the United States government, and the government of the United States is acting benevolently…

GLC01625.01

August 5, 1902

Fox, James D., fl. 1902

Typed letter signed

Title: to Theodore Roosevelt

Fox thanks him for his letter and for clarifying for him the situation with the friars and their lands in the Philippines and the position of the United States government. Regrets the fact that the government of the United States has allowed the Friar Lands to be occupied, and warns that if "the Filipinos are allowed to disregard our laws in this connection now and proceed with impunity, it is not at all unlikely they will feel encouraged to encroach on some other people's rights in the near future." Clerical copy, typed on stationery of the Holy Name Society, branch no. 47. Letter signed as…

GLC01625.02

1864

War Democratic State Committee, 1864

Broadside

Title: Watch words for War Democrats!

Published by pro-war, pro-Union Democrats in New York. Quotes a speech made by Peter Cooper 20 years ago advocating Union principles. Reprints an article from a Catholic newspaper titled condemning slavery and an article from the impartial Boston Herald on the lack of freedom in the South.

GLC01703

January 25, 1765

Winthrop, John, 1714-1779

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Belcher

Winthrop congratulates Judge Belcher on recovering "from a dangerous illness." He notes having read that many French Acadians have been removed from Nova Scotia, Canada, to the West Indies, and observes that because of their religion, they "could hardly ever have been good Subjects to a Protestant government." Indicates that the Sugar Act and the Currency Act, referred to as "The late Acts of Trade," are widely discussed and cause much uneasiness among merchants and judges alike. He notes the death of Edward Wigglesworth, the first Hollis professor of Divinity at Harvard College. Discusses…

GLC01541.01

22 March 1848

Parker, Theodore, 1810-1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Signore Mancinelli

Hopes that Mancinelli remembers him. Writes to introduce Dr. Loring, who is visiting Rome. Congratulates Mancinelli "on having so noble a Pope. Protestants as we are, we will all shout, Viva Papa Pio IX." Supposes that Mancinelli knows his American acquaintances now in Rome, including Mr. Cranch, Mr. Story, and Margaret Fuller. Pius IX ruled from 1846 to 1878. Loring is possibly George Bailey Loring, M.D.

GLC02509.08

9 November 1860

Milliken, N.J., fl. 1853-1860

Newspaper

Title: Ontario Republican times [Vol. 9, no. 339 (November 9, 1860)]

Cover includes articles covering a railroad robbery, a story about two young people falling in love aboard the steamer Ocean, and the papacy, among others. On page two, large headlines declare, "Lincoln and Hamlin Elected! THE COUNTY, STATE AND NATION, ALL FOR FREEDOM!" Discusses the Presidential election of Abraham Lincoln (with Hannibal Hamlin as Vice President) in detail. Includes a diagram depicting a pyramid of Republican support based on electoral votes and majorities by state. Includes a list of grand and petit jurors, advertisements, special notices, miracles cures, etc.

GLC08515

26 November 1898

Harper & Brothers, 1833-1962

Newspaper

Title: Harper's weekly: a journal of civilization. [Vol. 42, no. 2188 (November 26, 1898)]

Discusses an opinion printed in a British paper that the United States should "take the Philippines, and all the other Spanish territory of which we can lay our hands." Advocates recruitment of "dark men- negroes, half-castes, Tagals, and ... Mohammedan Malays ... " for military service in tropical areas. Reports on imperialism and the Senate, Zionism, and the daily life of Pope Leo XIII, containing various photographs of Leo XIII at the Vatican. Includes a photograph of George Berry, an African American soldier in Troop D, 10th United States Cavalry. States that Berry "carried the Colors…

GLC08725.13

August 10, 1853

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brother

Writes that he is upset to hear what his brother has said about David L. Gregg, who was appointed Commissioner to the Sandwich Islands. Informs that this is the first he has heard about Gregg's Catholic sentiments and that it did not occur to him to ask Gregg about his religious opinions. Advises that maybe his brother's informants are mistaken. Postscript note to the Honorable John Aiken in Andover, Massachusetts saying that he will write to Mary soon. Written on mourning stationery.

GLC00152

February 15, 1951

Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972

Typed letter signed

Title: to Lewis Strauss

Harry S. Truman thanks Lewis Strauss for his memoranda. Truman thinks it is crucially important to maintain good relations with Jewish, Catholic and Protestant world leaders, "As you know, I have been trying my best to organize the moral forces of the world..."

GLC00162.19

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

September 1780

Pius VI, Pope, 1717-1799

Document signed

Title: Calligraphic document on vellum [in Latin].

Tied with rope with lead seal.

GLC00496.205

17 April 1762

Albani, Alessandro, 1692-1779

Document signed

Title: [Travel document] [in Italian]

Counter-signed by de Bruno. Includes date of return, companions, personal belongings and purpose of trip. Cardinal Albani, librarian to the Vatican, was a patron of the arts whose library was purchased by King George III and served as basis for the British Library. Includes 6 clippings describing the Albani family.

GLC00496.121

October 22, 1856

Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jeremiah S. Black

Stanton compliments Black on the address on religious liberty that he gave before the Phrenakosmian Society of Pennsylvania College. He argues with some points of the essay concerning the judgment of history on William Penn, Oliver Cromwell, and St. Francis Xavier. He asks in his postscript, "Who is it that believes in Maria Monk?" (a fictitious woman created by anti-Catholic propagandists). Date from docket. At the time of this letter Black was a justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. He became Attorney General of the United States under James Buchanan, and in that position moved Stanton…

GLC00605

October 27, 1851

Tyler, John, 1790-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Tyler

John Tyler writes to his son, Robert Tyler. He discusses the defeat of Judge Campbell, who had been rejected because he was a Roman Catholic: "to make a man's religious opinions the test for office is to break down the fairest and most beautiful pillar of the Constitution." He believes the Presidential election remains an open contest, and that his support of the tariff of 1842 would be a suitable point on which Robert Tyler might speak. He believes that Millard Fillmore is likely to obtain the Whig nomination. John Tyler was President of the United States from 1841 to 1845.

GLC00639.24

April 10, 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Letter signed

Title: to his Holiness, Pope Pius IX

Letter of credence for Rufus King as U.S. Minister to Papal States.

GLC01000

September 7, 1785

Walton, George, 1740-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Elbert

Discusses the extradition of a murderer from a neighboring Catholic province, possibly Spanish Florida, to Georgia. Stresses the importance of this matter in making Georgia's government appear decisive and strong. Asks Elbert to write to the Catholic governor of the province to request that the murderer be given up.

GLC00855

December 16, 1777

Middleton, Peter, ?-1781

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Myles Cooper

Letter written by Middleton as a Loyalist and former medical professor and governor at King's College (now Columbia University) to Cooper, the former president of King's College who fled New York in 1775 after revolutionary violence erupted. Reports on Burgoyne's failed campaign at Saratoga. Is very critical of the general's performance in the field, saying "Where do you find in the British Annals that a disciplined [&] gallant Army ever surrendered themselves with Arms in their Hands to a Rabble, to Militia?" Applauds the speech of the Archbishop of York that claims Presbyterians need to…

GLC01450.138