21 August 1858

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Receipt from Samuel Adair]

Received thirty two dollars in cash from Samuel Adair and a note of four dollars against S.H. Houser. Signed by Brown as agent for the National Kansas Committee.

GLC00721

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

March 13, 1856

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Ann Brown

Brown wonders if a free state candidate from Kansas has been "allowed...a seat in Congress," since "that would set Kansas matters right at once." He reports that he has "again written Mr. [William Henry] Hurlbut of Connecticut about the battle." Discusses personal affairs and asks her to send more news. Also wrote to his children, some of whom are with Mary.

GLC00928

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

28 June 1855

Radical Political Abolitionists Convention

Printed document

Title: Abolition documents. Number one. Principles and measures.

Created at the convention from 26-28 June in Syracuse. The abolitionists declare, "We...maintain that there can be no legitimate civil government, rightfully claiming support and allegiance as such, that is not authorized, nay, that is not morally and politically bound, to prohibit and suppress slaveholding."

GLC04717.22

30 June 1853

Stevens, Aaron D., 1831-1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Describes time at Fort Massachusetts in the New Mexico Territory. Tells of joining the dragoons and their confrontations with Native Americans, including Navajos ("Navhoes") and the Utah nation.

GLC07231.01

10 March 1853

Stevens, Aaron D., 1831-1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Tells news of life as dragoon, and boredom of time at Fort Massachusetts. Mentions the possibility of tracking Utah Indians to Salt Lake, possibility of returning east, of traveling to California. Discusses brother Lemuel's decision to become a whaler.

GLC07231.02

January 25, 1855

Stevens, Aaron D., 1831-1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister, Lyddia M. Pierce

Misses family and reminiscences about childhood. Mentions news of cousin marrying Charles Whipple. Discusses possibility of coming home or of moving west. Written at Cantonment Burgwin.

GLC07231.03

28 August 1856

Stevens, Aaron D., 1831-1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brother Henry

Discusses conflict over slavery in Kansas, describing it as a "struggle against every species of oppression" (namely slavery). Foresees the probability of violence between 2000 "invaders" and 700 freemen. Laments the interception of mail from Kansas by pro-slavery Missourians who "let nothing pass in the shape of letters that doesn't exactly suit their fancy." Written from Headquarters 2 Regiment Kansas Volunteers.

GLC07231.04

29 April 1857

Stevens, Aaron D., 1831-1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Hopes his sister and brother are not "old liners," i.e. that they support his anti-slavery efforts in the "Kansas War." Mentions "Miss Brown" (likely a daughter of John Brown) in reference to his wish that more "yankey" girls would come to Kansas so he could find a wife.

GLC07231.05

29 September 1857

Stevens, Aaron D., 1831-1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his father

Gives news of self in Topeka, the free state capital, and Colonelcy in Kansas War with promotion to brigadier general in Kansas "Millishey [militia]." Informs of "tearney [tyranny] … by the proslavery democracy of the United States," and the possibility of revolution to stop slavery. Jokes of society in Kansas that the poorest of men can approach Governor Walker. Requests news from home and hopes to visit at some point. Claims that he has "been going under the name of C Whipple."

GLC07231.06

3 October 1857

Stevens, Aaron D., 1831-1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brother Henry

Discusses the upcoming election in Kansas, i.e. the second election over the Lecompton Constitution, the likelihood of free state supporters' defeat, and the influx of border ruffians from Missouri. Was against going into the election. Foresees that the results will lead to violence. Requests for brother to send "degerrotype" of brother and wife. Reminds of taking name of C Whipple.

GLC07231.07

8 April 1858

Stevens, Aaron D., 1831-1860

Autograph note signed

Title: to his sister

Reminisces about childhood. Gives news of travels "all over New Mexico Kansas Nebraska Iowa and some in Illinois & Indiana." Outlines his commitment to the cause of "Human Freedom," saying "[I] expect to be in it untill slavery is done away in the United States, at least and I hope it will not be long now, untill every slave shall be free if it cost half of there masters." Lastly, mentions that he is also a "woman rights man."

GLC07231.08

2 August 1858

Stevens, Aaron D., 1831-1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brother Henry

Elaborates on abolitionist efforts in Kansas. Justifies violence citing the number of slaves who are "murdird" each year. Continues that war is just when in self defense and liberty must be absolute, quoting Patrick Henry: "Give me liberty or give me death." Refers to "trator" Hugh Forbes, who was a foil to Brown's efforts in Kansas.

GLC07231.09

January 18, 1860

Stevens, Aaron D., 1831-1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Tells of his upcoming trial and predicts that he will "receive a free pass to the Spirit world." Mentions receiving many presents and aid, including from Mrs. Spring and Miss Watkins. Expresses his desire to tell her more on his views of religion. Written from Charlestown jail.

GLC07231.10

January 30, 1860

Stevens, Aaron D., 1831-1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brother Henry

Describes his wounds at Harpers Ferry: "I received six wounds there [his chest], three in my head, two in my brest and one through my left arm two in my head were the worst." Claims he is enjoying his time in jail, with the help of his jailer Captain Avis and the variety of gifts sent to him by friends, some of whom he lists: "Mrs. R.B. Spring Mrs. L Maria Child, Miss Watkins, Mr. James Redpath and others." Mrs. Spring nursed John Brown, "Capt. B." Discusses his views on spiritualism and his doubt of the Bible, mentioning two books, one by Professor "Robbrt" Hare, the other entitled "Studies…

GLC07231.11

February 23, 1860

Stevens, Aaron D., 1831-1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brother Henry

Ponders his sentence and the prospect of death. Hopes for mercy so that he may continue to live, but is doubtful and accepts death calmly. Discusses spiritualism. Written from Charlestown jail.

GLC07231.12

13 March 1860

Stevens, Aaron D., 1831-1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brother Henry

Bids his brother farewell, with knowledge of his upcoming death. Encourages Henry to explore spiritiualism and to live rightly: "as you love yourself as you love man as you love woman, as you love god, work with your head heart and hands for the happiness of yourself and all the world." Written from Charlestown jail.

GLC07231.13

13 September 1864

Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Parents

Received his first letter from them in over two weeks. "I think this department is the worst we have ever been in for mail arrangements." Has started to drill twice a day. "The weather is variable." It often rains without warning, and nights can be very cold. Has gotten much better at carrying heavy loads on marches. Will not have to spend any extra money on clothing this fall and winter. Will not write a letter to Johnny Banks' mother. "I am not capable of writing such a letter as I should wish to send to her under the existing circumstances, and again E.P.B. wrote immediately to her."…

GLC09355.090

1861-1877

Parker, Richard, fl. 1777

Photograph

Title: [Carte de viste of John Brown taken by James M. Holmes]

GLC09190.10

14 September 1864

Wells, Edmund C., fl. 1864-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria

has sent her $150. bought a gum blanket. writes about his friend and complains about a clerk who is very lazy and pretends to cook. . rumored that if it had not been for the Harper Ferry's raid, Virginia would not have seceded.

GLC08311.20

10 August 1862

Bell, Grove L., 1844-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to home friends

Bell to friends. Stationery has a Union stamp of a stars and stripes shield inside a five-pointed white star. On guard duty today. Left Washington on Thursday; arrived in Fredericks City [Fredericksburg?] on Friday. Witnessed heavy fighting with the Confederates. Stonewall Jackson fought McClellan and Burnside. Miles let Stonewall up the mountain, and was accused of treason. "They say old Stonewall is the man… I wish we had a few Generals as wide awake as him. It would not take long to finish the war" then. Is on the move to Harpers Ferry, where John Brown "first commenced his execution."

GLC08913.01

February 26, 1891

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to F.B. Sanborn

Acknowledging that his father, John Brown, sometimes offered remarks from the audience at religious assemblies, but refuting accounts that his father ever preached. Also discusses his brothers Jason's attempt to sell Sanborn's biography of their father.

GLC08250

1862-1865

Tinker, S.F., fl. 1862-1865

Diary

Title: [3 war-date diaries]

Union engineer or bridge-builder's three war-date diaries, describing work done from Harper's Ferry to the Atlanta Campaign: "Had the pleasure of seeing Uncle Abe and riding on a special train with him down Sandy Hook to Harpers Ferry. McClellan was here also, Burnside and quite a number of other officers.…I was in the little fort which John Brown held in his possession for 48 hours against the combined forces of Virginia and it is only a little brick building with iron doors, they are now selling hides in it."

GLC09317

1 December 1859

Broadside

Title: [Abolitionist broadside]

Abolitionist broadside endorsed "Distributed in the streets of Boston Thursday evening Dec.1, 1859, the day before the execution of John Brown." Bold text reads: "Let their epitaphs remain unwritten until the not distant day when no slave shall clank his chains in the shades of Monticello or by the graves of Mount Vernon." Brown was hanged on Dec. 2, 1859.

GLC09332