circa 1880-1890

Volck, Adalbert John, 1828-1912

Print

Title: Worship of the North

Depicts Lincoln in front of an altar with a black idol sitting on a platform with the words "Chicago Platform" on it. A sheet hanging from the platform says "The end justifies the means." Shows a white person being sacrificed in front of it. Henry Ward Beecher is shown having just used the sacrificial knife, Charles Sumner bearing a torch, Horace Greeley swinging a censer that emits snakes, and General Benjamin Butler (Volck had a special enmity for Butler after he occupied Baltimore, Volck's hometown, in early 1861) kneeling in worship with a knapsack full of stolen money. Also shows General…

GLC00493.01

1893 circa

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross [Fragment]

Does not want her father made into a wax sculpture by men in Chicago who are staging an exhibition about John Brown's raid. Only the last two pages remain. Place and recipient inferred from content.

GLC03007.52

18 March 1878

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Thanks Ross for two photographs of his fathers last written words. Requests more copies of this photograph for other family members, and says many people request his father's autograph.

GLC03007.04

24 March 1878

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Encloses "one of the Commissions issued to my Father's men. I know of the existence of only two of them. These were brought back by my brother Owen," who wishes they be returned once Ross has made copies of them. One commission was signed by John Brown, the other "by Mr. Monroe as President of the Convention which was held in Chatham Canada, and is a Commission to Owen as 'Treasurer.'" GLC03007.55 is a photograph of the first of these commissions.

GLC03007.05

1878

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

States that he is enclosing a letter from John Brown, intended for the recipient's son. Recipient inferred from content.

GLC03007.06

1878

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross [Fragment]

Second page of a two page letter, first page missing. Thanks the recipient for sending him a copy of "The Lincoln Memorial Album." Says the recipient's contribution to the book "interested me greatly" and that "I had not before quite understood, and therefore had not duly appreciated Mr Lincoln." Has sent a photograph of himself and Owen, hopes the recipient plans to visit, and looks forward to conversations concerning "every department of scientific enquiry." Recipient inferred from content.

GLC03007.07

13 April 1879

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Thanks him for "placing my father before the world in his true light" with "a truthful and just estimate of his character and motives" in his writings for the public. Mentions that she was with John Brown just two weeks before his raid, and that she "taught in the Contraband's schools" towards the end of the war. Also discusses personal matters.

GLC03007.08

January 15, 1882

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Inquires after an extra copy of a pamphlet detailing the events which took place in Harper's Ferry. She details information of the publisher, Osborn P. Anderson, a free Black man who was with Brown at Harper's Ferry. Expresses hope that Anderson was still alive, though she had read in the news he may had died some years ago.

GLC03007.10

February 25, 1882

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Discusses local plant life, her obligations as a mother, and his friendship with her father.

GLC03007.11

January 16, 1886

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

One lettera ddressed to Alexander M. Ross from Anne Brown Adams dated January 16, 1886. Mentions hardships of motherhood and awaiting word from a publisher to printpapers that she spent. Thanks him for suggesting soda as a remedy for her sore throat. Expects that he was happy to see his "refugees." This may refer to people he aided with seeking emancipation.

GLC03007.13

2 January 1887

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

One letter from Anne Brown Adams to Alexander M. Ross dated July 31, 1887. Pertains to one of her children receiving a vaccaniation, their illness and her opinion of Franklin Sanborn's book which mentions her father. Cannot believe "that people would be so united in suppressing a truth." Is upset by the publishing of so many private family letters that she sees as irrelevant. Wishes authors would instead speak to her and Solomon, since John Brown confided so closely in them. Saddened that she cannot get his writings concerning John Brown published in any newspaper. Suggests she try the "…

GLC03007.14

31 July 1887

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

One letter addressed to Alexander Ross from Anne Brown Adams dated July 31, 1887. Mentions the health of her children and reading The Life of Frederick Douglass. Does not find truth in Douglass's account of meeting John Brown. Believes that Uncle Tom's Cabin is a suitable work to teach her children about slavery. Recounts that there was a false narrative in the biography which led her children to be skeptical of Frederick Douglass's biography.

GLC03007.15

19 October 1887

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Discusses the Alcott family in Concord and her approval of sick patients eating very little. Inquires after the Alcott family, with whom she used to live. Mentions Louisa May Alcott. States her firm belief that underfeeding sick patients can be good for them, and that overfeeding them is harmful. Ends with "As ever a friend of liberty, truth, and progress."

GLC03007.16

15 December 1887

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter

Title: to Garibaldi Ross

Brief biographies of the men involved in the raid on Harpers Ferry, and discussion of her job keeping house for the men as they prepare. Writes to Alexander Ross' son, because "Your father has requested me to tell you the story of my life at, or recollections of, Kennedy Farm, during the Summer of 1859." Gives a physical description of the house, the finding of the house, her life during this time, and then biographies of the raiders who lived there. Presents "John Brown, not the one the world knew him, but my father, as I knew him." Claims "He told me of his plan to make a raid on Harper…

GLC03007.17

28 December 1887

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Discussing newspaper articles related to her father, John Brown, and others' opinions of him. "I find now, since all the men who had any knowledge of his affairs, have written recollections and confessions, that he told me more of his plans than he ever confided to his most intimate friends." Discusses her troubles studying when younger, vegetarian diets, tooth decay, and Ross' plan to feed every Englishman for nine cents a day.

GLC03007.18

15 May 1888

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Knows that John Brown first conceived of raiding Harpers Ferry before going to Kansas, no matter what magazines say. Reporters "say 'It is impossible to trace exactly how and when the Harper's Ferry invasion first took shape in John Brown's mind, but the indications are that it grew little by little out of his Kansas experience.' Now in reply to this I will say that my father explained his plan to capture Harper's Ferry in all its details, to me, the winter before he, or any member of his family, were in Kansas." Declares Brown also thought of New Orleans instead of Harper's Ferry, but…

GLC03007.19

1 July 1888

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Discusses at length her faith in God, and how despair only makes it stronger, as her father taught her. Mentions smallpox incidents nearby and greater women's rights in California. Her oldest son, fifteen, has run off to become a locomotive engineer and she fears he may have drowned in heavy rain. Recipient inferred from content.

GLC03007.20

26 August 1888

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Discusses George L. Stearns, who supported John Brown, and his family. Mentions Edwin A. Brackett's bust of Brown, of which she only saw the mold. Says her runaway son has returned, and she is very busy with ten children. Recipient inferred from content.

GLC03007.21

2 December 1888

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Wonders why there is so much evil in the world, is thankful for the good people she has known, and rejoices in the election of Benjamin Harrison as President. Has recently moved from Rohnerville to Petrolia. Wonders "why some people were ever permitted to be born into the world, They never seem to have a kind thought or do a good act, their lives are all wrong. Why did a good God create so much evil and so little that is really good, in the human race?" Despite this, feels lucky to have known some great men, "even if they are lost" too soon. On politics "greatly rejoiced with the results…

GLC03007.22

2 April 1889

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Intends to send him all of her recollections regarding Kennedy Farm and preparations for Harpers Ferry Raid, and gives a biography of John E. Cook, one of the raiders. Discusses Cook's upbringing, his marriage, and an affair he had. Tells how Stevens' fiance broke off their engagement hours before he was hung. Upset by comments against her father. Opposed to vaccination of her children. Recipient inferred from content.

GLC03007.23

January 15, 1890

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Discusses terrible winter rains and failing health of her sister Ruth Brown Thompson.

GLC03007.24

6 March 1890

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Rain has been so heavy all winter that she and her family have been virtually unable to leave the house.

GLC03007.25

29 June 1890

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Discusses bad weather, vaccination of her children, and the evil of most human beings. Recipient inferred from content.

GLC03007.26

11 September 1890

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Thanks him for his offer of "a scholarship at the College" and hopes her second daughter Bertha can raise the funds to attend, and wonders about requirements for acceptance. Plans to write biographies for more of the Harpers Ferry raiders for him when she gets a chance. Wishes times were not so hard for the family so she could give her children a better education, though admits "there are advantages even in hard times...education is not all in the school books." Recipient inferred from content.

GLC03007.27

8 December 1890 - 25 December 1890

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Thanks him for offering to help her daughters attend college. Says Bertha is too ill to go, but hopes Vivian, her eldest, may be able to attend, and awaits Vivian's reply. Second half of letter, dated 25 December, states that Vivian cannot attend college and thanks him for the "Chatterbox," a children's periodical. Reports on the rest of her family. Apologizes again for not yet writing her recollections of Kennedy farm and the preparations for Harpers Ferry, but hopes to do so soon. Recipient inferred from content.

GLC03007.28