1859

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Document

Title: [Facsimile of John Brown's last written words]

Reproduction on paper of the original copy of John Brown's last written words.

GLC04463.08.02

1 November 1850

Brown, Jason, 1823-1912

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ruth Brown

Inquires if she has been married and discusses family business. Hears rumors that Ruth has been married to a Mr. Thompson, and wishes to know if it is true. In fact, Ruth had married Henry Thompson, a neighbor at North Elba, one month earlier. Also discusses the various movements of members of the family, including John Brown.

GLC06348.01

27 March 1860

Brown, Wealthy C., 1829-1911

Autograph letter signed

Title: to her sister

Addressed to "My Dearly Loved Sister," probably referring to one of John Brown's daughters at North Elba. Expresses sadness at the death of Martha Evelyn Brewster Brown, Oliver Brown's wife, and remembers Oliver's love for her. Sends her condolences to the whole Brown family in regards to all who died at Harpers Ferry. Also praises James Redpath. Martha had done much of the housekeeping on the Maryland farm where the Harpers Ferry raid was prepared, but had returned to North Elba shortly before the raid. Mentions receiving a letter from Annie (Wealthy's sister-in-law and daughter of John…

GLC06348.02

10 September 1882

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Wealthy C. Brown

Relates examination of a corpse believed to be one of his brothers, either Watson or Oliver, both of whom died at Harpers Ferry.

GLC06348.03

April 24, 1856

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Ann Brown

The letter discusses the defeat of a pro-slavery judge. Recounts story of "one of the most deeply exciting times...since our arival in the territory. A United States Judge came here & attempted to hold a Court, & to enforce the enactment of the Bogus Legislature but was most effectually routed." The laws the court was attempting to enforce made it a crime to oppose slavery in any way, even verbally. Brown and other anti-slavery men drove the judge away and prevented them from enforcing these laws. Also discusses family health and says her brother, Orson Day, and his family have just…

GLC00929.01

March 18, 1885

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Franklin B. Sanborn

Brown critiques Sanborn's book for having too many of John Brown's personal letters. He read part of Sanborn's manuscript for "The Life and Letters of John Brown" out loud to his brother Owen. They both worry readers may get bored of so many letters and personal details about John Brown, and also note these letters were intended only for his family.

GLC00929.02

26 March 1910

Jenkins, James H., 1841-?

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Words and music for the song "John Brown's Body"]

Transcription of the verses and the chorus for the song "John Brown's Body," with music. Also lists three Civil War regiments in which Jenkins served. One of these, the Twelfth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, was the unit that invented the song. Written on the verso of stationary for the Old National Bank in Oshkosh.

GLC02484.01

17 November 1910

Jenkins, James H., 1841-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles G. Stack

Promises that as soon as his health improves he will comply with the request to send a photograph. Some text lost on the right side of the letter.

GLC02484.02

circa 1910

Jenkins, James H., 1841-?

Printed document

Title: The story of a song

Jenkins account of the origins of the song "John Brown's Body." Credits Jenkins as "the author of 'John Brown's Body.'" Says the song was created spontaneously by a group of Union Soldiers, inspired partly by a soldier named John Brown.

GLC02484.03

1860-1899

Ross, Alexander Milton, 1832-1897

Header Record

Title: Collection of John Brown documents from Alexander M. Ross [Decimalized .01-.56]

Fifty three letters, one document, one photograph, and one letterbook, collected by Alexander M. Ross and related to John Brown's family. Mostly letters from John Brown's children to Ross.

GLC03007

1915 circa

Collin, James C., fl. 1906

Printed document signed

Title: [Printer's prospectus for "The Capture and Execution of John Brown"]

Original publisher's prospectus for "The Capture and Execution of John Brown," by Elijay Avey. Claims the book is "crammed from cover to cover with the most thrilling events in the life of the fearless, justice-loving John Brown." Avey was an eye witness to the execution, who later wrote a book on the event and Brown's life. Collin was the publisher's agent.

GLC06806.02.01

July 17, 1913

Sweeney, J.D, 1869-?

Photograph signed

Title: [Photograph of house of John Brown's widow]

Photograph of the house of John Brown's widow in California. Photograph taken by T. Major Edgecomb. Docket on verso in green ink states "After the execution of John Brown, his widow and several of her young children came to Red Bluff. Citizens raised a sum of money which came from near and far and built a home for her. There she lived for several years, then moved over the Coach Range. A few still remain who recall having played with the Brown girls."

GLC06806.02.02

1915 circa

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Printed document

Title: John Brown's Prophesy

The last words of John Brown, and a poem he wrote in prison, printed on a piece of paper that may have been intended to go inside Elijah Avey's book on Brown. A hand written note at the bottom reads "One of these to every book."

GLC06806.02.03

16-19 August 1856

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jason Brown and others

Discusses the fighting between pro-slavey and anti-slavery activists in Kansas. Explains that "Events of the most stirring character are now passing within hearing distance...more than 200 shots have been fired within the past half hour, and within a mile of our Camp. Have just learned that some 80 of our free state men have 'pitched in' to a pro-slavery Camp this side of Lecompton." Provides a rich description of both current events and happenings over the past month, both their own actions and those of the pro-slavey men. Recounts the capture of "The notorious Col Titus who only a day…

GLC08906

19 December 1859

Maitland, William G., 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James M. Maitland

Informs his brother that he has purchased a farm 300 acres from Blair County. States, "Now in regards to Politics: I am an administration Democrat Squatter...Sovernty I care nothing about...any political doctrine that will not suit East west north & South is not the National or Union doctrine...I believe the territory of the United States to be common..." Continues on to discuss the question of slavery and state rights, writing "I believe James Buchanan done just what any honest man would have done who regarded his oath to carry out the laws of the constitution Douglass, Garney, Hickman…

GLC03523.10.023

April 21, 1859

Kagi, John, fl. 1859

Photograph

Title: [Photograph of couple]

Collateral photo accompanied with autograph letter signed (See GLC07235.01).

GLC07235.02

7 May 1864

Brownlow, William Gannaway, 1805-1877

Newspaper

Title: Brownlow's Knoxville Whig and rebel ventilator. [Vol. 1, no. 18 (May 7, 1864)]

Proclamation to the citizens of E. Tennessee, General R.E. Lee & John Brown.

GLC05959.50.17

19 June 1879

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander Milton Ross

Brown Jr. writes from Put-in-Bay Island located on South Bass Island (Lake Erie), Ohio. He mentions he will personally be traveling to Kansas and possibly Colorado to examine the land for the purpose of "settlement by Colored people of limited means; making the [inserted: results] of my observations known to the public through Newspapers friendly to their cause." Says he will be returning "by way of the Northern Pacific route from Bismark [sic] Dakota to St. Paul and Duluth," and plans on examining the land with the same purpose in mind. Sends a copy of his article "address before the…

GLC03007.56.11

30 November 1859

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Webb

GLC08360.04

1859 circa

Object

Title: [Twenty Star American "Abolitionist Flag"]

Large American cotton flag with only 20 stars. Fragile. The flag consists of 9 alternating red or white cloth strips sewn together with 20 somewhat irregular stars. The blue field is mottled and the flag has staining. The flag is identified as an "Abolitionist Flag" because it drops the slave states from the star field. (Measurements are approximate.) Discovered in Andover, Ohio, and may have been made there. Thought to show support for abolitionists like Brown.

GLC05762

1859 ca.

Platt, A.C., 1828-1884

Photograph

Title: Sepia head and shoulders image of John Brown, with lock of hair

GLC04463.02

1859/12/16

Newspaper

Title: Liberator. [Vol. 29, no. 50 (December 16, 1859)]

Whole no. 1511. It includes "Brown's letter to his wife.", the burial of John Brown; South Carolina's secession movement and the dissolution of the Union.

GLC07287

1859/12/08

Scott, Robert, fl. 1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George W. Randolph et al. re: the South's peril from the North

Written to Randolph and others. "The Northern People came to us with assurances that the south was in no peril...Harper's Ferry was invaded and captured...We have but to be one united people for security out of the Union or Justice & Equality in it."

GLC07410

1859/12/09

Newspaper

Title: Liberator. [Vol. 29 no. 49 (December 9, 1859)]

Whole no. 1510. It includes eyewitness accounts, the "Arrival of Mrs. Brown", "The Harper's Ferry Rising", the execution of Brown.

GLC07286

1856/12/10

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to brother and sister Adair re: concern for his son Owen

Written while on the run from authorities after Pottawatomie massacre: "Owen (my son) is I trust somewhere on the way from Iowa; but I have a good deal of anxiety about him, as I learn that I was hotly pursued even in Iowa. I can only say that God has miraculously preserved and spared us." Docketed.

GLC07229