October 30, 1846

Yancey, William L., 1814-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Messr. Smith, Greene & White

William L. Yancey accepts an honorary membership in Phi-Delta Society of Oglethorpe University in Midway, Georgia.

GLC00496.256

July 30, 1798

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James McHenry

George Washington forwards Anthony MacHarg's letter of application for cavalry instructor to Secretary of War McHenry. Washington expresses interest in MacHarg's experience but requires further testimonial to professional ability and personal character.

GLC00496.103

November 15, 1783

Witherspoon, John, 1723-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Rutherford

Discusses legal matters regarding power of attorney. Introduces an unnamed messenger, a Dartmouth educated Native American.

GLC00496.112

circa 1837-1889

Bridgman, Laura Dewey, 1829-1889

Autograph quotation signed

Title: [Autograph of January for Mrs. Allen]

Complete quotation reads, "Laura Bridgman Providence autograph for Mrs. Allen." Bridgman was a deaf, mute, and blind girl, educated by Samuel Howe at the Boston Institution for the Blind, Watertown, Massachusetts, beginning in 1837. Collateral are three newspaper clippings about Bridgman (one with a portrait), a printed poem about her by Mrs. Sigourney, and a autograph note by Anna Maria Bergandthat.

GLC00496.114.01

April 8, 1846

Harris, John, 1802-1856

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Requests assistance and chapel circulars from recipient addressed as "Dear Bro."

GLC00496.165

January 28, 1844

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James T. Armstrong

Advice to West Point Cadet James Trooper Armstrong concerning studies and subordination. He hopes that Armstrong will follow after his father General Robert Armstrong, and his grandfather, John Armstrong Jr.

GLC00520

August 22, 1901

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Typed letter signed

Title: to Robert C. Cornell

Vice President Roosevelt discusses the reappointment of W. C. Church, an African American who worked as assistant clerk at Jefferson Market City Magistrate's Court, New York City. Informs Cornell, a judge in the Magistrate's Court, that Church attended Columbia University. Declares "I always have a profound sympathy with the Colored man of education, for such a man has so few opportunities that it does seem that the hand of Providence was especially heavy upon him." Typed on Vice President's Chamber stationery.

GLC00529.08

October 12, 1826

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter

Title: Copy of a letter from Col. James Lewis to Col. James Monroe

Lewis, Monroe's attorney, describes the circumstances under which he sold Monroe's land above Charlottesville, Virginia, in 1806; the land on which the University of Virginia was later established. A need to settle Monroe's debts compelled the sale. Per Monroe's request, Lewis also comments on the differences between the original price of the land and the present prices. A postscript offers to verify the letters content, since Lewis based the information on memory. Lewis attended to Monroe's financial affairs while Monroe served as a diplomat in Europe between 1803 and 1807. Handwritten copy…

GLC00496.064

21 April 1834

Partridge, N., fl. 1834

Document signed

Title: [Recommendation letter and certification of military instruction for Paul J. Semmes]

Partridge certifies that Semmes attended his course at the University of Virginia on military instruction "embracing the practical drills of infantry; permanent & field fortification; artillery; the attack & defense of fortified places; Ancient & Modern Tactics ..." Recommends Semmes and praises him as "attentive to the Instruction, correct in his deportment and his conduct that of the Gentleman and the Soldier." Docket crossed out on verso.

GLC00572.01

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…

GLC00605

October 5, 1866

Foster, Lafayette Sabine, 1806-1880

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Wakeman

Foster, a U.S. senator from Connecticut, discusses his views on reconstruction with Wakeman, a lawyer. Foster says that he would restrict the right to vote to those with "capacity and virtue," but that it would be "arbitrary, unjust, and tyrannical to make any discriminations…on account of color…" He writes extensively about the rights, especially voting rights, of the "negro," and he states "There is no more sense in talking of a man's natural right to vote, than there is in talking of his natural right to be the Chief Justice, or the President of the United States…It is dangerous to commit…

GLC00544

1815-1860

Pringle, Thomas, 1789-1834

Note

Title: Transmission of two cards for the Institute of France's annual assembly

Attributed to Pringle, the Scottish poet and abolitionist, circa 1820. Pringle relates that Athanase Coquerel sends compliments to [Ch. N. N.] Richard and Elihu Burritt. Transmits two cards (not included) for the annual assembly of one of the Academies of the Institute of France. Written on stationery of the Eglise Reformee de Paris.

GLC00496.276

May 20, 1844

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Barbara O'Sullivan Addicks

He thanks her for the copy she sent of her "pocket manual treating the Science of the French Language" ("An elementary practical book for learning to speak the French language, expressly adapted to the capacity of children. Tr. from the German of Doctor J.H.P. Seidenstuecker") and indicates he sent a copy, per her request, to the National Intelligencer. He apologizes for not responding promptly and explains why he cannot give her manual the scrutiny it deserves, citing the volume of letters he receives.

GLC00693.05

circa 1845-1847

Van Valkenburgh, Franklin Butler, 1835-1924

Typed letter

Title: Typed excerpts of compositions by Franklin Van Valkenburgh when he was 12

Not an original document; no date for typed excerpt. Contains 2 excerpts from compositions, one written when Frank was 10 in 1845, the other when he was 12 on September 28, 1847. First composition is about wishing. The second composition is titled "the History of a Black Board." Some handwritten notes in pen on second page. Image of purple and yellow flower on the back of the stationary. Includes an envelope with the words "News Paper Scraps &C &c." The return address is for the Van Valkenburgh family in Milwaukee.

GLC00686.01

January 31, 1849

Van Valkenburgh, Mary, fl. 1849

Autograph letter

Title: to Franklin Butler Van Valkenburgh

Incomplete letter from Mary to her 14-year-old brother Frank. References a "little letter" that Frank wrote to her. Writes about her life at school. Says most days are alike and comfortable. Asks him how "the Academy" is going. Asks for an update on family members and reports what she knows to him. Asks him to give her a detailed account of his school, teachers, and studies. Reminisces about how she nursed him through an illness. Philosophizes about their futures and gives him advice.

GLC00686.03

1 June 1854

Van Valkenburgh, Franklin Butler, 1835-1924

Document

Title: [Printed party invitation]

Franklin Van Valkenburgh's name is written in pencil at the bottom. An invitation for "A Cotillion Party." The party will begin in the assembly room of J.M. Brewster in Townsend (unknown state). The party is on 3 July 1854 at 4 p.m. Lists 8 committee members and 2 room managers. Small image of an eagle at the top. Written from "Townsend," with no state given.

GLC00686.04

August 18, 1865

Van Valkenburgh, Gerrit S., 1835-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary B. Van Valkenburgh

Written by Gerrit to his mother Mary. Says he loves his relatives in the North and often thinks of them. Mentions that his brother, Frank, has already written about his release from the prison. Says the charges against him were false. Since he has been in Pine Bluff, he has been sick with chills and fever - he thinks typhoid. Reports that he is feeling better though. Says he boards with his employer, who is originally from Connecticut. Mentions an uncle who lives in Warren, Arkansas and says "their slaves - or former slaves - [are] still with them." The uncle bought a flour mill and his sons…

GLC00686.24

June 1, 1863

Semmes, Emily J., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Paul J. Semmes

Writes to her "dearest husband" as he is on his way to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where he was mortally wounded in battle. She hopes that he is over his cold and fatigue, and asks if he would be able to come home if one of the family got sick because knowing this would put her at ease. She gives thanks that he made it through battles, and comments on their children and their schooling. She criticizes their daughters for their excessive pride, "...they do look down upon these poor people with such contempt I think it is so wicked I pray that they may see their sin." States that she has been…

GLC00715.10

14 May 1827

Moore, Thomas, fl. 1827

Document

Title: [Grant of guardianship to Henry Gibbons]

Copy of the court document of Laurens County, Georgia granting guardianship over minors David Brown Gibbons and Margaret Gibbons to Henry Gibbons. Charges Henry with managing the minors' estate, education, and upbringing. Moore signed as the court clerk.

GLC00658.05

January 17, 1825

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Cummings, Hilliard & Company

Jefferson mentions ordering books for the schools of art and modern languages and ancient and modern history. He writes concerning courses in law at the University of Virginia and the need for books, especially "Thomas' edition of Coke Littleton published not long since in London. it is the first book which will be put into the hands of our law Students, and will in fact be the elementary book of the school" and is therefore "the most essential and most immediately necessary..." He notes that they will need to order the edition from London and gives a detailed description and how much it…

GLC00782.12

November 13, 1915

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Typed letter signed

Title: to William R. Castle

Writes to the assistant dean at Harvard (later founder of a professional consular service of the United States). Roosevelt encloses an article (not included) from the November 1915 Metropolitan magazine which had been vetted by James Brown Scott, an expert on international law. Roosevelt condemns isolationism, pacifism, Wilson's neutrality policies, and American indifference to Germany's August 1914 invasion of Belgium in violation of the Hague and Geneva Conventions. Includes interlinear editing and manuscript comments by Roosevelt. Letter written on Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York,…

GLC00782.19

November 18, 1861

Leavenworth, F.P., fl. 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his father

A Confederate captain in an ordnance unit tells his father about Civil War activities in Arkansas and Missouri. He comments on the arrival of Union General David Hunter with 36,000 soldiers. He discusses the strength and position of Confederate General Ben McCulloch's men. He claims that "The burning of the bridge in Tenn. has virtually cut the Confederacy in two," and consequently the mail has been limited, and may be worse still if Union General William T. Sherman moves into South Carolina. He notes that they have not heard from their enemies in the Creek nation, indicating that…

GLC00653.07

February 20, 1788

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Griffith

George Washington discusses his uncertainty as to whether he is fit to be the school's Chancellor. Also mentions Presidency of William and Mary College.

GLC00745

December 4, 1805

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Rush

John Adams writes concerning his and George Washington's administrations by referring to those "melancholly books" such as "Tully's Memoirs" and "Cicero's Life" from which he compares the first and second triumvirates to Hamilton's "Schemes, to get rid of Washington, Adams, Jay and Jefferson, and monopolise all power to him Self."

GLC00747

1858

McBlair, William, ?-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to V. McBlair

To his wife discussing naval life and family matters. He discusses his movements and activities at sea. He notes that some Liberians misspell their names, including a young boy he has taken on board the ship to help for a time. He states that he is getting along well with the commodore, and with his new first lieutenant, Edwin Winder. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" at sea. Letter dated June 24, 1858 - 20 July 1858.

GLC00722.62