8 March 1828

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James William Paige

Reports that he received a letter from his cousin-in-law Eliza Buckminster Lee and from his daughter Julia Webster. Referring to the January 1828 death of his wife Grace Fletcher Webster, states that he "lost one half of [his] interest, & motives, in all the pursuits of life; & feel very little inclined to effort of any sort." Reports that he hopes to send Mr. Pratt (possibly fellow politician and lawyer Thomas George Pratt) $500 or $1000. Relates receiving a letter from his son Daniel Fletcher Webster, who is in Boston at boarding school. Marked copied.

GLC01946.09

December 5, 1829

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James William Paige

Appears to be planning for his 12 December 1829 marriage to Caroline LeRoy. States that if Paige cannot attend the Saturday date, "a postponement will take place till Monday following." States that Paige should arrange passage on the ship, the "Ch: Livingstone," scheduled to leave Providence, Rhode Island, Thursday 10 December. Promises not to fix the wedding date until Paige arrives, and instructs him to come prepared to stay one week. Discusses whether or not he should take his daughter Julia Webster to Washington, D.C. after the occasion. States that Julia would be better off with Mrs…

GLC01946.13

23 November 1887

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Discusses equality of treatment for blacks in the South. Pleased that black lawyers are now allowed to practice, and says it "implies a wonderful revolution in the public sentiment of the Southern States." However, worries because some teachers of black students are paid less and seem disinterested. In some states laws state education must be equal, but the written law is not his only concern. States "Our wrongs are not so much now written in laws which all may see - but the hidden practices of a people who have not yet, abandoned the idea of Mastery and dominion over their fellow man."…

GLC08992

4 May 1792

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Thanks James for his support and care of William Dundas (David's son) and offers the same courtesy to James's oldest son. Explains that their brother George will be leaving week because he obtained a position on a naval vessel. On the difficulty of obtaining such a post, he comments: "the influence which is necessary to be kept up in the House of Commons swallows up every thing & without a claim to that return, it is almost impossible to procure any appointment." Comments on the down side of the post.

GLC02549.53

11 May 1793

Dundas, Isabella, 1747-1823

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Thanks James for his support and care of William Dundas (Isabella's son) and discusses the arrangement, which was for William's education. Indicates that William had recently travelled home for vacation. Discusses their brother (her brother-in-law) George's appointment to a naval position on a ship. A note on p. 4 asks that this letter be forwarded to Agnes.

GLC02549.54

1 March 1900

Washington, Booker T., 1856-1915

Book signed

Title: The Future of the American Negro

Published by Small, Maynard & Company in 1899. Inscribed in 1900 on the inner front cover to Almira Thornton Goff, wife of Lyman B. Goff, an active Republican and head of the Union Wadding Company of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Includes a photograph of Washington opposite the title page. Contents explore African-American history, history of the Tuskegee Institute (of which Washington was President), and the difficulty of racial integration, among other topics. Provides his theories on the importance of African-American education: believes that "thorough academic and religious training […

GLC04297.01

25 October 1915

Washington, Booker T., 1856-1915

Printed document

Title: Needs and progress of the Negro

Printed leaflet of an address delivered by Washington at the annual meeting of the American Missionary Association. First page contains the New York address of the Missionary Association and a photograph of Washington. Text indicates that this is only part of Washington's presentation. Contents discuss race relations in America. Outlines the vast growth in academic opportunities for African-Americans since the Civil War, but stresses that much work still has to be done in funding schools for blacks: "There is sometimes much talk of the inferiority of the Negro. In practice, however, the…

GLC04297.02

January 1924

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Pamphlet

Title: 14th annual report NAACP for the year 1923

Contains a list of NAACP officers for 1924, including President Moorfield Storey. An introductory letter from Storey asks for financial support from readers of the pamphlet. Foreword states that the NAACP "is striving; it is striving to vindicate the American idea ... that every man shall have opportunity for the highest self development and that his achievements shall not be denied recognition on their merits." Includes reports on the Dyer anti-lynching bill, race riots and mob violence, discrimination at Harvard University, an African American veteran's hospital at Tuskegee, Alabama, the…

GLC06135.02

January 1929

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Pamphlet

Title: 19th annual report NAACP for the year 1928

Contains a list of NAACP officers for 1929, including President Moorfield Storey. Foreword commemorates twenty years of NAACP activity. Reports on legal cases such as that of Robert Bell and Grady Swain, two boys sentenced to death on a flimsy charge; and Ben Bess, who was serving a thirty-year sentence based solely on a woman's shaky accusation. Also includes reports on several other cases. Includes a section devoted to civil rights, which contains segments discussing voting, theater discrimination, school segregation, and other area-specific topics. Includes a report on lynching and a…

GLC06135.04

January 1932

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Pamphlet

Title: NAACP 1931 22nd annual report: a year's work for justice to the Negro

Contains a list of NAACP officers for 1932. Foreword declares that the NAACP's aims "are in the path of manifest destiny of the darker races of the world. The world crisis and the social and political experiments that are its accompaniment all emphasize the fact which the Association was formed to promulgate- that the human family is one, and that all men are entitled to equal opportunity regardless of color or creed." Reports on African Americans saved from death or life imprisonment, school segregation, a fund for legal work, voting and the "white primary," discrimination (citing…

GLC06135.06

1939

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Pamphlet

Title: NAACP 30th annual report for 1939

Lists NAACP officers for 1939. Includes chapters discussing lynching, education, economic opportunity, legal defense, and Department of Branches. The education chapter outlines several cases regarding the desegregation of university law schools and regarding teachers' salaries, among other issues. Closes with a report on finances.

GLC06135.08.01

4 October 1883

James, Frank, 1844-1915

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Anna Ralston James

Letter to his wife from prison. Discusses plans for the future, their relationship, his case, and the mugging of his friend. Expects "When I come I am going to have my way for the same length of time that you have had yours, that will be will be five years, Dont say a damed word, You should be willings to live up to the "Golden rule" If you dont write me word that I can do as I please I am going to take a bee line for "Salt Lake" when I get out." Discusses an incident that happened to his friend. "I had a letter from Marth and she tell me she and Buck was going out calling the other…

GLC08991

15 May 1865

Hill, Thomas, 1818-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Sumner

Asks Sumner to help a graduate of Harvard, Edward B. Drew, to obtain a post in the Chinese Customs Service. Drew hopes Sumner will help him arrange a meeting with Sir Frederick Bruce, British representative at Washington, D.C.

GLC02095.38

10 October 1792

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter

Title: to James Dundas [fragment]

Discusses sending his son William to stay with James for his schooling. More than half of the third page has been cut off.

GLC02549.51

26 October 1792

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Thanks James for his kind treatment of William Dundas (David's son). Discusses William's education at length.

GLC02549.52

19 May 1866

Moore, Robert E., fl. 1844-1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Moore Kelly

He reports family illnesses and the birth of his son, John Richard Moore. He describes his daughters and his plans for their education. He lists their fruit crops. He invites her to visit in the fall.

GLC04195.61

February 2, 1879

Moore, M.M., fl. 1838-1879

Autograph letter

Title: to Mary Moore Kelly

The family have suffered from great cold spells lately. She describes the educational training of their son. He is particularly difficult to manage. Another difficult daughter seems to have had a change of heart. The letter is incomplete.

GLC04195.62

9 September 1867

Moore, John, 1826-1907

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Moore Kelly

He met with the brother of Sherman's wife, of the Ewing family, who had requested Moore's presence upon her visit. She needs advice on finishing schools for her daughter. He describes a visit along the Hudson river.

GLC04195.46

12 April 1863

Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Mentions Mr. Woodman and a provostship. Writes "Charleston is to be taken on the field of battle - by beating their armies," a reference to the unsuccessful ironclad attack on Fort Sumter 7 April 1863 undertaken by Union admiral Samuel F. DuPont.

GLC02095.11

28 September 1851

Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas L. Sprague

Thanks Sprague, a schoolboy, for his compliments: "Through my mother, who recently visited your friends in Hingham, I have learned your kind interest in me, & the manner in which you have spoken of me in one of your exercises at school. The words of a soul, so young & ingenious as yours, are precious to me. I receive them as an encouragement for myself & as an [illegible] of your own consecration to a great cause."

GLC02095.04

5 November 1791

Greene, Catharine L., 1755-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Apologizes for not responding to his last two letters; she did not want to bother him by writing frequently, and was also too saddened to write when she heard of the death of Knox's son Marcus. Sends condolences. Declares her gratefulness to Knox, and wishes him good health, long life, and happiness. Writes, "I purpose coming to Philadelphia As soon as Mr [Alexander] Hamilton thinks proper to report upon My affairs in congress. I have written to him to appoint as Early a day as possible - but he has not answered me - will you be so good as to write me one line to let me know if it can be…

GLC02437.05224

18 September 1792

McClure, David, 1748-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses his attempt at publishing several sermons. Forwards one of his subscriptions for Knox's review and opinion: "If sir, you approve of it, I shall be gratified to have it honor'd with the name of so dear & valuable a friend." Notes how the people in his area need books and asks for donations. Mentions he has just returned from the commencement ceremony at Dartmouth College.

GLC02437.05620

8 January 1793

Beaumez, Sarah Lyons Flucker, fl. 1784-1801

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Apologizes for not replying to Lucy's earlier letters. Updates Lucy about Henry Knox, Lucy's and Henry's son, and his upcoming travel plans. Notes Henry is "disposed to indulge his taste now in a pretty expensive style - and reconciles it with the idea that the same will do for College." Says she tries to persuade him "out of the vanity of the Moment," but he continues to write to Lucy regarding the subject and fight with her about his clothing. Is unsure of what to do with her boys this summer; the four miles they now walk to and from school will be too much during the summer, but their…

GLC02437.05776

January 23, 1793

Beaumez, Sarah Lyons Flucker, fl. 1784-1801

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Reports that Henry Jackson Knox has returned in perfect health. He was satisfied with his trip to Boston. As Lucy is anxious about his hearing, she reports that "I think it is far better than I have known it." Says his hair is long and thick, but she has prevailed upon him to have it cut. Reports that his bed is finished, but that she could not procure any bedding and she wrote to Henry Jackson for help. Says her boys have not yet returned to school since the holidays because of sore throats. Was particularly concerned because of the recent bad weather. Took tea with General Benjamin…

GLC02437.05792

January 26, 1793

Knox, Henry Jackson, 1780-1832

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Supposes that General Benjamin Lincoln has already arrived in Philadelphia by now. Hopes Lincoln gave a good account of him. Hopes to see his father in 2 1/2 months and to return with him to Philadelphia. Wants a new hat for the rain as his old one is spoiled. Claims his uncle will not get him a new one until receiving permission from Lucy. Says he will be obliged if Lucy can send him his "surtuit" (possibly a surtout coat) when General Lincoln returns. Asks to be remembered to his family and "any of the young Gentlemen of my Acquantance [sic]."

GLC02437.05796