14 April 1864

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to Loula Gibson]

The recipient is inferred from the content of the letter. Gibson completed an "unpleasant affair" (settled a contract) with the hands who will work on the plantation. He bitterly complains of being under the rule of the Provost Marshall and Federal occupation, "American ideas of liberty have totally changed since this Negro War began & education for them is soon to be the order of the Day by Regular Military order. Whilst as far as I know the white [2] Children are to grow up in ignorance or mix in the same cabin with the Negro with the same Yankee Marm for the teacher! How much…

GLC04501.095

10 July 1844

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward P. Fry

Writes that he has just received word from his partners that a proprietor will contract to complete a telegraph line from Philadelphia to New York for $60,000 to be finished by 1 January 1845. Includes technical details about the line and how the payments will be made. Informs that he will attend to procuring and training young men to use the system if compensated. Gives Fry 20 days to accept the offered terms. Addressed to Fry in Philadelphia.

GLC04503.03

16 March 1863

Pamphlet

Title: Treaty Between the United States of America and the Kansas Tribe of Indians

Concerns paying settlers for improvements made to Kansas land and a gift of land from the Kansas Indians to Thomas S. Huffaker in return for his missionary, educational, and counseling services. Authorized by President Abraham Lincoln. Treaty arranged by H.W. Farnsworth, Commissioner on the part of the United States, and the Kansas leaders on 13 March 1863 (and ratified on 16 March 1863).

GLC08055.20

18 September 1856

Pease, Elisha M., 1812-1883

Printed document signed

Title: [Texas land grant to "the School Commissioners of Hunt County, and their Successors"]

Signed by Pease as governor and countersigned by J. Crosby (possibly Josiah Frazier Crosby), commissioner of the General Land Office. Partially printed grant of "One League" in "Cooke District, Wise and Cooke Counties," Texas. Specifies the precise location and boundaries of the tract.

GLC06623.17

7 April 1838

Stapp, Elijah, 1738-1843

Autograph document signed

Title: [Probate document relating to an orphaned Texan]

Probate document regarding "Martha J. Guthrie Minor heir of Robert and Casandra Guthrie" recording an account of $15 to her guardian, John Alley, for "schooling, clothing, and boarding." Stapp, signing as justice of the peace for Jackson County, attested to an oath taken by Alley.

GLC06624.08

26 April 1839

Blair, James, 1819-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Blair

Writes to his sister from the United States Ship Peacock. Relates his travels through Rio de Janeiro and the Antarctic Circle. Discusses his study and use of Spanish in port. Inquires about his parents, including Washington, D.C. "Globe" newspaper editor Francis Preston Blair.

GLC03209.27.02

1825-1845

Autograph letter

Title: to Francis Preston Blair [incomplete]

An unknown author describes the education of another young man to Francis Preston Blair, editor of the Democratic Washington, D.C. newspaper, The Globe. Date range estimated, based on the time Blair lived in Washington, D.C. Only the last three pages of this letter survive.

GLC03209.27.04

14 May 1836

United States. Congress (24th, 1st Session: 1835-1837). Senate

Printed document

Title: [Bill to establish a Naval Academy]

Reported by New Jersey Senator Samuel Lewis Southard. Authorizes the United States President to establish a naval academy. Establishes that the Academy will be under the direction of the President and Congress. Arranges for the appointment of teachers and the appropriation of educational materials. Provides for the Academy's use of funds from the United States Treasury.

GLC03436.17

26 November 1864

Benedict, Nehemiah W., 1817-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Newton Benedict

Writes to his brother, praising the election of Reuben E. Fenton as Governor New York over the incumbent, Horatio Seymour. Explains that "We have had a glorious election and not withstanding a traitorous governor had, through the aid of his 'friends', secured more than thirty thousand 'marrow fat' & other bogus notes for his personal benefit. He is overthrown by the spontaneous uprising of an indignant and patriotic people." Making clear that he (and the new governor) supports the Union cause in the Civil War, he writes: "How much better shall we feel that the executive head of the…

GLC08936

1814/09/16

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert M. Patterson

Reports that the General Committee of Defence had an interview with the Pennsylvania governor about the formation of a corps of engineers and pioneers. Governor Simon Snyder agreed to commission them as volunteers that could be called into service under General Bloomfield. Lists names of men to be appointed and at what rank. Patterson is marked first, as a captain. Williams asks if Patterson will serve and select men to fill other ranks. Hopes Patterson, who was a professor, will not refuse on account of his lectures. Also notes that there will be no difficulty getting enough men.

GLC02978.12

1814/09/17

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert M. Patterson

Discusses expanding the Corps of Field Engineers & Pioneers. Hopes Patterson, the chief engineer, has decided to become the first captain, which Williams asked of him in GLC02978.12, and will help decide who else become officers. Claims Patterson's background as a professor will make him a good captain and cause their defense program to be successful, and consequently expand.

GLC02978.13

16 August 1857

Coleman, George W., fl. 1857-1886

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph M. Maitland

Informs his cousin that his studies are going well. Writes a great deal about religion, remarking, "Oh! my soul is happy in the love of God the more I write about Christ the happier I get."

GLC03523.10.018

31 August 1860

Carl, George F., fl. 1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph M. Maitland

Tells his friend that he has left Urbana, and explains that he might have made an "impression" on a couple of women, noting however, that it was unintentional. Writes that when he left "I felt considerably like as if I had been drawn down a rainbow hauled by a pink angel, with 'shingled hair' did you feel so?" Discusses the merits of teaching as a profession. Proclaims, "May our friendship be 'lasting as the mountains rich' and 'as endurable as the waves of the ocean.' "

GLC03523.10.028

24 March 1861

Martin, Joseph, fl. 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph M. Maitland

Communicates to his cousin that he presumes he is happy that his school has closed. Mentions that he could potentially come and teach at the Board of Education, and requests that he come for a visit.

GLC03523.10.031

19 October 1861

Petty, John S., 1838-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [James M.] Maitland

Apologizes for not writing sooner, remarking that "good resolutions being like pipe stems, easily broken, the favorable moments passed unimproved." Describes the school where he is teaching, and states that he likes the town where he is living. Recipient inferred from content.

GLC03523.10.036

21 November 1861

Petty, John S., 1838-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to J.M. Maitland

Reports to his friend that his teaching is going well. Tells him that the performance ideas he gave him for his classroom were successful. Mentions that he thinks it unwise for anyone to move out West.

GLC03523.10.039

5 December 1862

Maitland, James M., 1815-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph M. Maitland

Provides his son with update on life in Kingston, mentioning that there was an "Aid Society" meeting recently. Reports that [William] "Grier," Joseph's brother, has begun school.

GLC03523.10.053

5 July 1861

Blanchard, Ira, 1835-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary (Wright) Kellogg

Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from Camp Pope. Discusses in great detail the Fourth of July celebration in the camp. "The entire Brigade took a solom oath never to return to there homes until the last vestage of rebelion is wiped out." Describes a party at a female college in Monticello, "...where the ladies had prepared an excellent picnic for us." Comments on her upcoming marriage and his desire to attend the wedding. Writes about his duties as sergeant. Says they have just received marching orders to an unknown destination. Letter has a Union emblem.

GLC03523.31.06

June 16, 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Marquis de Lafayette

Knox references Lafayette's letter from February 11, 1786. He thanks Lafayette for his kindness toward his brother, William, when he was ill. Says that William has recovered and has been with him since October 1785. Hopes the recovery is permanent. Discusses the affair of Major Pierre Charles L'Enfant, who had been sent to France in 1783 to purchase jeweled eagle badges for the members of the Society of the Cincinnati. L'Enfant returned to America in 1784 and brought back many badges purchased on credit. The price proved too high for some officers, which left L'Enfant in a bind. Goes on to…

GLC02437.03276

25 August 1863

Maitland, William G., 1846-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph M. Maitland

Grier writes to his brother informing him that "Normal School" has closed and that they had a Camp Meeting recently, which not many people attended. The last page of letter is written 26 August by James M. Maitland to his son, giving him updates on the activities of the Democratic and Republican parties. Also writes, "The news from Charlestown is the most flattering kind in regard to our final success, I trust and Pray that it will fall without the shedding of much blood." Likely written from Kingston, Ohio.

GLC03523.10.096

5 December 1864

Terry, Robert B., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Brother

Writes to his brother, "you must read this letter yourself. And dont let none of the girls read it to you. You say your are in the first division And if that the case you can read this letter for it is big enough for a blind man to read." Instructs him not to spend all his money before Christmas and not to "wear your Boots out." Remarks that he doesn't think his regiment will ever see the city of Washington and speculates that they will stay at Camp Pierpont in Fairfax, Virginia all winter. Written on stationery with an image of the United States Capital at the top.

GLC03523.08.97

13 November 1863

Terry, Robert B., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sister

Relays to his sister that, a possible mutual friend, Dan Shern has died. States, "little did I think when I saw him on the 14 of October that he would be in the grave before one month roled over his head. Well it is a road we will all have to travel so we must be prepared for the uncertain hour of our certain death." Discusses her "situation," possibly referring to her marital status. Indicates that he thinks she should get married rather than be a schoolteacher. Inquires about their mother's health, relating remorse that he did not write about her sooner as he knows she has been sick.…

GLC03523.08.84

3 May 1853

Forrest, Ralston S., fl. 1853

Autograph letter signed

Title: To James M. Maitland

Addresses note "Dear Sir," and gives a brief synopsis of his life for the past four years. Details that in the winter of 1841 "at the obligation of my Father" he attended the "Howard Academy" in Rockville, and after making great scholastic progress decided that he would like to take charge of a public school, so that he could teach and continue his studies. However, "my duties as a teacher began to increase to such an extent that the whole of my time was occupied with my classes consequently leaving me no time to study." He then decided that he should move to California, but instead, due to…

GLC03523.10.003

13 August 1853

Mast, Elhanan M., fl. 1837-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: To Joseph M. Maitland

Writes from Ohio Wesleyan University to his "Respected Nephew," reporting that a few of his students are sick, but things are well overall. Details that he has recieved a letter from his father as well as "Brother Joshua's paper." Describes playing ball and taking a walk by a spring with some of his students. Asks that he give his "best respects" to [Grier], possibly Joseph's brother William Grier Maitland.

GLC03523.10.004

February 4, 1854

Martin, John A., fl. 1854

Autograph letter signed

Title: To Joseph M. Maitland

Informs his cousin from Findley [Findlay], Ohio that he has been studying "Arithmetic, Georgraphy, writing, Reading, and spelling." Shares that he and Joseph, possibly his brother, recently went to New York City with their teacher.

GLC03523.10.008