4 December 1877

Remington, Philo, 1816-1889

Typed letter signed

Title: to Edward Clark

Signed as President of the Remington Company. Discusses debt owed to the Singer Company which he is not able to pay at this time. Remarks on why he entered into the manufacture of sewing machines, "It was not primarily to make money; ... the impelling motive which drove me into it, was to give my people, ... more especially our skilled labor, - to keep them with us contented in the intervals -- in the periods when we should be without military work." Clark was President of the Singer Company. Singer held Remington's sewing machine division debt. Typed on stationary from the Office of…

GLC02764

9 July 1878

Porter, Horace, 1837-1921

Letter signed

Title: to George C. Pullman

Written as Vice President of the Pullman Company to the President. Discusses revenues through the previous day. Mentions that night travel has remained unchanged and daytime usage has fallen off due to the warm weather. Reports on fuel usage and conservation and employee numbers. Lists the new board members of the Metropolitan Company, of which both Pullman and Porter are members. Reports on the stockholders' meeting, of which the issue of noise pollution was mentioned. Porter writes that Thomas Edison can fix the problem with little expense. Written on Pullman's Palace Car Company…

GLC02879

1862-1864

Oakes, Cyrus, fl. 1862-1864

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Cyrus Oakes, C company, 84th regiment, Indiana, infantry] [Decimalized .001- .122]

Collection includes 92 letters to and from Oakes written while he served in the 84th Regiment Indiana Volunteers as a sergeant and later lieutenant. 83 wartime letters. Also included are a variety of personal papers, patent related files, two daguerrotypes and a copy of Noah Webster's "Pocket Dictionary of the English Language" inscribed by Cyrus Oakes.

GLC03136

February 14, 1864

Francis, Joseph, 1801-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwards Pierrepont

Discusses the delay in the army for the order of his pontoon bridge. Mentions General John Adams Dix. Informs that Colonel Edward Serrell needs to go to Washington to see Francis's bridges but there is a problem getting the orders for Serrell to get there by train. Francis asks Pierrepont to write to Edwin Stanton, the Secretary of War, and ask him to allow Colonel Serrell to go stating, "It is merely to ask Mr. Stanton to allow Coln Serrell (who is the best & most popular Engineer officer in the Army) to examine my system. He cannot object to this, and I should think he would be glad…

GLC03502

18 April 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to John Bryant

Written and signed for Knox in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aid-de-camp. States he is sorry to hear that Captain Bryant's company is weak but says "it is out of my power to add to it, except by ordering such men of the artillery to it, who are unable to do field duty." Approves of Bryant sending samples of "fuzes, rockets and tubes" of Bryant's making. Asks Bryant to inform Colonel David Mason that Knox applied to Colonel Timothy Pickering for an order on the quarter master in Springfield. Bryant was a member of Colonel Mason's corps of Artillery artificers stationed at Springfield. "…

GLC03495

30 March 1845

Ericsson, John, 1803-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bennett

A private letter in which Ericsson defends the merits of his screw propeller over Steven's Scull. Claims that reports that the scull beat his ship are misleading. Accompanied by a two page manuscript autographed by Ericsson that details his invention. John Ericsson invented the screw propeller, which replaced the paddle wheel and remains the most common form of marine propulsion to this day. James Bennett was editor of the New York Herald.

GLC03513

September 22, 1928

Literary digest (New York, N.Y.)

Magazine

Title: The Literary Digest [Vol. 98, No. 12 (September 22, 1928)]

One printing of The Literary Digest dated September 22, 1928. Front cover contains an image of 'Dry Land Harvest' painted by J. Leo Fairbanks. Image is of farmers plowing hay. Headline on cover reads, "First Returns in Mammoth Presidential Poll of 19,000,000 Voters." Contains various articles, poems, essays related to daily life, elections, immigration, international affairs, literature, religion, finances, transportation and miscellaneous.

GLC10083

1941-1945

unknown, fl. 1941-1945

Photograph

Title: [Photograph of George Washington Carver Museum]

One black-and-white photograph of the front entrance of the George Washington Carver Museum.

GLC09645.089

circa 1990

Breda, Carl von, 1759-1818

Postcard

Title: Postcard of James Watt

One postcard of James Watt dated circa 1990. Bust portrait of Watt. Based on a painting by Carl Von Breda.

GLC08878.0743

circa 1840

Adlard, Henry, 1799-1893

Engraving

Title: Engraving of James Watt

One engraving of James Watt dated circa 1840. Features a statue by Chantrey of James Watt seated and looking at papers on his lap. The engraving is based on a drawing by H. Corbould.

GLC08878.0744

circa 1870

Engraving Signed

Title: Engraving of William A. Wheelock

One engraving of Charles Wheatstone dated circa 1870. Bust portrait of Wheatstone.

GLC08878.0772

28 June 1858

Ericsson, John, 1803-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Letter to an unknown recipient that tells of a successful test of an engine. Says "The engine proved perfect on the first go off on Saturday and near worked for 7 hours without stopping."

GLC03855

circa 1863

Endicott & Co., fl. 1863

Print

Title: U.S. iron clad ram. Dictator.

Title continues "Designed by J. Ericsson. Built at the Delameter Iron Works, New York. 1863. " Created by Endicott & Co. at 59 Beekman Street, New York. Image dominated by the low-lying "Dictator" -- the deck appears to be only a few feet from the water. The ship is sailing in a calm day with small waves depicted in the ocean. In the far background a flock of seagulls is beginning to descend upon the "Dictator" while three sailing ships float on the horizon. The entire top half of the lithograph shows a sky with light-colored clouds. Statistics on the ship's size and engines are beneath…

GLC03530

January 13, 1807

Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Dearborn

Asks Secretary of War Dearborn to "give the necessary orders for measuring the velocity of the waters of the Mississippi" by tracking the speed with which a wooden board tied to a line is carried away. He adds, "I hope this work will promote the interest of the country." Fulton, newly returned to the United States after twenty years in Europe, shared in the nation's enthusiasm for developing the vast territory recently acquired through the Louisiana Purchase (negotiated by his business partner Robert Livingston). Fulton was aware that steam-powered vessels on the Mississippi and its…

GLC03624

15 September 1857

Cobb, Howell, 1815-1868

Letter signed

Title: to Robert E. Rogers and Henry Vethake

Rogers and Vethake were appointed Treasury Department commissioners in July 1857. Requests them to report to him as soon as possible if they intend to accept the appointment, and if so they are to "arrange with the Director of the Mint to give Dr. Barclay the proper facilities for testing his alleged discovery." James T. Barclay had developed tests to detect counterfeit coinage. Rogers and Vethake accepted the commission and verified Barclay's discovery. Written as Secretary of the Treasury.

GLC03689

10 June 1862

Fox, Gustavus Vasa, 1821-1883

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Dahlgren

Written by Fox as Assistant Secretary of the Navy to Dahlgren as commander of the Washington Navy Yard. Tells Dahlgren that Ericsson is willing to produce 1 inch plates. Wants his report on the firing of cannon and his opinion before he proceeds. Dahlgren wrote a note at the bottom saying "Ericson was very positive as to his plates - why should he hesitate now?" Refers to inventor John Ericsson, who designed the ironclad "Monitor."

GLC03959.02

8 December 1879

Ericsson, John, 1803-1889

Letter signed

Title: to Franklin Hanford

Comments briefly on a lecture Hanford gave. Discusses an account of a torpedo experiment he published in the Army and Navy Journal. Expresses his reluctance to have foreigners transmit information overseas. Mentions that he left out information about how the torpedo entered the water in deference to Commodore Jeffers of the Navy Department and Ordnance Office. Since the results were unfavorable, they may try more experiments and would like to keep the information quiet for now. Adds an autograph postscript at the bottom of page three where he discusses sketches and a record of the…

GLC03959.01

25 August 1879

Ericsson, John, 1803-1889

Letter

Title: to Franklin Hanford

Clerical copy. Reports that he has recommended the Bureau to remove the Ordnance Scow from Sandy Hook because it cannot sustain heavy weather. Discusses the torpedo trials and states they have accomplished what was intended, "ascertaining if the explosive energy of powder gases can be substituted for compressed air in expelling submerged torpedoes. The result is more than successful, it is brilliant!" Explains the scientific and mechanical workings that have produced this result. Addressed to Hanford, Lieutenant Commander, Inspector of Ordnance, Navy Yard, New York.

GLC03959.03

1 January 1844

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph document signed

Title: Statement Showing expenditures on account of Magnetic Telegraph

Details the amount of money drawn from the Treasury, expenditure, and the balance left for the magnetic telegraph. Morse signed as Superintendent of the Electro Magnetic Telegraph. Entire right edge of paper is damaged with paper loss.

GLC04234

1 May 1789

Paine, Thomas, 1737-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Invites the unknown recipient to inspect a new iron bridge he designed. "We have erected our Experiment Rib and Struck the Center." With engraving.

GLC04218

13 June 1843

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Spencer

Writes to the Secretary of the Treasury about saving $920 in making telegraph wires with colored varnish instead of colored thread. Asks permission to sell the unnecessary colored thread.

GLC04235

12 May 1854

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to E.H. Sanford

States that Amos Kendall is his agent for the management of his telegraphic business and he cannot answer Sanford's inquiry about the sale of telegraph patent rights in Oregon and California until consulting with Kendall. Comments that he believes that no definite sale has been made yet but advises on Kendall's whereabouts and states he will send Sanford's letter to him.

GLC04236

September 14, 1849

Header Record

Title: Collection of two items related to Samuel F. B. Morse [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC04480

1844-1870

Header Record

Title: Collection of letters of Samuel F. B. Morse to Edward P. Fry concerning the New York - Philadelphia telegraph [Decimalized .01-.08]

GLC04503

November 4, 1798

Livingston, Robert L., 1746-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Constable

Asking Constable to meet in London with James Watt to inquire about terms for purchasing one of Watt's 24-inch cylinder steam engines. Counsels Constable to use his "discretion" in making terms. Livingston encloses a letter [not present] to Watt, which he asks Constable to read and copy, "as it will put it in your power to negotiate with any other projector if Dr. Watt has not come up to what you may deem reasonable." Earlier that year, Livingston had been granted a monopoly on steamboat traffic in New York; he would eventually team up with Robert Fulton to start the Hudson River Steamboat…

GLC04330