August 25, 1842

Houston, Sam, 1793-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Col. Thomas William Ward

Letter written as President of the Republic of Texas. Accompanied by an Executive Department order written and signed in secretarial hand. Letter discusses predicting peace with Mexico & Indians and Texas

GLC01777

April 29, 1842

Reily, James, fl. 1841-1846

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Col. Thomas Ward

Reily lobbied for Texas in Congress. Letter written during the escalating crisis between the United States and Mexico which ultimately led to the Mexican War. Reily writes "My heart fondly turns to Texas." Letter also discusses a diplomatic report from Washington.

GLC01778

July 18, 1844

Polk, James K. (James Knox), 1795-1849

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gov. William C. Bouck of New York

Concerning his election campaign policy, feeling that it is "wrong... for a candidate... to engage personally in the contest." Also mentions the tariff and Texas. Bouck was governor of New York. One bust engraving of James K. Polk included.

GLC01745

January 10, 1845

Burnet, David G., fl. 1830-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Col. Thomas William Ward

Burnet writes to Ward to discuss Sam Burnet's retirement.

GLC01776.01

March 11, 1845

Burnet, David G., fl. 1830-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Col. Thomas William Ward

Burnet writes to Ward discussing the annexation of Texas.

GLC01776.02

November 19, 1845

Burnet, David G., fl. 1830-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Col. Thomas William Ward

Burnet writes to Ward discussing his tract of land in Texas. Ward was Commission of the General Land Office in Austin.

GLC01776.03

December 31, 1843

Reily, James, fl. 1841-1846

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Col. Thomas William Ward

Reily writes to Ward discussing that his is not expecting the annexation of Texas to the U.S. Marked "Private."

GLC01779

September 23, 1843

Rusk, Thomas J. (Thomas Jefferson), 1803-1857

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Col. Thomas William Ward

Letter written to Ward, Commissioner of the General Land Office. Rusk looks forward to a settlement of the "archive war" and the question of a capital. Also, discusses the location of the seat of government.

GLC01780

August 15, 1882

James, Frank, 1844-1915

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Anna Ralston and Robert James

Frank James writes to his wife Anna and son Robert (referred to as "My Precious Ones") while being pursued by state and federal authorities. References the Shakespearean character, Timon of Athens, who also spent time exiled in the forest. Reflects on his love for Anna by stating: "Did I not appreciate you I should feel as I was a disgrace to humanity and should be universally and deservedly detested as the most ungrateful being that ever lived." Refers to Charles and Bob Ford as "loathsome wretches" because they killed Jesse James, his brother, in April 1882. Expresses expectations that…

GLC01692

September 3, 1882

James, Frank, 1844-1915

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Anna Ralston James

Frank James writes to his wife, Anna, about the reward offered for his capture. Mentions Dick Liddil, a member of the same gang, and the way Liddil was treated by the authorities. Comments on turning himself in and states that "... when ever I surrendered up my belt, it would be with the understanding that I was subject to no one for anything." Attempts to comfort her and boost her morale. Mentions that his friends thought him foolish to accept any offers from Thomas Crittenden, the Governor of Missouri. Expresses his view on his situation, "And as for taking tragic revenge on any one, I hold…

GLC01693

December 23, 1885

Younger, Cole, 1844-1916

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Fannie Truman

Younger writes to his aunt while in prison in Stillwater, Minnesota. Discusses the travels of Captain and Mrs. Barton. Relates news received while in prison including Harts Bonnys' marriage on December 25 to Alice Sumner, and Ciry Jones' fall from his delivery wagon. Insists Frank James does not fit the description of anyone in the party at the Northfield, Minnesota bank raid in 1876 any more than the "man in the moon." Discusses the Missouri River waterway convention, scheduled to meet in Kansas City on December 29. Those expected to attend include "all the leading men of state," among them…

GLC01694

6 March 1863

Stanford, Leland, 1824-1893

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of Gilbert Witham, Captain, Co. M, 1st Cavalry, California Volunteers]

Partially printed document signed by Stanford as Governor of California and countersigned by California Secretary of State William H. Weeks, Adjutant General William Kibbe, and Deputy A.A.H. Tuttle. Sealed with the Great Seal of California (with bear, Minerva and gold-digger). With partially printed oath of allegiance signed by Witham on verso, dated May 16 at Stockton, California.

GLC01620

January 3, 1867

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to E. L. Plumb

Examines the situation in Mexico, but feels it is a conflict that should be avoided. Fears a "distinct Indian War" that will consume a large amount of American military resources, and does not want to also be fighting in Mexico. Feels people should "organize a State of Republican Govt." as their primary focus.

GLC01545.01

March 18, 1857

Johnston, Albert Sidney, 1803-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Col. Samuel Cooper

Johnston writes a letter to Cooper discussing problems with the quartermaster.

GLC01560

18 November 1836

Houston, Sam, 1793-1863

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of William H. Wharton as minister to the U.S.]

Signed by Sam Houston. Countersigned by Austin as Secretary of State, with Samuel A. Roberts presentation on back to Mrs. Hugh White, regarding provenance. Red wax seal on bottom left corner.

GLC02452.01

4 April 1855

Denver, James William, 1817-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James C. Dobbin

California State Representative Denver recommends Singleton Vaughn, Jr., to Dobbin, Secretary of the Navy, for a vacant position in the Annapolis, Maryland Naval Academy. States that Vaughn's family "is very respectable but poor, which will induce [Vaughn] to make greater exertions to build up his own fortunes." Also signed by Milton S. [Sathauer?] who includes a brief recommendation for Vaughn.

GLC02504.12

20 October1842

Benton, Thomas Hart, 1782-1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John C. Rivis

Written by Missouri Senator Benton. References Rivis's letter of 8 October. Benton tries to calm fears about state's debt. Says he immedately applied to the most reliable businessmen to find an answer for him. The businessmen say that the laws of nature would change before Missouri would repudiate her debt or falter in her payments. Says everyone in Missouri takes great pride in their state and does not want to lose it. Says he is going to Jefferson City to see the governor and other officers of the government and impress that upon them.

GLC02542.21

10 May 1843

Benton, Thomas Hart, 1782-1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John C. Rivis

Written by Missouri Senator Benton. References Rivis's letter of 15 April. Says he is in Kentucky to check out a "Sawing enterprise" he recently purchased. Says he purchased one of Page's circular saws and has set it up on 800 acres of land near Versailles, Kentucky, about halfway between Lexington and Frankfurt. Says 500 acres of the land has the finest timber. Claims that practical men have told him that each acre can get 50,000 to 100,000 feet of lumber. Describes his day working at the mill and says he has "dinner at twelve (with the white part of the work people)." Does not want this to…

GLC02542.22

January 25, 1866

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph document signed

Title: [Draft of a telegram to Philip Sheridan]

Ordering all American troops North of the Rio Grande. Also orders Sheridan to inspect any damage his forces may have done, so that "if claims are hereafter made...we should know the justice of them." Following the end of the Civil War, Union troops under Sheridan were stationed along the Rio Grande in order watch exiled Confederates and stabilize the border with Mexico, which was very unstable at the time. On occasion American troops crossed over the border and became involved in the fighting.

GLC02629

1842

Texas Republic

Pamphlet

Title: Treaty between Great Britain and Texas for suppression of slave trade

Streeter Texas 1416. Printed by T. R. Harrison.

GLC02562

February 19, 1841

Spier, R.P., fl. 1841

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph F. Spier re: hard times in city of Houston

A long and excellent description of Texas in 1841. Spier concludes by saying he planned to return home to the US. Written at Galveston

GLC02578

1838

Texas Republic

Manuscript document signed

Title: Republic of Texas, Austin county election results

Listing returns from Austin County for the election of President, Vice President, Senator and Representatives for the Repubic.

GLC02581

1845

Texas Republic

Manuscript document signed

Title: Republic of Texas, Austin county election results re: annexation & constitution

Republic of Texas, Austin County election results on the question of annexation, sent to Edwin Waller as Chief Justice of the county.

GLC02582

circa 1867

Carson, Kit, 1809-1868

Signature

Title: to Malcolm Towndsend

Alexander C. Hunt, the Governor of Colorado, writes to Malcolm Towndsend in response to Towndsend's request for General Carson's signature. Hunt states that due to the fragile state of Carson's health, Carson is only able to sign his name.

GLC02475.03

22 October 1846

Fremont, John Charles, 1813-1890

Autograph letter signed

Title: to E.M. Kerne

Informs Lieutenant Kerne, commander of the district of the Sacramento Valley, that Peter Brennan, this letter's bearer, has authorization to enlist men "in the service of the United States at the rate of twenty five dollars per month." Asks Kerne to give Brennan assistance. Fremont was then engaged in military activities against California, then owned by Mexico.

GLC02475.05