circa 1942

Western Union Telegraph Company

Telegram

Title: to Roberta

One blank telegram printed by Western Union. Reverse side prints text codes for each message.

GLC09953.088

26 June 1865

Potter, Lucius F., fl. 1861-1865

Telegram signed

Title: to Mrs. A.M. Potter

One telegraph addressed to Adaline M. Potter from Lucius F. Potter dated Cairo, June 26, 1865. Details that he had just arrived and will send another before he arrives at his destination.

GLC03523.38.90

1936-1949

Umbach, Florence, 1926-2004

Header Record

Title: Soldiers' letters from World War II [Decimalized .001-.072]

A collection of letters primarily between sisters Florence Umbach and Catherine Umbach Griffin. There are also letter sent to either sister form other authors. This collection also includes sixteen empty envelopes that do not seem connected to either sister or other author or recipient in the collection. The letters primarily discuss education, wartime work and general family news.

GLC09952

1902-1903

MacKay, Clarence H., 1874-1938

Scrapbook

Title: [The laying and completion of the Pacific cable] Volume 1

Two volume scrapbook covering the completion of the Pacific cable linking North America to Hawaii, Australia, and the South Pacific. Includes cablegrams charting progress of the cable and sending congratulations from officials in places along the route such as California, Hawaii, the Philippines, etc., photographs with captions, and press clippings, all inlaid or mounted in two scrapbooks. Also includes two congratulatory telegraphs from Theodore Roosevelt (vol. 2), one draft autograph telegram signed by Grover Cleveland (vol. 2). Volume 1 entitled, "The Laying of the Pacific Cable,…

GLC01020.01

1902-1903

MacKay, Clarence H., 1874-1938

Scrapbook

Title: [The laying and completion of the Pacific cable] Volume 1

Two volume scrapbook covering the completion of the Pacific cable linking North America to Hawaii, Australia, and the South Pacific. Includes cablegrams charting progress of the cable and sending congratulations from officials in places along the route such as California, Hawaii, the Philippines, etc., photographs with captions, and press clippings, all inlaid or mounted in two scrapbooks. Also includes two congratulatory telegraphs from Theodore Roosevelt (vol. 2), one draft autograph telegram signed by Grover Cleveland (vol. 2). Volume 1 entitled, "The Laying of the Pacific Cable,…

GLC01020.02

1861-1865 circa

Stager, Anson, 1825-1885

Manuscript

Title: Cipher for telegraphic correspondence

Printed book with manuscript annotations indicating classified code words. The book lists code words for telegraphs, the actual words they correspond to are written by hand. Book was printed for the years "1861 & '62" but contains note on the cover page reading "O.C. Hatton, Cumb Gap Tenn Feb 20th 1865." Annotations in the text could be from any time between the book's publishing and the end of the war. Book printed by Stenger, annotations possibly by Hatton.

GLC06233

9 July 1837

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Catherine A. Pattison

Apologizes profusely for not writing back sooner and expresses his fondness for her and her friendship. States he has been consumed with perfecting his telegraph, which is "nearly ready to put into operation." Writes very personally and asks about Pattison's summer plans. Advises that if she goes to Saratoga, she should not expect to experience the same pleasures as last year, possibly referring to a former love. Discusses parties he has attended and mutual acquaintances. Addressed to Pattison in Troy, New York.

GLC06327

27 August 1837

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Catherine Pattison

Mentions visiting Boston, Plymouth, and Cape Cod where he made a search for the relics of the Mayflower and the Pilgrims. Updates her on the progress of the telegraph. Reports that the telegraph is testing well but expresses some anxiety over being beaten to the punch. " ... I have reason to fear that other nations will have taken the hint, and will rob me both of the credit and the profit." Mentions what is being printed in journals about the issue. Comments on visiting her and tells her he loves receiving her letters. Discusses the works of Hannah More, an English evangelical writer…

GLC06328

1865-1870

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Header Record

Title: Letter and engraving of Samuel F. B. Morse, inventor of the telegraph [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC06329

1861-1865

Emerick, J. H., fl. 1861-1865

Header Record

Title: Diaries while serving in the Union Army Telegraph Corps [photos in .02 for cons] [decimalized .01-.09]

Diaries housed in Primary: Range 3B, Shelf 1-2.

GLC06738

5 July 1863

Kelley, Benjamin Franklin, 1807-1891

Manuscript telegram

Title: to Eliakim P. Scammon

States that Union General Henry W. Halleck reported that the captured dispatches between Confederate President Jefferson Davis and General Robert E. Lee shows that there is no rebel force left between Lee's Army and Richmond, Virginia. Orders that Scammon "...at once organize a force and send it to cut the Virginia and Tennesse Rail Road." Advises to use his judgment as to the best point to do this and to send a reliable officer to command. U.S. Military Telegraph marked "Cifer," [Cypher] on front. Recipient's copy. Docketed by Scammon. Kelley signs as Brigadier General. Written the day…

GLC01903

12 March 1877

Bell, Alexander Graham, 1847-1922

Letter signed

Title: to C. F. Manahan

Requests that Manahan make arrangements with Western Union Telegraph Company or the Atlantic & Pacific Telegraph Company to connect lines with his private line. Offers to repeat a telephone lecture in Lowell [Massachusetts] as long as the lines are connected, for a fee of $200. Written one year after the first telephone patent.

GLC02062

5 July 1863

David, T. B. A., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph document signed

Title: Telegraph to Eliakim P. Scammon

Written by the Assistant Superintendent of Military Telegraphs to Union Brigadier General Scammon. Informs Scammon that the news from Gettysburg is that General Robert E. Lee has sent in the flag of truce. "Lee sent in Flag of Truce, asking cessation hostilities to enable him bury his dead. [General George] Meade replied only conditions was unconditional surrender." States that Meade captured 15,000 prisoners and 118 guns.

GLC02414.002

13 March 1863

Hayes, Rutherford B., 1822-1893

Manuscript telegram

Title: to Eliakim P. Scammon

Telegram to General Scammon confirming receipt of a dispatch and reporting that the line has not been working for two days. Also states that they are fine.

GLC02414.020

January 19, 1844

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John C. Spencer

States that the lead pipe delivered by F.O. J. Smith, the contractors with Mr. Tatham and his brothers, is defective. Describes the main problem, "I find it defective in many points but particularly in the destructive effect that has been produced upon the insulation of the wires by the hot process of manufacture." Informs that the wires will have to be removed from the pipes, re-varnished, and put back in the pipe. Estimates the cost of the repairs to be $500. States that the Tathams will credit $50 of the cost. Puts much of the blame on his Assistant Professor Fiskee, whom he has since…

GLC02112

15 March 1844

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John C. Spencer

Answers Spencer's questions about matters involving telegraphic conductors. Gives information on who will supply the pipe, pricing and payment, and delivery of it. States that he first found out about the deficiencies of the pipe on 6 December 1843. With an addition in a different ink at the end of the last paragraph.

GLC02113

January 21, 1862

Alexander, Edward Porter, 1835-1910

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Pierre G. T. Beauregard

Colonel Porter forwards a telegram (not present) from his brother, Major William Alexander, to General Beauregard, commander of the Potomac District, Department of Northern Virginia. Reports that he does not know what the telegram pertains to, but that it was probably sent at the request of General Toombs (possibly Robert Augustus Toombs). Remarks that William is Toombs' son-in-law.

GLC02460.01

9 September 1861

Walker, Leroy Pope, 1817-1884

Letter

Title: to William S. Morris

Walker, Confederate Secretary of War, writes to Morris, President of the Southern Telegraph Company. Includes a copied version of a dispatch Walker recently received from General Felix Kirk Zollicoffer, commander of the District of East Tennessee, Department Number 2. Zollicoffer writes from Knoxville, Tennessee, stating that it is necessary for Morris to immediately "connect the Knoxville Depot of East Tennessee & Va. R. R., by telegraph, with Bristol- and also establish a telegraph office at Mossy Creek, in East Tennessee." Walker asks Morris to estimate the cost of Zollicoffer's…

GLC02469.30

30 December 1860

Cadwalader, George, ?-1884

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Sherman

Cadwalader, a Sacramento lawyer, discusses California politics with Sherman, a United State Senator from Ohio. Reports that the California presidential election will be held on the following day, with Lincoln holding a 134 count majority over Stephen A. Douglas. Referring to a different election, reports that James William Denver, a former United States Representative from California, "is the only person who can be elected." Discusses the postponement of an election in California in order to find a Republican associate for Colonel Edward Dickinson Baker, a United States Representative from…

GLC08647

January 24, 1863

Harpers Weekly

Newspaper

Title: [Newspaper printing of Army telegraph operators]

Images from Harper's Weekly.

GLC08430.06

August 6, 1858

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Cyrus W. Field

James Buchanan congratulates Field on his transatlantic telegraph enterprise. "Under the blessings of Divine Providence, I trust it may prove instrumental in promoting perpetual peace and friendship between the Kindred nations." Informs Field that he has not yet received Queen Victoria's dispatch.

GLC00162.03

January 14, 1863

Wise, Henry A., 1806-1876

Letter signed

Title: to Arnold Elzey

Retained copy of a letter to Elzey on which a pencil signature of Wise has been added by a secretary. General Wise (Confederate) describes a recent Union raid near White House, Virginia. He informs Major General Elzey, commander of the Department of Richmond, that during the raid, Union troops stole thirty cattle from William P. Taylor's farm. He discusses coordination with Colonel Tabb (possibly William B. Tabb) and Captain Wynn at locations such as Bush's Mill, N. Kent Court House, and the wharves at West Point in order to prevent further raids. He states "all the slaves of abandoned…

GLC00662

1902-1903

MacKay, Clarence H., 1874-1938

Scrapbook

Title: [The laying and completion of the Pacific cable]

Two volume scrapbook covering the completion of the Pacific cable linking North America to Hawaii, Australia, and the South Pacific. Includes cablegrams charting progress of the cable and sending congratulations from officials in places along the route such as California, Hawaii, the Philippines, etc., photographs with captions, and press clippings, all inlaid or mounted in two scrapbooks. Also includes two congratulatory telegraphs from Theodore Roosevelt (vol. 2), one draft autograph telegram signed by Grover Cleveland (vol. 2). Volume 1 entitled, "The Laying of the Pacific Cable,…

GLC01020

16 October 1862

White, Jonathon C., fl. 1862-1863

Newspaper

Title: The Weekly junior register. [Vol. 1, no. 43 (October 16, 1862)]

Several articles and ads are in both English and French. Content includes "Late News" on the Battle of Corinth, Butler's order from occupied New Orleans, requiring all adults who have not taken the oath of allegiance to report to the nearest Provost Marshal with a descriptive list of all property for taxation and for a certificate citing them as an enemy of the United States, news of a telegraph line connecting Washington and California, report of planned protest in New York against Lincoln's [preliminary] Emancipation Proclamation. An editorial examines Northern motivations. Printed on outer…

GLC00846

29 December 1861

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown [incomplete]

His regiment is guarding a bridge between New Haven, Kentucky and Boston, Kentucky. Guerrillas (led by John H. Morgan) cut the telegraph lines in Boston and then stayed over night in the house of a noted secessionist. Also mentions Confederate raids near the Boston Bridge.

GLC05241.01