16 November 1854

Hale, Sarah J.B., 1788-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ninian W. Edwards

Hale writes to the Superintendent of Illinois public schools, Ninian W. Edwards, to ask him to consider the suitability of her book, "The Bible Reading Book" for the classroom. She claims the book is already being used at a number of other schools and institutions.

GLC05508.121

17 January 1857

Houston, Sam, 1793-1863

Header Record

Title: [Sam Houston letter and advertisement] [Decimalized .01- .02]

See descriptions in GLC05508.133.01-.02

GLC05508.133

14 February 1992

King, Bernice, 1963-?

Typed quotation signed

Title: [Lord have mercy on us for...]

Quotation from Dr. Bernice King's speech celebrating the birthday of her father, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She asks the Lord's forgiveness for celebrating when so many people are without jobs or health care.

GLC05508.159

15 January 1978

Love, Bessie, 1898-1986

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alan Brock

Love thanks Brock for a Christmas card and the piece about his mother. She offers condolence, and suggests reading Christian Science literature as a means to heal his grief.

GLC05508.171

29 March 1967

Mansfield, Jayne, 1933-1967

Typed letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Nice

Mansfield thanks Nice for her concern for Zoltan, Mansfield's son. She also writes: "I have always had a great belief in my fellow man, but I am now fully assured that the heavens above have succeeded in creating a beautiful earth upon which to live."

GLC05508.175

7 September 1825

Mason, Lowell, fl. 1825

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. C. Mason

Mason writes to his mother. He meditates on how children come to appreciate their parents as they grow older and hopes to see his mother next season. He expresses that it is more important that they meet in the next life than in this one, and relies on his faith in Jesus to bring him hope that his expectations will be met. Mason reports on and inquires about family affairs and remarks that his leisure time is spent pursuing music. He mentions a book containing several of his compositions.

GLC05508.179

3 June 1975

Mason, Tom, fl. 1975

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alan Brock

Mason offers condolence upon the death of Brock's mother. He offers a quote from a magazine article that he read when his own mother died in 1951 that he hopes will be comforting. The passage describes death as nothing because loved ones are waiting and continuity of relationships persists.

GLC05508.180

circa 1940

Smith, Alfred Edgar, 1903-1986

Typed quotation signed

Title: [American Liberty]

Smith states his belief in a parent's right to choose between public and religious schools for their children, the principle of non interference in the internal affairs of other nations, and common brotherhood of man under common fatherhood of God. He allies himself with Americans who are against challenging public officials for their faith in God. Possibly a fragment of a longer document.

GLC05508.229

circa 1863

Stevenson, Robert Louis, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Papa

Written by Stevenson when he was thirteen to his father. He briefly discusses the weather and attending church.

GLC05508.235

17 December 1962

Walker, Edwin A., 1909-1993

Typed letter signed

Title: to Leonard V. Fulton

Walker responds to Fulton's questions about world peace and why his small son should have hope for the future. Walker is sure that "Christ will remain on this earth in spite of the evil forces that have never ceased to betray Him." He believes the future depends on the next generation's "acceptance [likely meaning recognition] of a satanic force and conspiracy."

GLC05508.251

31 December 1908

Wanamaker, John, 1838-1922

Typed letter signed

Title: to Harry Paisley

Wanamaker forwards a famous, out-of-print engraving to Paisley to cement their association in the work of the State Sunday School Association. Wanamaker writes: "The Sunday School work offers the best opportunity of usefulness that I know."

GLC05508.254

1863 ca.

Photograph signed

Title: Johnny Clem, "Drummer Boy of Chickamauga"

Mounted. Ex-Greenway collection. Nice image. Signed "Very truly yours, Jns. L. Clem." Inscription on mount reads "Sergeant Johnny Clem and his autograph. Photo taken at Chicamauga, at 12 years of age and after two years os service and after promotion for bravery on the field of battle. See Wossings History Vol. 3, page 141." Pencil notes on verso from previous owner: "1851-1951 [?] The youngest [sic]. Also [known as] John[n]y Shiloh or the drummer boy of Shiloh. 1851-[19]37 d[ied] @86. Lossing[.] Probably the youngest person who ever bore arms in battle[.] Probably signed in 1892 @ age 41."

GLC05145

1850/05/24

Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850

Letter signed

Title: to Phillippa W. Carothers re: denying request for military land grant

Denying request for military land grant because services of her father were not "of such a nature as to entitle his heirs to the bounty of the government"

GLC05351

14 March 1830

Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Chase

Writes to his brother, a lawyer in Lockport, New York, about his journey from Washington, D.C. to Cincinnati, Ohio. Laments his undesirable traveling companions among whom was a woman convict. "A woman too - who had been committed for Infanticide and discharged because she was the only female in prison. You may imagine I was not highly delighted with my company..." Describes the events of the rest of his trip and the scenery along the way. Exhorts his brother to act in "...the great cause of truth and virtue. I look to see you standing beside the ark of national purity ... I hope to…

GLC05494.01

21 November 1862- 2 December 1862

Smith, Gustavus Woodson, 1821-1896

Letterbook

Title: [Nine letters (from letterbook) written by General Gustavus Woodson Smith]

Written while Smith was commander of defenses at Richmond (expanded to become the Department of Virginia and North Carolina). Contains a dispatch from Smith to the officer in command of Fredericksburg, Virginia dated 21 November 1862, stating that the Mayor of Fredericksburg telegraphed Smith the news that Fredericksburg is to be shelled the following day. Smith asks if he should send cars for the removal of women and children. Contains a letter from Smith to General William H. C. Whiting at Wilmington, North Carolina (21 November), assuring Whiting that everything practicable will be done…

GLC05469

1824/12/24

Austin, Stephen F., 1793-1836

Manuscript document signed

Title: Settling dispute between two settlers in his Texas colony, acknowledges Mexico

Signed as judge of the colony. Document in English, binding John P. Coles, William Pettus, James F. Tong, George Teel and Samuel M. Williams to the orphan children of the late William Whitesides for the sum or $2,000 (Mexican). The document also acknowledges Mexican law.

GLC05478

circa 1850-1855

English, John G., fl. 1827-1869

Diary

Title: [Mississippi cotton plantation diary and journal]

Signed in inner front cover in August 1850, where English notes that his father, James English, moved from Kingsport, Tennessee to Madison County, Alabama in 1818. Records that James took him, and left his sister in Salem, North Carolina, and his brother in college at Granville, Tennessee. In the first two pages, English recalls his youth: a trip to New Orleans in 1827, working for John W. Lane of Livingston, Alabama, and managing a large warehouse for Robert King of Knoxville, Tennessee in 1833. Records events, such as the purchase of slaves in 1835 and a business trip to New York in May…

GLC05496

2 April 1836

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriet Henry

Buchanan writes to his sister because he is concerned for her health. He writes: "let me strongly urge you to resist the gloomy feelings & apprehensions which I fear you indulge." He asks her to submit to the will of God, but also acknowledges he is not a model Christian. Buchanan assures Harriet that should he survive her, he will comply with any requests she makes of him.

GLC05508.054

30 December 1770

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jane Mecom

Written to his sister concerning various matters, including stories of the threatened loss of his position as colonial postmaster, the difficulties he faces for expressing his political opinions, and sending some books Jane had asked for. Franklin comments that the books resemble the opinions of a Mrs. Ilive, whose "Solemn Discourse" attempted "to prove, that this World is the true Hell or Place of Punishment for the Spirits who had transgress'd in a better State, and were sent here to suffer for their sins in Animals of all Sorts."

GLC05508.003

21 July 1743

Pepperrell, William, 1696-1759

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Waldron

Pepperell reports his daughter and grandson very ill. He also mentions business matters.

GLC05508.009

9 March 1790

Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Polly Stockton

On the second anniversary of his recovery from illness, Rush thanks his sister for nursing him. His illness left him with strong ideas of the vanity of wealth, the evil of Sin, etc. He continues by talking about his delight in reading John Wesley's sermons concerning the rise and progress of Christianity, which Wesley described as a series of concentric circles. Rush also discusses a new translation of the four gospels by Dr. Campell of Aberdeen.

GLC05508.011

circa 1960

Barnard, Christiaan, 1921-2001

Typed document signed

Title: One Life. Part I. The Great Karoo

Barnard recounts an anecdote from his childhood about the first time he doubted God's ability to handle all of mankind's imperfections. He describes assisting his mother play the organ during church and the minister's sermon on sin.

GLC05508.029

11 July 1874

Blaine, James Gillespie, 1830-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Holman

A letter of condolence over the death of Holman's child. Blaine share's the story of losing his first-born child. He writes that such a loss taxes one's faith, but expresses a belief that "Time's cloud has its radiant silver lining in Eternity." Stamp on p. 1 "Madlener."

GLC05508.038

14 December 1974

Blake, Eugene Carson, 1906-1985

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Christopher Allen

President of the National Council of Churches Blake writes to a young boy at the request of his father. Blake expresses hope that when the boy gets older he too will have a life-long interest in Christian unity and service to the world.

GLC05508.039

26 December 1795

Bradford, William, 1729-1808

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lydia Bradford

Bradford gives condolence to his daughter, Lydia, for young men who died at sea, and expresses the sentiment that while this may be unfortunate "to us as men, it must be right as relative to Deity." He also mentions visiting a Roman Catholic church in Philadelphia on Christmas day. There is also some discussion of legal business before Congress; Bradford was a senator from Rhode Island.

GLC05508.047