circa May 1, 1850

Burnet, David G., fl. 1830-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mattie

Burnet writes to a young girl who is feeling swings in emotion, and ascribes the problem to excessive indulgence in "fashionable amusements." He advises putting "a philosophical curb on our enjoyments and restrain[ing] them from exciting us too much," and preserving "our minds from too great depression by contemplating the transitory nature of all earthly things." The rest of the letter continues with family news and concludes with general marriage advice.

GLC05508.056

1 June 1940

Cheatham, Kitty, fl. 1940

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Webster defines "Success"...]

This is a speech dedicating the Drake Memorial Mausoleum Shrine to the world's first oil well, drilled in Titusville, Pennsylvania by Edwin C. Drake in 1859. Cheatham's speech discusses the meaning of success. She refers to Jesus Christ as the world's greatest success, and discusses how his teachings inspire her to produce art reflecting her love and reverence for children.

GLC05508.066

29 November 1912

Cleveland, Frances Folsom, 1864-1947

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Neal

Frances Cleveland offers her nephew condolence on the loss of his child. She urges him to trust in God's plan. She empathizes with his loss by mentioning her thoughts about the age her deceased daughter Ruth would be.

GLC05508.070

11 January 1881

Colquitt, Alfred Holt, 1829-1894

Typed letter signed

Title: to Dr. & Mrs. Talmage

Apparently written upon the death of Talmage's daughter-in-law. Colquitt offers his condolence and urges the Talmages and their son to find comfort in tears and faith.

GLC05508.071

January 1974

Cushing, Peter, 1913-1994

Typed letter signed

Title: to Children

Thanking children (apparently disabled or otherwise disadvantaged) for a drawing they sent at Christmas time. He explains to them that even though they are different from other children, they must learn the lessons of life to obtain "higher places." Their present conditions will not matter in the next life because "all imperfect bodies will be made like unto His glorious body."

GLC05508.079

18 February 1886

Dix, Morgan, fl. 1886

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the Bishop of Albany

Suggests possible reforms to help arrest the rising rate of divorce. Dix first establishes a difference between holy matrimony and secular matrimony. He proposes six reforms including publication of bans, a state license requirement, discouraging marriages in private homes, requiring the couple to furnish two witnesses, devising alternate forms of marriage when both parties are not members of the same church, and requiring Clergy to keep records of all marriages performed. He also mentions that the innocent party in a divorce case may be allowed to remarry, depending on the situation. He…

GLC05508.086

circa 1880

Doyle, Charles Hastings, fl. 1880

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Written as a P.S. enclosing a prayer book for his God Son, adding that he cannot not think of a more appropriate Christmas gift. In an additional P.S., Hastings writes that the prayer book will not be acceptable in the United States, because it is British and offers prayers for the Royal Family. He asks what his God Son would like to have. Signed "Hastings Doyle."

GLC05508.089

21 May 1931

Dunedin, Herbert, fl. 1931

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin Gaskell

When asked how to explain God to a child, Dunedin rhetorically asks if it would "not be enough to tell a child that God is his Creator...the author and giver of all good." He says to demonstrate unseen forces by wind, electricity, and thoughts. He also recommends using Proverbs 20:27, "the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord," to instruct on conscience. Written from Auckland Castle, in County Durham, England.

GLC05508.093

8 December 1897

Eliot, Charles William, 1834-1926

Typed letter signed

Title: to Rev. E.M. Fairchild

Written in response to a letter from Fairchild. Elliot agrees that the Roman and Anglican churches do not recognize the equality of sexes in their marriage rituals. He wishes that advocates of gender equality were not so determined to assert that the sexes are alike. Eliot views denominational strife as just one part of the conflict between individualism and socialism. He mentions changes to the Kansas educational system that he thinks are detrimental.

GLC05508.095

13 August 1815

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his grandson

Congratulates his grandson's wife's safe delivery of a baby boy. Advises that the child be taught piety and virtue from a very young age, so it will stay with him always. He also urges the mother to nurse the baby and "not suffer any silly ideas of the polite to prevent her discharging this duty to which nature & nature's God require." The recipient possibly may be George G. Channing, with whom Ellery corresponded for many years. A Member of the Continental Congress from 1776 until 1785, William Ellery was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was Collector of the Port of…

GLC05508.097

15 September 1846

Johnston, Albert Sidney, 1803-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Griffin Johnston

Writes to his wife about the movements of his division and the numbers of the present force. Expects to be reunited with his wife and boys once the campaign is over and his appointment is terminated.

GLC05295

28 June 1951

Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972

Autograph note signed

Title: to Merriman

Thanks Merriman for the lovely piece about his daughter Margie [Margaret]. Informs that he is sending it to her mother. Written on White House stationery. Signed with initials "H.S.T."

GLC05697

1774/08/29

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson

Comments on the "disagreeable" current events. Indicates that General Thomas Gage, then the commander-in-chief and governor of Massachusetts, "must recede," otherwise "carnage & bloodshed seem inevitable - there never was anything like the flame the last 2 Acts has produced...erect a standard and believe in a fortnight there would be ten thousnad country people flock to it." Earlier that year, Parliament had passed the intolerable acts--the Boston Port Act, the Massachusetts Bay Regulating Act, the Administration of Justice Act, and the second Quartering Act--in response to the…

GLC05663

1 January 1803

Jansen, Zacharias, fl. 1803

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Grants of money for children of slaves in Ulster County, New York]

Grants of money for the children of slaves in the town of Shawangunk, New York. Signed by Zacharias Jansen, several other members of the Jansen family, and various others. Refers to the eventual abolition of slavery in New York State. "...for the support and maintenance of the children of slaves duly registered and born after the fourth day of July, 1799 whose right of service has been abandoned by the respective proprietors of the mothers of such children in pursuance to the directions of the several acts of the Legislature for the gradual abolition of slavery ..." Lists the names and birth…

GLC05685

9 November 1845

Edwards, Cabel G., fl. 1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rufus Edwards

Reports that their father is dead and describes his last weeks. Includes the surrender of his father's estate to his brother. Discusses his financial and legal troubles. Invites his brother and family in Ohio to go west to California, where they can escape the oppressive, violent government of the established United States. Mentions Mormonism and the saints moving west en masse.

GLC05691

1861-1862 ca.

Photograph

Title: Ambrotype family portrait showing 11 people, including 2 soldiers

Family portrait featuring a mother, father, two daughters, four civilian sons and two soldier sons (in rear of photo). CASE: Stamped cloth on wood. Case thickness 2.1 cm.

GLC05131.02

1861 ca.

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

Photograph

Title: Tintype of William T. Sherman, with second tintype of little girl

Bust portrait of William T. Sherman with one star. 9th plate tintype in 6th plate Union Case. Descriptive tag mistakenly identifies this photograph as: "Ferrotype of Gen. Phil. Henry Sheridan Commander of the Army of Shenandoah in 1864." A 6th plate tintype portrait of an infant girl was discovered underneath Sherman in the case, and was treated as #2. Her clothes have been colored pink. CASE: Union case showing cross cannons over a pyramid of cannonballs. An American flag appears on either side of the center image. A union shield appears in each of the lower corners. (See Clifford…

GLC05131.26

1861-1862 ca.

Yeaton, Charles G., fl. 1861-1862

Photograph

Title: Ambrotype of a young sailor

Bust portrait of a young sailor whose cheeks have been tinted pink. Tag inside identifies the image as "Charles Gordon Yeaton, my father." CASE: Stamped paper on wood with floral design center between two rows of "IIIIIIIII." Gold edging on both the exterior and interior of the case. Case thickness 1.6 cm.

GLC05131.29

1861-1865 ca.

Photograph

Title: Lincoln or related images, mostly cartes re: Lincoln, funeral, family, Booth [decimalized]

Carte de visites, stereographs, etc. from E. & H. T. Anthony and others. Several are later reprints. Includes 2 Lincoln portrait stereographs from Anthony's "Prominent Persons," 13 stereos of Lincoln's funeral; 31 CDVs of Lincoln, his family and John Wilkes (7) and Edwin Booth. The collection contains a souvenir booklet of 12 CDVs, an early half-tone portrait enclosed in a brass medal and others. The cartes include Ostendorf 17, 51, 53, 55, 60A, 73A, 86, 91, 92-variant, 93-variant and 112. Detailed inventory available. The collection consists of 54 items, including carte de visite…

GLC05136

4 September 1779

Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Catherine Greene

Written by Major General Greene to his wife Catherine. Says she must be away or he would have received a letter from her. Says her last letter was very melancholy. Believes she would not leave him under this impression for a month if she feels better. Stresses his impatience to hear from her. Emotionally states "If you love me, if you regard my peace and happiness, let me hear from you." Asks if she has read "Pupil of Pleasure," a book Greene apparently sent his wife. Asks specifically about the character Mrs. Homespun. Expresses his love for her profusely and says he misses her immensely…

GLC05624

21 April 1798

Marshall, John, 1755-1835

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney

Describes his journey from Paris to Bordeaux, where he waits to return to America. Writes with a vein of humor. Mentions that two wheels broke on the journey, but says such a fact does not need to be communicated to the Secretary of State, so the broken wheels can be saved a circuit around the United States. Will take the ship "Alexander Hamilton" home and says it "a very excellent vessel but for the sin of the name which makes my return in her almost as criminal as if I had taken England in my way." Hopes to make "an eternal adieu to Europe" as well as its crimes. Wishes for better health…

GLC05632

1 April 1854

Stith, C., fl. 1854

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt of sale for a slave]

Signed by Stith. Receipt for the sale of a "Negro Boy Richard about fifteen or sixteen years of age..." sold for $1,000 to James W. Goodman. Refers to Richard as "a slave for life."

GLC07356.03

4 November 1813

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Holmes

Informs Mississippi Territory's Governor Holmes that on 2 November 1813, General John Coffee attacked the Creek Indians at Tallaseehatchee in upper Alabama, killing 186 warriors and taking 86 women and children prisoners. Concludes: "If I had sufficient supplies of provisions, I would, in short time, put an end to the Creeks." In a post script, notes that "one of the Creek prophets was killed." With note at bottom of p. 1 by Tennessee's Governor Willie Blount, dated 9 November from Nashville: "This opened here by mistake." Written from Jackson's camp at Ten Islands.

GLC07371

30 November 1777

André, John, 1751-1780

Autograph letter

Title: to Louisa Andre

Writes a lengthy letter to his sister about recent events of the war in Philadelphia. "The army has remained encamped before Philadelphia and Mr. Washington has remained about 14 miles off. Our patroles meet and exchange shot every now and then, which is all the symptoms we have of war." Comments on his leisurely lifestyle, "The only hardships I endure are being obliged to sleep in my bed, to sit down to a very good dinner every day, to take a gentle ride for appetite's sake or to exercise my horses ... " Remarks that British General Charles Grey shows signs of favoring his advancement.…

GLC07272

1865/05/04

Steele, Frederick, 1819-1868

Document

Title: General Orders no. 3 [inability of government to help black refugees]

Informing people that "destitution and distress is likely to arise from the influx of the colored population into this city. People of this class are informed that it is impossible for the United States Government to feed them and they are advised to remain of the plantations and assist to raise crops to keep themselves and their children from starving." Signed by Joseph Lymun as Adjutant General to Major General F. Steele.

GLC07293