19 September 1775

Lee, Charles, 1731-1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Rush

Written by Major General Lee during the Siege of Boston to Rush as a doctor in private practice and a chemistry professor at Philadelphia Medical College. References Battle of Bunker Hill. Gives his sentiments on the situation of the siege. Says "I think We might have attack'd 'em long before this and with success, were our Troops differently constituted." Would like a more pro-active campaign on the part of the Americans. Fears Rush's report of divisions in Congress. Says he agrees with Rush's opinion of the "barbarous dangerous custom of loading the servants of the people with the…

GLC05546

18 June 1780

Reed, Joseph, 1741-1785

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Discusses General Washington's need for reinforcements in case British general Henry Clinton returns to New York before the arrival of the French fleet. Under these circumstances, Reed believes that Washington would be pushed to the Delaware River or beyond. Mentions the creation of a subscription bank for the supply of the army and the need to recruit more troops.

GLC05547

28 February 1879

Stephens, Alexander Hamilton, 1812-1883

Book signed

Title: Life of Alexander Hamilton Stephens

Signed 28 February 1879 in Washington, D.C. Published 1878 by J. B. Lippincott & Co. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Written by Richard Malcolm Johnston and William Hand Browne. With lengthy inscription to George M. Landers, written from the House of Representatives, quoting Alexander Pope, "act well your part, there all the honor lies" (possibly to George Marcellus Landers, a United States Representative from Connecticut 1875-1878).

GLC05551

1879/02/18

Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Louis Abraham

Discusses the separation of church and states. Corrects a misunderstanding from a speech in which he gave the impression that the "Constitution forbade the states to make any law in aid of religion." What he meant was that the spirit of American institutions was against the establishment of state religion, as is "the tendency of American opinion. Also argues that the exemption of the YMCA and churches in Washington D.C. should be considered aids to educational instead of "Congressional Legislation about religion."

GLC05559

circa 19 September 1880-1883

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to W. Kalenski

Signed "HJH." Date range inferred from Hunt's location. Mentions [Kalenski's?] application for the Ordnance Department. Finds fault with the conclusions, not the facts, of an article on the Peninsula campaign. Defends McClellan's strategy in that campaign, and suggests there was a plot in Washington against the general: "What a misfortune for the cabal in Washn. that McC did not lose the battle of Antietam! They could have shot him then for his audacity in assuming the command of an army usurping the powers of the president and fighting in disobedience of his instructions. But alas! he won…

GLC05561

26 August 1777

Gates, Horatio, 1727-1806

Letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Written by Gates as newly installed commander of the Northern Department to Major General Lincoln, who was sent to New York in July 1777 by George Washington to reinforce Gates's army. Says he received enclosed letters from General Benedict Arnold, who was also sent northward by Washington, and Colonel Peter Gansevoort (letters not included). Mentions a British deserter who provided intelligence on the size of Burgoyne's army. Expects Arnold and a group of Indians to join General Enoch Poor in a few days. Says that Livingston and Cortlandt's regiments will join Poor today. Compliments…

GLC05563

28 August 1777

Gates, Horatio, 1727-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Reports to Continental General Lincoln about receiving a letter from George Washington concerning his (untrue) opinion that British Commander William Howe had gone to South Carolina, and adds his own hopes that New York will soon be in American possession. Mentions British General John Burgoyne (not named) is losing Canadians and Indians. Expects that Benedict Arnold will join with his division and " ... a large number of Indians." Ends by stating, "The Sky clears all around us and the political clouds seem gathering all around Our Enemies; that providence may continue to Bless us with…

GLC05564

6 December 1790

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Document signed

Title: [Act of Congress granting lands to heads of families in Vincennes and the Illinois Country]

Approved by George Washington and signed by Jefferson on 3 March 1791. Docketed 25 March 1791 by Timothy Matlack, Clerk of the Senate.

GLC05567

1815/02/18

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Everett

Announces the arrival of the Treaty of Ghent in Washington, D.C., which ended the War of 1812, and favorably assesses it as "perfectly honorable to the UStates." Also comments that the Battle of New Orleans "gives its men a splendour which will make the epoch memorable in our history." Monroe was then secretary of state. Dr. Everett was a physician and a state politician in Virginia. Letter includes an address and free frank in Monroe's own hand.

GLC05568

1777/12/14-15

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Henry Laurens re: skirmish with Cornwallis and parole of Burgoyne

Large skirmish with Cornwallis, question of parole for Burgoyne & Burgoyne's new opinion that Britain cannot win and should grant America its independence, and self-criticism for problems taking supplies from inhabitants: "I confess, I have felt myself greatly embarrassed with respect to a vigorous exercise of military power. An ill place humanity perhaps and a reluctance to give distress may have restrained my too far...."; sensitive to evils of "Jealousies of military power." Written from the Gulph, now known as West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Five days after writing this letter,…

GLC05572

25 December 1816

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Rush

Adams in retirement to Rush as Attorney General. Written from "Montezillo," a playful reference to Adams' own home in Quincy, Massachusetts. References Rush's letter of 29 September 1816. In that letter Rush related a story about a horseback excursion to Monticello to visit Jefferson. Tells Rush about a 500 mile journey he undertook by horseback from Massachusetts to Baltimore in 1777. Tells of treacherous crossings of the Hudson and Raritan Rivers. Mentions that he has heard high praise of Monticello from various travelers. Tries to tempt Rush to make a trip to visit him, saying the journey…

GLC05573

5 April 1850

Atchison, David Rice, 1807-1886

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James William Denver

Reports the voting inclinations of several Missouri delegates to the Congressional Convention. Discusses the possible opposition of the Wilmot Proviso, but is confident that California will be admitted as a state. See collateral files for 1 November 1965 letter by Anne Atchinson concerning this letter. The Wilmot Proviso, named after Pennsylvania senator David Wilmot, was a congressional proposal in the 1840's to prohibit the extension of slavery into the territories. Imprint in upper left corner reads "Paris."

GLC05574

5 March 1834

Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Curtis Dixon

Sends his congratulations on his cousin's marriage and jokes that he believes "a state of matrimony is upon the whole the best state in the Union, and will be the last to yield to the sundering doctrine of nullification, and that there is little danger to be apprehended from the opposite extreme of consolidation."

GLC05575

5 August 1933

Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945

Typed letter signed

Title: to John L. Lewis

Informs that he has created a National Labor Board to function under the National Industrial Recovery Act as an agency to investigate controversies concerning labor relations. Appoints Lewis a member of the National Labor Board and hopes that he will accept. Written on White House stationary. Addressed to Lewis at the Carleton Hotel, Washington, D.C.

GLC05576

1778/11/25

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Anthony Wayne re: Burgoyne's captured troops, troop movements

Washington orders Wayne to detach troops from his command to prevent Convention troops from passing to New York City, and asks him to keep his troops from harming property of inhabitants ("burning Fences and from committing any kind of waste upon the property"). He also asks Wayne to allow the Virginia troops to pass before him. Docketed by Wayne. "S & K" watermark.

GLC05577

12 March 1864

Whittier, John G., 1807-1892

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [We wait beneath the furnace-blast...]

The first stanza of Whittier's poem, "Luther's Hymn." It describes God's transformation of the country by ending slavery. Whittier compares the transformation to a furnace-blast that will "mould anew the nation." One black and white bust engraving of Whittier included.

GLC05508.260

8 September 1881

Whittier, John G., 1807-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Whittier writes that he is glad to see the doctrine of eternal hell and eternal suffering being abandoned. He believes that the future will provides an opportunity to turn and repent. He comments that he and his correspondent were on opposing sides, possibly indicating the recipient is a former Confederate. Whittier thanks him for an enclosed article and declines to read a manuscript due to illness and age.

GLC05508.261

1879

Whittier, John G., 1807-1892

Header Record

Title: [Decimalized: John G. Whittier letter and poem].

GLC05508.262

14 February 1929

Wilhelm II, Kaiser, 1859-1941

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Sylvester Viereck

Wilhelm comments that he wrote a preface to a German edition (title not mentioned) to "correct erroneous views still prevalent about Empress Frederick." He also discuss debates about the "New Religion" and the "hopeless chaos in American spirits" that cannot be unraveled in newspaper articles. He asserts that religion, belief, and faith come from the heart and have nothing to do with the brain or scientific thinking. Written on the back of a signed photo of Wilhelm with his dog.

GLC05508.263

2 January 1973

Wilkins, Roy, 1901-1981

Autograph quotation signed

Title: [I am the Lord your God...]

Wilkins quotes Leviticus 26:13: "I am the Lord your God, which brought you forth and out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their boundmen; and I have broken the bonds of your yoke, and made you go upright." From the Bishop Earl Hunt collection.

GLC05508.264

10 May 1832

William IV, 1765-1837

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Endorsement on Memorandum]

Endorsement trimmed from original document and adhered to a card.

GLC05508.265

10 March 1896

Williams, George, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry H. Bemrose

Williams, writing as President of the Young Men's Christian Association, urges Bemrose to use his influence to help secure a rejection of a bill in the House of Commons that will open picture galleries and museums on the Sabbath.

GLC05508.266

10 April 1836

Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Miss Fenwick

Wordsworth solicits Fenwick for funds on behalf of a church in Cockermouth in need of expansion.

GLC05508.269

7 August 1860

Wright, Henry C., 1797-1870

Autograph quotation signed

Title: [Man's natural demands are God's only commands...]

Wright writes: "Man's natural demands are God's only commands./ Who so best understands the demands of his nature & most perfectly & healthfully supplies them, best understands & most perfectly obeys the commands of God." Removed from an autograph album.

GLC05508.270

circa 1863-1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Broadside

Title: Emancipation Proclamation

Rufus Blanchard edition. Signed in print by Abraham Lincoln as the President and William H. Seward as Secretary of State. The printer, Rufus Blanchard, states the importance of the Emancipation Proclamation in a footnote: "This Proclamation is an incalculable element of strength to the Union cause. It makes an alliance between the Rebels and Foreign States as impossible as it is for millions of Bondsmen to love slavery better than Freedom..." Border surrounding text includes pink flowers surrounded by green and red-tinted leaves. Background of text is images of stars. Mounted.

GLC05508.272