October 31, 1867

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Fitz-John Porter

Lee provides a brief list of his recollections of the events during the Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) August 29-30, 1862 in response to a request from Union General Fitz-John Porter. Union General John Pope refused to take the blame for the defeat, and charged Porter with misconduct at the Second Bull Run for not following his orders. Porter was placed under house arrest and was convicted. To aid his defense, Porter wrote to everyone involved in the battle and requested their recollections. Written while Lee was president of Washington College, later Washington and Lee. Excerpt: 1st.…

GLC00214.01

February 11, 1854

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander S. Latty

Comments that he is saddened to hear of Judge Latty's poor health. Talks of local politics and feels that the cities of Williams, Paulding, and Defiance, Ohio will be carried by the Independent Democrats in the fall elections. Remarks that the Whigs will cooperate with the Independents and Liberals. Suggests the names of some men to write to. Chase refers to Stephen A. Douglas and the Kansas Nebraska Bill in a fragmentary postscript, "Fair chance now of killing the striped snake Douglas has brought into Congress." Addressed to "My dear friend." Recipient identified based upon provenance.

GLC00216

09 May 1938

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

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Michele de Robertis (c/s Robert H. Jackson [acting AG])

Convicted of swearing a false affidavit. Reason for pardon not mentioned, but research indicates he received it for turning state's evidence against Al Capone.

GLC00217

December 11, 1881

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edgar A. Hamilton

Sherman writes to Reverend Hamilton to eulogize General Hugh Judson Kirkpatrick shortly after his death, praising Kirkpatrick's merits as a soldier and a officer during both peace time and the Civil War. He writes, in part, "I never knew a more enthusiastic...cavalry officer, and I was personally indebted to him for the quickness he displayed in comprehending my purpose and the earnestness with which he executed his part..." Written on stationary of the Headquarters Army of the United States.

GLC00223

March 15, 1838

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isaac Hill

Writes about the sickness and death of a friend. States that he has rendered a query with the Committee of Investigation in Boston about it. Discusses an election and politics in his native state, New Hampshire. Addressed to Hill in Concord, New Hampshire.

GLC00225

1865 - 1927

Presidential Pardon Collection

Header Record

Title: Presidential pardon collection #7 [decimalized]

GLC00230

circa 1830

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph manuscript

Title: Notes on constitutional separation of powers; Bill of rights

Blue paper. "Constitutions. Legislative --Executive --Judicial" NH, MA, CT, VT" - p.4

GLC00186

August 3, 1796

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Rutherford

Written as Vice-President. Adams discusses Bordley's notes on the report of the Board of Agriculture; his escape from politics during the summer; hopes to hear more on Rutherford's thoughts on agriculture. Numbered "155." at top of page 1. Written at Sober Hill.

GLC00188

October 3, 1780

Hand, Edward, 1744-1802

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Kitty Hand

Writes to his wife that he hopes he can alleviate her distressing situation soon. Informs her of the treason of Benedict Arnold and the hanging of the British spy, John Andre. "A few days ago Gen Arnold detected in his views of Betraying the Garrison of West Point & its dependencies into the hands of the Enemy, deserted to them leaving Major Andre Adjt. Genl. to the British Army to pay the forfeiture that should have falen on the traitor--Andre was yesterday Hanged as a Spy." Mentions the weather being warm in July and August and states that the army is still remarkably healthy. Talks…

GLC00189

April 26, 1775

Barron, William, ?-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Christopher Champlain

Written by Barron, apparently a merchant or ship captain in Baltimore, to Champlain a merchant in Newport, Rhode Island. Barron's writing is understandable, but filled with misspellings. References his own letter from April 18, 1775. Says he is loaded and expects to sail in five or six days. Says "we Recvid the disagreable news of the Battle Betwixt the Boston people and the Regler solder[s]," but does not mention battles of Concord or Lexington by name. Worries that recent developments will affect business. Hopes to hear from Champlain on what to do with the ship because he believes all the…

GLC00190

December 18, 1773

Easson, John, 1715-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Easson

Discusses various business matters and give instructions to his son in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. Provides a brief account of the Boston Tea Party and advises David to take good care of any remaining tea he has, since there will be no more forthcoming. Written from the commonsense perspective of a man in commerce worried about losses from rowdy Bostonians. Easson was a Boston merchant.

GLC00191

March 10, 1789

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Huntington

Writes to reprise a letter he had previously sent stating that he wishes "to hold some post under the new government." Prefers to be made a judge for the Eastern District, and in that case would like his son, William Ellery Jr., to succeed him as loan officer. If Ellery is not appointed a judge, he would like to remain loan officer and also be appointed a "collector of Impost" for Rhode Island, if that office is created. Informs Huntington that he sent a similar letter to Congressmen Oliver Ellsworth and Roger Sherman and asks him to tell them of this letter. Pleads with Huntington to look…

GLC00192

April 21, 1777

Bartlett, Josiah, 1729-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Whipple

Discusses various Tory conspiracies, such as counterfeiting currency (to cause inflation) and spreading smallpox. Describes the difficulties of recruiting sufficient men for the army. Notes that many men have marched to Ticonderoga. Postscript dated April 22, 1777 mentions the arrival of a French ship. Bartlett represented New Hampshire in the Continental Congress.

GLC00193

April 29, 1776

Whipple, William, 1730-1785

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

William Whipple, a Continental Congressman, discusses the newly established Continental Navy with fellow Congressman Langdon. Refers to supplying guns to soldiers, and mentions a United States flag with "thirteen stripes red & white for the field, & a Union." Advises Langdon not to resign his Congressional seat in order to accept an appointment as a Continental Naval Agent, stating "such a step would have an avaricious appearance, & on the other hand there can not be a greater evidence of Patriotism than preferring the public good, to ones private interest ... I by no means can…

GLC00194

circa 1936-1937

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

Header Record

Title: Collection of five speeches [Decimalized .01-.05]

GLC00196

14 October 1936

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

Typed document signed

Title: Address of the President at Chicago, Illinois

Speech to businessmen signed at the end. Reports on the recovery the nation is experiencing since the Depression in many areas of business; banks, industry, railroads, farming, investments, etc. Criticizes the previous administration's focus on "high finance." Discusses the methods by which the government has improved business recently.

GLC00196.03

02 October 1936

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

Typed document signed

Title: [Address at the dedication of the Jersey City Medical Center, New Jersey]

Signed at the end. Marked hold for release by M. H. McIntyre, Assistant Secretary to the President. Mentions the funds of the Public Works Administration that went to American hospitals. Thanks those in the medical and nursing professions. Discusses public health provisions.

GLC00196.05

June 22, 1949

Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964

Typed letter signed

Title: to Samuel K. McConnell, Jr.

Written in reply to Pennsylvania Congressman McConnell's request that he give his views on education legislation (the federal "grants-in aid") before the Committee on Education and Labor. Former President Hoover asserts his strong personal interest in education and argues the proposed bill is ineffective and a waste of federal money. Suggests an alternate bill.

GLC00200

1787

Varnum, James M., fl. 1787

Pamphlet

Title: The case of Trevett against Weeden: On Information and Complaint,....

Evans 20825, Kress B1355, Sabin 98638. Original blue/gray wrappers, reinforced (?). Stamp on titlepage of: Rhode Island Historical Society. The legal case tested the powers of the Articles of Confederation to the right of Trial by Jury.

GLC00201

February 15, 1777

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nicholas Cooke

William Ellery voices concern about the financing of the national debt and the issuance of paper money. He has found in Congress some interest in naval defense. The American army is at Morristown and the British army is at Brunswick. There have been skirmishes. In one, the Americans would have defeated the enemy if not for the cowardice of Colonel Buckner, possibly Mordecai Buckner of Virginia. In another, the Colonial Commandant of the British was killed. Comments that their army on the east side of the Hudson has had to retire to White Plains because of the inclement weather. Comments on a…

GLC00202

1862-1865

Jackson, Edwin, fl. 1862-1865

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Edwin Jackson, D company, 6th regiment, Minnesota, infantry] [decimalized]

Fighting the Sioux [18 letters]. Edwin Jackson 6th Regt. Minn. Vols. collection of letters, many written on patriotic stationery. Very detailed and descriptive accounts of Indian atrocities against civilians and battles. On 12 October 1862, he writes "we found men women and children all along the road...the Indians killed them with a Club I have the club, when I got it there were Blood some of the brain and pieces of skul bones in the wood and still another case of a poor woman that was in the family way they killed her cut her head off placed it betw in her legs cut the child out of…

GLC00203

17 October 1781

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of Norton Quincy as Justice of the Peace].

Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, John Hancock, appointed Justice of the Peace, Norton Quincy, for the County of Suffolk. The order gives a general sketch of the duties of Quincy's new office. Partially printed. Accompanied by frilled paper seal of the State that protrudes from the broadsheet on the upper left side.

GLC00210

December 19, 1840

Harrison, William Henry, 1773-1841

Autograph letter signed

Title: to J. C. S. Harrison

Written in response to a letter from his grandson, J. C. S. Harrison. President-elect Harrison advises him at Asbury University in Greencastle, Indiana, for success in life. Encloses five dollars. Harrison misspells the name of the university as "Astbury."

GLC00211

September 1878 - June 1887

Porter, Fitz-John, 1822-1901

Header Record

Title: Collection of Porter letters [Decimalized .01-.14]

Most of the letters in this collection are to Captain (sometimes Colonel) Julius Walker Adams, a noted engineer and cousin of President John Quincy Adams. Porter discusses the reevaluation of his conduct at Second Manassas by a special commission in 1878 and 1879. The commission, headed by General John M. Schofield, submitted a report 19 March 1879, exonerating Porter from previous charges. In the 1880s, Porter's sentence was officially reversed, and under a special act of Congress, his commission was restored (with no back pay due). Fitz John Porter (1822-1901) fought in the Mexican War…

GLC00214.02

May 21, 1848

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sidney Smith Lee

It is a secretarially written and signed letter. Written to his brother (addressed "My dear Rose") as Engineer accompanying the Mexico expedition. A joyous Lee proudly announces the final ratification of a Peace Treaty between the United States and Mexico, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, by which the United States gained its entire western territory, from Texas to California. Lee comments that he is "exhilarated by the prospect of getting home, when I shall again see you & my dear Sis Nanie." Envelope addressed to Sidney Smith Lee, Annapolis. According to Paul C. Nagel book, The Lees of…

GLC00215