2023

Traveling Exhibition

Title: Who Can Vote?: A Brief History of Voting Rights in the United States (Copy 2)

TE00007.02

September 30, 1780

Clinton, George, 1739-1812

Letter signed

Title: Appointment of Ensign Stephen Griffin

Partially printed document signed by Clinton and his secretary Robert Benson. On verso is a note signed by David Humphreys, aide-de-camp of George Washington. The Council of Appointment approved the appointment of Stephen Griffin as ensign in the 4th Continental Regiment. He is to take over command of a company. The note on verso, dated from New Windsor, New York on 2 April 1781, says that General George Washington has given permission for Griffin to resign his commission. It appears that this document was signed by Clinton so Griffin could have official proof of his service after resigning,…

GLC01450.623.01

September 15, 1814

Treadwell, John White, 1785-1857

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Oakes

Orders Captain Oakes of the first regiment of Massachusetts militia to appear with his company fully armed and with knapsacks and blankets at Washington Square at 8:00 AM on the following Monday. They will meet "for inspection which will be as particular as this crisis demands. The United States was then engaged in The War of 1812. Appears to be a draft of GLC01450.720.10.

GLC01450.720.11

February 26, 1815

Smead, Benjamin, 1775-1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Moody Bedel

Writes to Bedel about the jubilation surrounding the news of peace in the War of 1812, the celebration of George Washington's birthday, and the dissolution of the consolidated 11th and 22nd regiments. Heaps praise on several officers. Indicates that "the interests of the regiment require your influence and presence." Describes the regiments collective dream of a glory-filled homecoming. A note on p.2 indicates that they are in need of instruments and medicine for forty sick men.

GLC01450.721.08

April 21, 1866

Meigs, Montgomery C. (Montgomery Cunningham), 1816-1892

Typed letter

Title: to Edwin M. Stanton

Typed and signed as a true copy by Albert L. Mills as First Lieutenant and Adjutant First Cavalry. Meigs, United States Quartermaster General, recounts that General Brisbin and a small squad of recruits made "great efforts to rally the retreating and disorganized soldiers on the road near Centerville on the night of the first battle of Bull Run." Declares that he "was so much pleased with [Brisbin's] conduct that [he] mentioned it to the Secretary of War, who promoted him." States that he has not been familiar with Brisbin's service since that time, but is confident that Brisbin will be…

GLC01504.02.12

1845

Baillie, James S., fl. 1838-1855

Print

Title: Surrender of Cornwallis

Hand-colored lithograph showing Lord Cornwallis surrendering to George Washington at Yorktown on 19 October 1781. Several other American and British military leaders also appear. Names printed under lithrograph read: "Kosciuzko," "Steuben," "Laurens," "Hamilton," "Lincoln," "Knox," "Lafeyette," "Wayne," "Washington," "Cornwallis," "Tarleton," "Knyphausen," "Chewton," "Rawdon," and "O'hara."James S. Baillie was a lithographer active in New York City from 1838-1855.

GLC02918.02

27 December 1863

Birney, William, 1819-1907

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Angel James Creswell

General Birney discusses the recruitment of African American troops with Creswell, a United States Representative from Maryland. Expresses his hope to "enable the First District to meet its full quota in colored troops," with Creswell's support. Discusses slaveholders' conspiracies intended to prevent enslaved people from enlisting, including the mistreatment of enlisted enslaved people's wives and children. States that a Mr. Vickers, from Kent County, Maryland (possibly George Vickers), indicted a Mr. Gardner for encouraging his enslaved people to enlist. States that Vickers also…

GLC03428.02

9 September 1786

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Francis Mercer

Washington replies to a letter from Mercer, noting that he would have replied sooner, but he had a fever. Expresses his plan to never enslaved another person again, and his wish that slavery be abolished by "slow, sure & imperceptible degrees." Discusses financial matters, mentioning a debt he owes Governor George Clinton of New York, which was supposed to have been repaid within twelve months of "the Peace" (1783). For what remains of the loan, Washington is paying seven percent interest. Mentions another, higher debt he owes to an unspecified individual, and that repayment of this…

GLC03705

1861

H.H. Lloyd & Co.

Map

Title: Lloyd's new political chart, 1861

Full title: "Lloyd's New Political Chart, 1861. With a Map of the United States, Showing the Free States, Border Slave States, Cotton States, and Territories, in Different Colors." Compiled and published by H.H. Lloyd & Co.'s Agents' General Depot for Books, Maps, and Stationary Packages, 25 Howard Street in New York. Eclectic item composed of map, wood-cut portraits, biographies and statistics. Topped with a banner with "The National Political Chart," at the top. Underneath the banner is an image of George Washington flanked on the left by an image of the Seal of the U.S. and on the…

GLC04243

1836

American Anti-Slavery Society, 1833-1870

Broadside

Title: Slave Market of America.

American Anti-Slavery Society broadside regarding the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia. The text quotes scripture, the Declaration of Independence, the federal Constitution, state constitutions, and news accounts. Illustrated with nine woodcuts. The woodcuts include the signing of the Declaration (based on Trumbull), a map of the capitol district entitled "The Residence of 7000 Slaves," a picture of the capitol building, three pictures of public prisons including one captioned "Jail in Washington, Sale of a Free Citizen to pay his Jail Fees," and three pictures of "Private…

GLC04557

1861/01/13

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Francis W. Pickens re: prophesy of a Civil War; secession

Prophesizes that the South is "probably soon to be involved in that fiercest of human strifes, a Civil War," and discusses secession and withdrawal of southerners from the U.S. Congress.

GLC04624

1789

Laing, Joseph, 1828-1905

Print

Title: Inauguration of Gen. George Washington

This document is a print lithograph of George Washington at his inauguration in 1789. Probably 1870s or 1880s print by Joeseph Laing and published by William Blackman.

GLC04723

1942

War Manpower Commission

Poster

Title: Women in the War We Can't Win Without Them

GLC09543

2 August 1776 circa

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Broadside

Title: Declaration of Independence [Charleston, 1776]

Unrecorded and unique. Endorsed on verso. Peter Timothy was printer to the colony of South Carolina, and later to the state of North Carolina. News of the Declaration was received Aug. 2. Timothy's broadside follows Dunlap with minor variants of capitalization, spelling and punctuation.

GLC00959

October 1, 1775

Cudworth, Melzar, fl. 1775-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Cudworth

Cudworth, impressed on board H.M.S. Asia, writes to his father James in Scituate, Massachusetts. Assures James of his well being. Expresses uncertainty regarding his return home. Mentions John White, Daniel [Mack?], Morris Comdon, and Joseph Pierce, possibly some of his shipmates aboard the Asia. Reports that he received news of his father from Edman Patrick.

GLC01450.630.01

March 24, 1776

Cudworth, Melzar, fl. 1775-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Otis

Cudworth, impressed on board H. M. S. Asia, writes to Otis, his friend in Boston. States that on 14 March, he was impressed on the H. M. S. Livley, at Marblehead, Massachusetts. Relates that he was on the Livley until the 24 March, when he was taken to Boston and placed on board the H. M. S. Asia. Pleads with Otis to visit him on board the Asia. Asks that Otis inform James Cudworth, Melzar's father, that he went to Marblehead with Samuel Holbrook. Possibly written in 1775 (date is partially illegible).

GLC01450.630.02

June 14, 1858

Foster, fl. 1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his cousin

Describes Class Day at Brown University and an upcoming event called Whately Burial, in which juniors carry a coffin through the streets containing one of their textbooks, Whately's Logic. Comments on last year's Whately Burial and getting caught in the rain. Mentions hot air ballooning in Providence, in which a the ballon reached heights of 1000 feet and a rabbit was dropped down in parachute. Describes the parachuting process.

GLC01450.712.02

June 20, 1812

Weeks, John W., 1781-1853

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Moody Bedel

Captain Weeks reports to Colonel Bedel that, despite difficulties, he enlisted five men. Indicates that he will need money soon because the men are unwilling to join otherwise. Written during the War of 1812.

GLC01450.721.02

June 9, 1812

Greene, James, 1765-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Moody Bedel

Lieutenant Greene provides Colonel Bedel with a report indicting he enlisted two men for a period of five years each. Written during the War of 1812.

GLC01450.721.03

June 9, 1812

Duncan, John, fl. 1812

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Moody Bedel

Duncan relays news of his appointment to ensign of infantry and his changed orders to report to Colonel Bedel's command. Written during the War of 1812.

GLC01450.721.04

June 24, 1813

Langdon, John, 1741-1819

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isaac Hull Butler

Deputy Commissary Langdon indicates that he will forward clothing to Captain Butler. Written during the War of 1812.

GLC01450.721.06

June 12, 1815

Babcock, Hampton Champlin, 1792-1849

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Moody Bedel

Lieutenant Babcock informs Bedel that he has men from the 11th Infantry under his command who need to be paid. Lists five such men. A signed note by Bedel on the bottom requests that another officer peruse the list. Written shortly after the War of 1812.

GLC01450.721.07

March 13, 1815

Wilson, N., fl. 1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Moody Bedel

Seeks discharge documents necessary to carry out General Alexander Macomb's order to transfer a soldier named Daniel Dolloff from the 11th infantry regiment to the 34th infantry regiment.

GLC01450.721.09

March 23, 1815

Bedel, Hazel, fl. 1812-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Moody Bedel

Writes to his brother to report problems with soldiers' pay shortly after the end of the War of 1812. Mentions rumors about military appointments, President Madison's plan to maintain an army of 25,000, and a potential assignment for their squadron. Notes the dissolution of Eleazar Ripley's Court of Inquiry by order of the Secretary of War as well as news of Ripley's impending brevet for valor at the Battle of Bridgewater (Lundy's Lane). Hazen was then a regimental quartermaster in the 11th Infantry. Hazen might be one of Moody's sibling's listed on record as "Hazel," who lived from 1785…

GLC01450.721.10

February 24, 1782

Livingston, Peter, 1737-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Sent Captain John Shaver with four barrels of flour. Asks Bromfield to store them and send them by first convenyance to Captain Hopkins at Hartford. Also says to send Hopkins all the pork. Says to also send what is not cut up because this will be the last sleding of the year. Asks him to check the town records and let him know if there if there is a record of transaction between Edward Quincy and anyone else for ore at the Simsbury mines. Livingston wants to buy it, but he heard that Quincy might have already sold it.

GLC01450.803.01