28 February 1854

Fessenden, William Pitt, 1806-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James D. Fessenden

Writes to his son about his opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska Bill. Fessenden, who had recently been sworn in as a Maine senator, comments that "The Nebraska outrage occasions great feelings here...It is near pretty well understood that the free states were sold by their leaders in 1850...and they are to be plundered. I see no help for it. If the Southern Whigs stopped the measure in body...there is no longer a national Whig party for me." Earlier in the letter he urges James to stay in his position, which he apparently dislikes and discusses Frank's (possibly Francis, another of his sons…

GLC08935

26 November 1864

Benedict, Nehemiah W., 1817-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Newton Benedict

Writes to his brother, praising the election of Reuben E. Fenton as Governor New York over the incumbent, Horatio Seymour. Explains that "We have had a glorious election and not withstanding a traitorous governor had, through the aid of his 'friends', secured more than thirty thousand 'marrow fat' & other bogus notes for his personal benefit. He is overthrown by the spontaneous uprising of an indignant and patriotic people." Making clear that he (and the new governor) supports the Union cause in the Civil War, he writes: "How much better shall we feel that the executive head of the…

GLC08936

October 1859

Douglas, Stephen Arnold, 1813-1861

Pamphlet

Title: Popular Sovereignty in the Territories: Judge Douglas in Reply to Judge Black

Responds at length to the criticisms of his position on popular sovereignty by Attorney General Jeremiah S. Black. Emphasizes that he would "never vote for a slave code in the Territories by Congress." First edition with original free franked envelope Douglas used to send it to Samuel Arnold of Haddam, Connecticut.

GLC08940

1897

Hammond, B.F., fl. 1897

Print

Title: Afro-American Monument

Oil process chromo-lithographic poster. A picture of an angel putting her hand on the head of a slave, surrounded by nine vignettes depicting scenes from slavery to results of emancipation. Includes pictures of Booker T. Washington and Frederick Douglass, the death of Crispus Attucks, the initial arrival of African slaves in 1619, and Abraham Lincoln "breaking the chain of bondage," among other scenes. There is also related statistical information.

GLC08941

20 April 1865

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Endorsement of a runaway slave to return to Tennessee to search for his family]

President Johnson, five days after taking office endorses the petition of Jermain Westley Loguen, an escaped slave and Underground Railroad conductor, to return to Tennessee to search for family members. Written on the leaf of a 31 March 1865 autograph letter signed in which Samuel May made the request of Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. May's letter is also signed by C.B. Sedgewick, Sherman B. Canfield, Reverend George Whipple, and Lewis Tappan. Johnson's endorsement reads: "the within named Rev J. W. Loguen (col'd) of New York is recommended to the favorable consideration of the Civil…

GLC08942

17 February 1881

Purvis, Robert, 1810-1898

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Wendell P. Garrison

Answers questions about William Lloyd Garrison. Comments on his 1833 trip to England, at which time "he was indicted for a libel, by several of the persecutors, of Miss." Explains how he, Lewis Tappan, and others helped Garrison escape apprehension and make the trip. Also comments on Nathaniel Jocelyn's 1833 portrait of Garrison, which was thought "by all his friends, as a most excellent likeness" and subsequently used to make engravings. Mentions the publication of the Liberator. Notes that he recollects Tappan making a statement at an 1833 convention, probably the Anti-Slavery…

GLC08944

20 April 1818

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Printed document

Title: [Act in addition to another act prohibiting the importation of slaves]

Passed by Congress and approved by the President. Outlines the ban on importing slaves, the forfeiture of ships built for such a purpose, and the penalties for involvement in the slave trade. The act being added to prohibited the importation of slaves as of 1 January 1808. The names of Henry Clay (Speaker of the House), John Gaillard (President of the Senate, pro tempore) and President James Monroe are printed at the end. The date is the day Monroe approved the act.

GLC08946

23 June 1834

Williams, Henry, fl. 1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Arthur Waring

An appeal by Williams, on behalf of "the Colourd Citizens of N.Y.," to "the good Colourd Citizens of Washington" for help "in the great and noble under taking to save our paper the Liberator." Explains that the paper is $1,000 in debt, which must be "raised by Coloured Citizens of the U.S. by the middle of July." Implores them to contribute. In a postscript, he asks for a response in a week. Also asks that the matter be kept quiet, because if the American Colonization Society finds out, they will rejoice and "on the 4 day of July blow a trumpet and thunder it from one end of the union to…

GLC08947

17 July 1872

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Pamphlet

Title: U. S. Grant and the colored people

Urging black voters to re-elect President Grant. Subtitled "His wise, just practical, and effective friendship thoroughly vindicated by incontestable facts in his record from 1862-1872." Addressed "To the Colored People of the United States." Defends Grant as a friend of African Americans and cataloges the ways in which he has helped the black race. Two months prior to this letter Douglass declined Victoria Woodhull's offer to run as her Vice-President on the Equal Rights Party ticket.

GLC08950

2 October 1858

Bailey, Gamaliel, 1807-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Request for help in keeping the Abolitionist newspaper National Era in business. Competition has greatly reduced the papers circulation, and it is in danger of folding. Will not take charity or aid from Congress, so only greater circulation can save the paper. Asks the recipient, addressed simply as "My dear sir" to support the paper by renewing their subscription and encouraging others to subscribe. Gives a history of the newspaper and explain why it should be saved. The letter appears to be intended for all the subscribers of the newspaper. It is possible that copies were printed or…

GLC08956

10 June 1862

Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron M. Powell

Discusses an abolitionist meeting he attended, where a memorial was drafted calling on President Lincoln to immediately abolish slavery. Now in New York, an "immense, dirty, bustling, turbulent city." Says of Theodore Tilton, one of his companions at the meeting "should his life be spared, he is destined to be 'a burning and a shining light' in the cause of humanity and progress."

GLC08958

February 15, 1866

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isaac Errett

Believes that continued war, and not the recent peace, is the best course of action in regard to the South. "I am more convinced every month, that no truce can be made with the spirit of rebellion, that to fight it to the death is the only way to conquer it or even to secure its respect. Rebels never respected us so much as in battle & never despise us so much as when we attempt to conciliate." Offers to contribute an article to the Chirstian Standard. Both men helped found this newspaper, which was attached to the missionary religious order the Desciples of Christ, and Errett was its…

GLC08959

1905

Header Record

Title: Photograph of Peace Commissioners who met to negotiate the Treaty of Portsmouth and a letter dicussing the signatures of said Commissioners [Decimalized .01-.02]

Dated August-September 1905.

GLC00861

February 14, 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Printed document signed

Title: [Commission of Gideon Stebbins]

Countersigned by Charles Thomson. Partially printed appointment of Gideon Stebbins to Second Lieutenant in the Army of the United States Colonies. Accompanied by two signed payrolls for militia commanded by Stebbins during Shays' rebellion. The payrolls are dated June 1786 and September 1786. (GLC01412.10.01 + GLC01412.10.02)

GLC01412.10.01

June 1786

Stebbins, Gideon, 1739-1829

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Pay roll for Captain Stebbins militia company for service suppressing Shay's Rebellion]

Lists the men and indicates that they helped suppress "the Mob at Northampton."

GLC01412.10.02

September 1786

Stebbins, Gideon, 1739-1829

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Pay roll for Captain Stebbins militia company for service suppressing Shay's Rebellion]

Lists the men and indicates that they served under General William Shepard "in defense of the Supreem Judicial Coart at Springfield."

GLC01412.10.03

April 26, 1841

Tyler, John, 1790-1862, Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Letter signed

Title: to Joshua Spencer

Letter signed by Tyler as President and Daniel Webster as Secretary of State. Tyler offers information concerning Canadian Alexander McLeod to Spencer, United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York. States that Henry Fox, Minister Plenipotentiary of Great Britain, transmitted an official communication to the United States Government stating that McLeod, accused of murdering several Americans, was acting as a military agent under orders.

GLC01512.01

26 September 1794

Header Record

Title: Alexander Hamilton letter and engraving [Decimalized]

GLC02908

1763-1783

Engraving

Title: [Engraving of a young Alexander Hamilton]

Note signed by Frederick Reynolds indicates the image was engraved in mezzotint and printed in color. Accompanied (but unrelated to) GLC02908.01.

GLC02908.02

1900-1930

Guthrie, Bayard, fl. 1871

Typed document signed

Title: Record of John B. Guthrie, U.S.A.

Guthrie's son recounts his father's service record in the United States Army from 1868 to 1900, including being stationed on the "Indian frontier 1881-1884." During that time, he kept the field notes for an expedition against the Apache in New Mexico in 1882 (see GLC04589.01). Has a autograph addition at the bottom that indicates Guthrie also served "in the Choctaw country during the troubles in...1893." Date estimated from the end of John Guthrie's service to Bayard Guthrie's final appearance in the census records.

GLC04589.02

1900-1930

Guthrie, Bayard, fl. 1871

Typed letter signed

Title: to Sirs

John B. Guthrie's son indicates that he is sending his father's original field notes from an expedition against the Apache in New Mexico in 1882 (see GLC04589.01). Also indicates that at that time his father was a 1st Lieutenant in the 13th U.S. Infantry and acting as the Adjutant to Lieutenant Colonel George A. Forsyth. Date estimated from the end of John Guthrie's service to Bayard Guthrie's final appearance in the census records.

GLC04589.03

30 October 1849

Manuscript document

Title: The Chugg Water Journal [Vol. 1, no. 3 (October 30, 1849)]

Handwritten third issue of the self-described "largest paper printed at Fort Laramie." Comments on submitted, and in most cases, rejected, articles. Discusses the problems of their "Polemical Editor." Contains a letter pertaining to agriculture and precious metals, another on poetry, and a note on hunting. Reports on a fire at the juvenile infirmary. Written at Fort Laramie

GLC05067.02

1849

Painting

Title: [Watercolor of Indian family standing in front of a teepee]

Appears to be trimmed down. Associated with two 1849 issues of "The Chugg Water Journal" from Fort Laramie (see GLC05067.01 and GLC0567.02).

GLC05067.03

7 December 1759

Ellis, Henry, 1721-1806

Letter signed

Title: to William H. Lyttelton (marked "copy")

Georgia Governor Ellis responds to South Carolina Governor Lyttelton's letter about illicit trade with the Cherokee Indians occurring in Georgia. Expresses his desire to discipline those involved with selling arms and ammunition to the Cherokee. Mentions John Williams as one of the people who they have information on; Ellis indicates that he is "determined to treat him with Severity." Also notes that he has sent a circular letter to the merchants supplying the traders (see GLC05228.02) which he hopes will deter them. Discusses the possibility of enlisting the aid of the Creeks in…

GLC05228.01

7 December 1759

Ellis, Henry, 1721-1806

Letter signed

Title: to John Rae, Lachlan McGillivray, Francis McCartan, and others

Circular letter from Georgia Governor Ellis to the merchants and storekeepers in Augusta, Georgia. Informs the merchants that he has learned from South Carolina Governor William H. Lyttelton of their involvement in "a clandestine and most pernicious traffick with the Indians especially the Cherokees." Forbids them from supplying traders with arms, ammunition, and other goods for the Cherokee, "who must be considered in a state of actual War with us." Threatens prosecution and the loss of future Indian trade licenses. Copy sent with a letter to Governor Lyttelton (see GLC05228.01)

GLC05228.02