8 March 1865

Prentiss, Mary Y., fl. 1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Abba

Written by a young girl to an unidentified recipient (apparently her sister), intermingling observations with gossip and flirtation. Exclaims enthusiastically about all the fun she is having. States that she attended Lincoln's second inauguration in Washington, D.C., on 4 March 1865, and describes Vice President Andrew Johnson's drunkenness when taking the oath. Comments that, "All the senators are more anxious to have Mr. Lincon [sic] live than they ever were before." Also states that people wanted Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin, Lincoln's first term vice-president, but not Mrs. Lincoln and…

GLC02319

15 June 1838

Calhoun, John C. (John Caldwell), 1782-1850

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Hubbard

Written by Calhoun in blue ink, concerning his support for (and failure to get) a rail route from Georgia to the west, instead of through Ohio. He concludes that southern rail routes will unite the slaveholding states and change commercial and political affairs of the Union.

GLC02320.01

February 22, 1850

Smith, Caleb B. (Caleb Blood), 1808-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Ewing

Recommending William D. Shepherd for a clerkship, and enclosing a petition signed by many Indiana Whigs supporting this promotion.

GLC02320.02

9 March 1866

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Document signed

Title: to unknown

Granting permission to visit Washington on legal business. On Navy Department printed stationery. Document has been trimmed, affecting the department name.

GLC02320.03

23 November 1864

Bates, Edward, 1793-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to E. C. Carrington

Invitation to dinner with Bates and the men in his office. Carrington is addressed as General.

GLC02320.05

November 28, 1863

Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869

Document signed

Title: [Promotion of George B. Drake]

Partially printed document promoting George B. Drake to the rank of First Lieutenant.

GLC02320.07

1783/05/20

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Gov. Benjamin Harrison] re: provisional peace treaty, Carleton & Washington

Signed by Madison as "James Madison Jr." Countersigned by Theodorick Bland and John Francis Mercer. Written to Governor Benjamin Harrison of Virginia, as state delegate (per Madison Papers and Library of Congress, Papers of the Members of Congress project). Madison makes mentions the controversy with slaves ("Negroes") fleeing with British loyalists to Canada. Carlton had argued that owner claims could be made through normal diplomatic channels once a peace treaty had been finalized.

GLC02321

1813/07/19

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Appointment of Levett Harris to secretary to legation at St. Petersburg, Russia]

Signed by Madison as President, countersigned by Monroe as Secretary of State. The official appointment was as "Secretary of the Mission Extraordinary of the United States" and the diplomatic mission was for the purpose of "entering into negotiations at St. Petersburg, with Great Britain, of and concerning a Treaty of Peace and of Commerce." The Treaty of Ghent was negotiated and ended the war of 1812 in late 1814.

GLC02322

15 December 1838

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Harvey

Expresses his optimism for the Democratic party in the upcoming elections. "I think the prospects for the democratic party have rarely been more cheering. We have many great advantages over our opponents." Goes on to say that the Democratic party is united on several principles while the opposition is not. States that, "Under such circumstances I entertain no fears for the result. We must triumph." Written as Senator from New Hampshire.

GLC02327

1 October 1872

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Horace Rublee

Thanks Rublee for gifts and hospitality on his recent trip to Switzerland. Discusses President Ulysses S. Grant's reelection contest, declaring, "I see the President daily and he takes things as easy as though he had no interest in the Contest that now captivates our newspapers." Also states he might send his daughter to Europe over the winter and will have her stop in to see Rublee and his wife. Written on Headquarters Army of the United States letterhead.

GLC02332

January 24, 1780

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to James Clinton

Apologizes for not being able to extend Clinton's furlough any longer. There is a shortage of officers, so Clinton must return as soon as possible. Possibly written in the hand of Tench Tilghman, Washington's aide-de-camp.

GLC02336

13 May 1799

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James McHenry

In reply to McHenry's letter of 2 May 1799. Written as commander of Provisional Army created during the fear of a French invasion to McHenry as Secretary of War in the Adams Administration. They are attempting to find the best candidates to fill openings in the officers' ranks. Washington claims he does not know the rising generation of Virginia as he did when the Revolution broke out since he does not leave home very often. Wants to know if McHenry believes it is proper for the War Department to send out a request for applications that can be reviewed, otherwise he does not know how they…

GLC02337

1915/12/14

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Typed letter signed

Title: to R. Fulton Cutting

Asks Cutting to join Herbert Hoover's enlarged Commission for the Relief of Belgium during World War I.

GLC02339

26 December 1799

North, William, 1755-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Appears to be a retained draft. Written by North as Adjutant General of the Provisional Army with the rank of brigadier general (a position he held 1798-1800) to an unknown recipient. Says if "you are too full, ask Mrs. Duane for a pail of butter." Mentions that he has a sleigh and horses at Duanesburgh doing nothing and that the recipient can use them. Says he is not settled in yet, but says they are doing well. Says they are planning a "great show here on the 31st - funeral honors to the memory of Gen. Washington" (who died on 14 December) on 31 December. Mentions other friends.

GLC02341

5 March 1792

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Document signed

Title: Act for making farther and more effectual provision for the protection of the frontiers of the United States

Signed by Jefferson as Secretary of State. Decided at the first session of the second Congress held at the city of Philadelphia on 24 October 1791. Lists the salaries and allowances for officers and recruits. Mentions employing Indians for compensation. Printed with names of Jonathan Trumbull as the Speaker of the House, John Adams as the Vice-President, and George Washington as the President.

GLC02342

6 January 1840

Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Solomon Haven

Discusses political and social news. Mentions that the state legislature will meet tomorrow and that there is a movement toward legal reform, which he feels in necessary. Briefly comments on national and state debts. Written as member of Congress.

GLC02344

19 February 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Roscoe Conkling

Replies to Conkling's letter criticizing the reputation of Caleb Lyon. Lincoln remarks that, "his nomination to some respectable office was repeatedly urged upon me certainly by two, if not three Senators of the highest standing; and your letter contains the first imputation I ever heard against his moral character."

GLC02345

circa 1920

Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964

Signature

Title: [Hoover's signature on White House card]

White House card.

GLC02346.02

1861/01/27

Bragg, Braxton, 1817-1876

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elise Bragg re: eye-witness account of secession of Louisiana

Written on state Executive Mansion stationery, and also mentioning the replacement of the Federal flag by "the Goose [sic, Pelican] was hoisted in its stead"

GLC02282

1861/04/08

Arthur, B.F., fl. 1860-1863

Manuscript document signed

Title: Copy of... resolution approving appointment of Beauregard by Pickens

Written as clerk of the South Carolina secession convention.

GLC02284

1861/04/19

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Letter signed

Title: to Gov. John Letcher re: asking Virginia to join CSA and sending Stephens

Signed as President of the Confederacy. Also sending Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens to negotiate alliance.

GLC02285

4 March 1858

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William P. Fessenden

Praises a speech of Fessenden and mentions that in order for the Republicans to win the election in 1860, they will need to keep together on their own principles. Comments on the opinions of Stephen Douglas, "The Douglas notion of a popular Sovereignty incapable during the whole period of territorial existence of freeing itself from slavery and then, at the initiative of State existence indifferent whether slave or free, but only asking the privilege of saying which, will never do to form a party upon." Written as Governor of Ohio on State of Ohio, Executive Department stationery.

GLC02286

13 December 1859

Ericsson, John, 1803-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Requests that recipient inform him if he has written to Mr. Morris to demand the engines with the late improvements. Also asks if recipient has sent them his letter.

GLC02287

1781/06/16

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry re: neutrality, French alliance, and his anti-British feelings

Written as U.S. Minister to the Netherlands. The first part recommends the bearer, Mr. Le Roy, desirous of commercial connections in America. Adams deprecates the idea of armed neutrality and concludes: "you must not entertain the most distant Idea of Peace while there is one British Soldier alive and at Liberty in America."

GLC02292

1785/07/06

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry re: frustrations and doubts on British commercial treaty

Written as U.S. Minister to Great Britain after formally presenting his credentials to George III. Enclosing letters (not included) "sent to Mr. Jay in Cypher." America had been flooded with British imports after the Revolution, but Congress was not permitted to enact protective tariffs. Instead, various states enacted tariffs.

GLC02293