18 August 1882

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Letter

Title: to Mrs. Randall L. Hunt

Written entirely and signed by Varina Davis, for her husband. Declines an invitation to visit a church festival because he has a prior engagement and must be in New Orleans at that times. Explains that his daughter "would be very glad to contribute by a song to the laudable purpose you have in view" if someone could be sent to rehearse with her beforehand. Written at Davis's home, Beauvoir.

GLC03574

04 May 1796

Adams, Thomas B., 1772-1832

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Pitcairn re: treaties before Congress, including one with Algiers

Written as American Vice-Consul to France.

GLC03575

9 December 1865

Thompson, Meriwether Jeff, 1826-1876

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph L. Smith Kirby

Affectionately discusses his former soldiers, who he refers to as his "offspring." Discusses his new business and writes that he cannot bear to return to Virginia, lest the desolation make him "hate the whole Yankee nation."

GLC03576

29 March 1865

Palmer, Joseph B., 1825-1890

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Report on battle of Bentonville, North Carolina]

Confederate Major General Palmer gives a detailed report of the Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina, which occurred on 19-21 March 1865. Describes his brigade's movements and tactics, and lists losses from his brigade including captured, wounded, and killed. "My losses during the fight were 13 killed, 113 wounded, & 53 captured, making in all 179. The enemy's loss I am satisfied was greater, especially in killed." Lists the names and rank of some of the casualties. Includes a one page statement entitled, "Statement of effective total of [General Carter L.] Stevenson's Division in…

GLC03580

1682

Visscher, Nicholas, fl. 1682

Map

Title: Novi Belgi Novaeque Angliae [New Netherland and New England]

This map marks the culmination of Dutch surveys of their possessions in what became New York and New Jersey. Cartouche includes panorama of New York City (New Amsterdam). Engraved map, handcolored. See R. V. Tooley, The Mapping of America, p. 285 no. 6.

GLC03582

1730

Seutter, Matthew, fl. 1730

Map

Title: Recens Edita totius Novi Belgii [New Netherland - New York]

Matthew Seutter, following Jansson and Nicholas Visscher. Engraved map, handcolored. The map shows the back-and-forth tussle between the Dutch and English over New York and New Jersey, and uses both sets of place names. Cartouche shows New York City (New Amsterdam) (incolored). The figures surrounding the cartouche include enslaved people laboring with other people, present produce to a seated monarch who may be George II. See R. V. Tooley, The Mapping of America, p. 291 no. 25 (no. 24 for citation on cartouche).

GLC03583

2 November 1817

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Count De Grouchy

Hopes that Grouchy's son has recovered from his illness. Indicates that he would like to meet Grouchy in person and would be honored if he came for a visit to Monticello. Gives directions, "the route thro' the counties next below the Blue ridge, to wit by the Court houses of Prince William, Fauquier, Culpeper & Orange, would present you what I think the finest part of our country . . ." Also describes a route by Fredericksburg.

GLC03584

17 September 1787

Constitutional Convention, 1787

Document signed

Title: United States Constitution. Printed Dunlap & Claypoole edition inscribed to Jonathan Williams

One printing of the United States Constitution by Dunlap & Claypoole dated September 17, 1787. This printing of the Constitution is missing the last two pages cutting off after the second paragraph of the sixth article. It is a members printing of the Constitution by Dunlap & Claypoole, inscribed by Benjamin Franklin (as President of Pennsylvania) to Jonathan Williams Sr., a successful Massachusetts businessman and husband to Franklin's niece, Grace Harris Williams. The members printing was intended to be distributed to state governments and influential Americans. This printing…

GLC03585

24 November 1778

Parsons, Samuel H., 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Mumford

Has come to the conclusion that the British forces will be not evacuating New York City this winter. Mentions that paroled prisoners are to prepare themselves to be called into service. Mumford's son was a prisoner of war. Parsons was an American general and Mumford was a Connecticut merchant.

GLC03586

1863-1865 ca.

Header Record

Title: Civil War - photographs including Gardner, Brady, Russell: Gettysburg, Antietam [word processed inventory available]

Photographs by Gardner (8 from Sketch Book and Incidents), George N. Barnard (3 from western campaigns: Chattanooga), Andrew J. Russell (1 Gen. Foster's Line) and 2 anonymous of Brattleboro, VT. There are also two unaccompanied text plates from Gardner's Incidents.

GLC03588

1861-1865 ca.

Photograph

Title: Album of 20 cartes de visite plus 6 of Lincoln and his cabinet

Cartes de visite by Brady, Anthony, Barr & Young, and J. Carbutt. Includes Lincoln's cabinet: Lincoln, Hannibal Hamlin, William H. Seward, Edwin Stanton, Salmon P. Chase, Edwin Bates, Gideon Welles, Montgomery Blair (Postmaster Gen.), Caleb B. Smith (Interior), Stephen A. Douglas, Edward Everett, Horace Greeley, Richard J. Ogelsby (Illinois Gov.), Gen. Joseph Hooker, Gen. George B. McClellan, Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, Gen. William S. Rosecrans, Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, Gen. John A. Logan, Gen. William T. Sherman. The album was assembled in the 1920s by Illinois rare book dealer Edward T.…

GLC03589

1 September 1806

Pike, Zebulon M., 1779-1813

Letter signed

Title: to Grand Pest

Address to Chief Grand Pest of the Osage Indians residing on the Arkansas River, with a French translation on p. 2. Advises Grand Pest "of the approach of the Son of Your Great Father" (Zebulon Pike) and urges him to "Open Your ears to the good council of the Great Warrior...he will put you in the path of wisdom, & never deceive you." The letter was delivered by General James Wilkinson's son, Pike's second in command. General James Wilkinson, the governor of Louisiana, had sent Lieutenant Pike on this mission to pacify the Indians.

GLC03594

18 September 1780

Dundas, Ralph, 1732-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Dundas, Captain of the H. M. S. Bonetta, informs his brother James he was in New York and other locations before moving north to Nova Scotia. Reports that on the way, his men took five prizes and reclaimed two brigs containing low-valued cargo. States that a French fleet is "Blocked up at Present at Rhode Island" by Admiral Marriot Arbuthnot. Refers to the British defeat of American forces at Charleston, South Carolina, in May 1780 and the capture of valuable Virginia ships by New York privateers. Discusses a riot in Boston, Massachusetts following General George Washington's call for 3,…

GLC03676.02

24 December 1866

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Canby re: disputes in Texas convention on dividing Texas into 2 states

GLC03677

1 August 1850

Phelps, Samuel Shethar, 1793-1855

Autograph letter signed

Title: to J. H. Barrett

Phelps, a Whig Senator from Vermont, writes to J. H. Barrett, possibly Joseph Hartwell Barrett. Relates that an article by E. D. Barber in the "Brandon Post" (a newspaper from Brandon, Vermont) provided misinformation regarding the Clayton Bill of 1848. Phelps argues that this bill prohibited the extension of slavery, and was an equivalent to the Wilmot Proviso. He vehemently defends his position on the bill against Barber's false reports, emphasizing his opposition to the spread of slavery. Also argues that Barber misrepresented Horace Greeley's opinion of the bill, and thinks the bill's…

GLC03678.01

22 August 1850

Phelps, Samuel Shethar, 1793-1855

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Docketed with blue ink. Possibly to J. H. Barrett (refer to GLC03678.01). Discusses the Compromise of 1850 (the Pearce Act) in detail. Phelps offers his opinion on the act, which related to the extension of slavery in territories acquired by the Mexican American War: "... this country is and will remain a desert and neither slavery or population will ever exist there." Phelps voted for the Compromise of 1850 because, "there was danger that the govt. itself might be dissolved if these questions about slavery were not disposed of... It was not violence that I apprehended but the... silent…

GLC03678.02

1837

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Broadside

Title: Farewell address of Andrew Jackson

This document is a copy of Andrew Jackson's farewell address. In it, he says "Our country has improved and is flourishing beyond any former example in the history of nations," Jackson writes. Like Washington's farewell address, he warns of the dangers of sectionalism, saying, "At every hazard and by every sacrifice, this Union must be preserved...What have you to gain by division and dissension?" Discusses states rights versus federal. Worries about federal abuse of the power to tax, and about the use of paper money. This document was printed and published by Israel Sackett. Currently mounted…

GLC03680

1864 ca.

Burnside, Ambrose Everett, 1824-1881

Photograph

Title: 6th plate Ambrotype portrait of the General in uniform, in frame

GLC03686

15 September 1857

Cobb, Howell, 1815-1868

Letter signed

Title: to Robert E. Rogers and Henry Vethake

Rogers and Vethake were appointed Treasury Department commissioners in July 1857. Requests them to report to him as soon as possible if they intend to accept the appointment, and if so they are to "arrange with the Director of the Mint to give Dr. Barclay the proper facilities for testing his alleged discovery." James T. Barclay had developed tests to detect counterfeit coinage. Rogers and Vethake accepted the commission and verified Barclay's discovery. Written as Secretary of the Treasury.

GLC03689

16 May 1876

Lee, Samuel Phillips, 1812-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Maury re: pardon and restoring political rights to C.S. Naval Officers.

GLC03694

1 June 1796

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Printed document signed

Title: Fourth Congress of the United States: at the first session, begun and held at the city of Philadelphia, in the state of Pennsylvania, on Monday, the seventh of December, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five.

Signed by Pickering, Secretary of State. Includes "an act regulating the grants of land appropriated for military services, and for the society of the United Brethren for propagating the gospel among the heathen," "an act for the admission of the state of Tennessee into the union," "an act limiting the time for the allowance of drawback on the exportation of domestic spirits, and allowing a drawback upon such spirits exported in vessels of less than thirty tons, by the Mississippi," "an act to suspend, in part, the act, intituled 'An act to alter and amend the act, intituled 'An act laying…

GLC03698

18 February 1825

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Letter signed

Title: to Nathaniel Williams

Forwards commission appointing Williams Attorney of the United States for the District of Maryland (commission not included with letter). Signed as Secretary of State.

GLC03701

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

29 December 1777

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to New Hampshire re: asking for supplies, call to arms & poor state of army

Written in the hand of Robert Hanson Harrison. Washington appeals for clothing and supplies for his troops. Copies of this letter went to every state. Washington writes in part: "We had in Camp on the 23rd Instt. by a field report then taken, not less than 2898 men unfit for duty by reason of their being barefoot and otherwise naked." Fitzpatrick 10: 221-25 (based on the copy sent to Massachusetts).

GLC03706

27 August 1814

Snyder, Simon, 1759-1819

Printed document signed

Title: [General orders for Pennsylvania's troops to be ready defend the state]

In response to the British capture of Washington, D.C., during the War of 1812, the Pennsylvania governor issued this order because of the threat "and probable conflagration of the metropolis of a sister state," particularly an attack initiated from the shores of the Delaware River.

GLC03708