28 November 1775

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Contracting Thomas Mumford of New London, Connecticut to acquire 50 tons of gunpowder for colonies]

Signed by Benjamin Franklin, Josiah Bartlett, Francis Lewis, Samuel Ward and Thomas Willing, all as members of a Committee of Secrecy appointed by the "honble. the Continental Congress..." Also signed by Thomas Mumford. Lays out the terms for the procurement and transaction.

GLC06401

6 August 1781

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Letter signed

Title: to Charles Dumas

Written shortly after his appointment as one of five commissioners to negotiate peace with England, Franklin complains about the limited assistance the Netherlands had given the United States during the American Revolution. Referring to the Dutch Revolution he notes: "[F]or tho' it was formerly in the same situation with us, and was glad of assistance from other nations, it does not seem to feel for us or to have the least inclination to help us." Also cites a comparison of Holland to a shop, commenting "I begin to think it has no other Principles or Sentiments but those of a Shopkeeper."…

GLC06402

13 August 1780

Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Webb

Discusses his resignation, French forces, and American troops. Says there have been "marches and counter marches, evolutions and revolutions of different kinds," since Webb left. Reports on British movements, which seem to be "without meaning or intention." Prepares for the arrival of French troops and Comte de Rochambeau, but is not optimistic. Says his own forces are weak. "Happy as a prince" now that he has resigned as Quarter Master General. Felt Congress, which he calls "a strange set of men," was making unreasonable demands of his office, and resigned without asking their…

GLC06403

9 October 1775

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Wooster

Directing Brigadier General Wooster's troops to build batteries on the highlands of Hudson (North) River as per General Schuyler's commands.

GLC06404

14 October 1790

Henry, Patrick, 1736-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Telfair

Defends states' rights. In reference to the passage of the Indian Trade and Intercourse Act in July, 1790, he argues that if the Congress becomes the arbiter of land titles, the states' sovereignty will be diminished and all "landed property" will be in jeopardy. Alludes to the Yazoo land deal the two men were involved in, which was affected by the legislation.

GLC06406

8 May 1814

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Monroe

Attempting to relieve financial distress of General Tadeusz Kosciuszko, who was living in Paris, Jefferson notes that "all his funds are in our monied institution" and other problems with paying him interest. Asks if Monroe, then secretary of state, can have his department remit Kosciuszko's annual funds.

GLC06407

circa 23 October 1855

E.C.K. Garvey & Co., fl. 1855

Broadside

Title: Constitution! The people of the Kansas Territory are requested to assemble...

Broadside announcing a public discussion on the proposed Kansas Constitution, on wove paper, with a vignette of the Federal Eagle, "Constitution! The People of the Kansas territory Are requested to assemble at the following times and places, to discuss the merits of the Constitution Framed by the Convention which convened at Topeka on the 23rd day of October, a.d. 1855." Lists 10 towns and proposed speakers. After a bitter struggle, Kansas was admitted to the Union in January 1861. Printed by E. C. K. Garvey & Co.

GLC06409.01

26 June 1779

Lee, Richard Henry, 1732-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Whipple

Colonel Lee, a Continental Congressman, discusses politics with Whipple, who was in Congress in Philadelphia. Of Virginia, states "We have neither wicked ... or foolish Politicians here, whose misconduct makes us fear for the safety of our country. I have frequently admired the philosophic ease with which you have contemptuously viewed proceedings in Congress that Town shocked me exceedingly." Mentions Samuel Adams's departure from Congress. Requests that Whipple, chairman of the Marine Committee, order several frigates into the Chesapeake Bay stating "The Confederacy & the Boston can…

GLC06411

February 25, 1880

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Manuscript

Title: to William Sherman

Hunt's analysis of artillery at Gettysburg, written as part of his long, ongoing feud with Winfield Scott Hancock. The first part of the manuscript explains and defends the organization artillery and the post of Commander in Chief of the Artillery. Hunt quotes Hancock's letters and responds at great length, mapping out the role of the artillery in battles prior to Gettysburg, pointing out weaknesses in the lack of centralized command. He notes why batteries were placed in certain positions, why they fired and did not fire at certain times during the battle, etc. In an earlier letter to the…

GLC06415.02

1815

Manuscript document

Title: Collection of two items related to the Massachusetts legislature [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC06417

2 June 1911

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Typed letter signed

Title: to C. H. Betts

Responds to criticism from Betts over an article Roosevelt wrote in The Outlook denouncing the New York Court of Appeals for their decision to rule the workmen's compensation act unconstitutional. States that their conduct was, " ... a most flagrant and wanton abuse of a great power." Conveys his views on how the Court should be run, "My plea is for rational growth; my plea is that the court act with ordinary statesmanship, ordinary regard for the Constitution, as a living aid to growth, not as a straight jacket; ordinary regard for the laws, the rights of humanity, and the growth of…

GLC06422

17 April 1781

Von Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, 1730-1794

Letter signed

Title: to Thomas Jefferson

Written by Major General von Steuben to Jefferson as Governor of Virginia. Says General Mitchell will present a list of men now under General Muhlenberg and report on who is about to leave. Mitchell will also communicate von Steuben's defensive plans for Virginia. Says his plan will require at least the number of men he has already requested. Reports that Colonel Armand's corps has returned and that General Muhlenberg is almost without calvary.

GLC06424

10 February 1817

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lady Sidney Morgan [in French]

Discusses their correspondence, conversations. Also discusses the French chambers debates about liberty, the French revolution, ultra policies, and the pope. Writes about having her book translated. Obliges Morgan's request for information on Napoleon's political career after exile to Elba. Pages are numbered p. 1 "843," p. 2 "844," and p. 5 "845."

GLC06436

1862

Anthony, Edward, 1819-1888

Photograph

Title: Young Africa, or the Bone of Contention

Carte de visite half-length vignette, showing a black infant, with wide-open eyes and mouth, wearing plaid dress

GLC06437

1863

Kimball, W.W., fl. 1886

Photograph

Title: Rebecca, An emancipated slave from New Orleans

Typed inscription on verso reads: "Proceeds from photograph sales go to the "Education of Colored people in the Dept. of the Gulf, now under the command of Major General [Nathaniel] Banks." Photo by Kimball, New Orleans. Depicts a very light-skinned former slave, with straight hair curled into fashionable spirals. She wears a child's day dress with dark trim.

GLC06438

1899 December 25

Taber Prang Art Co., fl. 1899

Photograph signed

Title: George Dewey

Bust portrait, dated Christmas. Imperial carte de visite in uniform.

GLC06442

1862

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: [Andrew Jackson]

Half-length bust portrait by Anthony from Brady negative. The caption below the image states it was "entered according to Act of Congress in 1862," but Jackson died in 1845.

GLC06443

1861 May 17

Turner, A. A. (Austin Augustus), fl. 1831-1866

Header Record

Title: Salt print, full-length portrait, Nathaniel Lyon in uniform, by A. A. Turner, with carte

Signed on mount. Handsome image. Accompanied by a carte de visite of the same image, retouched to remove the posing stand (near Lyons' right foot). A. A. Turner, photographer. Carte by D. Appleton.

GLC06447

1861-1864

Morris Family

Header Record

Title: Letters from members of the Morris family in Co. A, 63 Penn. Vols. [decimalized: .001-.104]

This collection consists of the compelling correspondence between four brothers serving in the Union Army and their family at home in Pennsylvania from early 1861 to late 1864. The bulk of the collection is Wilmor Morris' correspondence with his parents and brothers in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut, but he also received several letters from other members of Company A. There are three letters from his good friend James Miller who was killed in the Battle of the Wilderness on 6 May 1864. There is a letter from Captain William Smith who was wounded at Fair Oaks, Virginia on 31 May…

GLC06451

2 May 1864

Draper, John William, 1811-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Maury

Draper, a chemist and historian, discusses his views on black inferiority. "Inferior races cannot be merged in superior ones, without bringing the standard down. For such reasons I look upon all schemes for the removal of the Blacks by absorption in the whites with the severest reprehension, and not to be tolerated in civilized communities." Attests that there are anatomical differences between blacks and whites. Despite his beliefs, remarks, "But though I am thus led to look upon the Negro as of an inferior grade, I regard him as having equal rights with ourselves in the sight of God. The…

GLC06452.02

24 March 1864

Owen, E.C., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Maury

Writes that the Yankees have not yet made an atack against Mobile. Living in fear of an attack. Remarks that others have felt the effects of "Yankee clemency" by which Union troops stripped the home of food and all possessions. In part: "And this war they say they wage to restore the Union...."

GLC06452.04

1861-1865

Header Record

Title: Miscellaneous Civil War documents [Decimalized .01-.07]

GLC06452.05

18 September 1863

Dupont, Samuel F., 1803-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to E. Jackson

Written by Admiral DuPont to E. Jackson. Thanks Jackson for his letter of 15 September. Letter concerns his removal from office. Believes it was done because of his statement that a naval attack could not take Charleston. Says he has no anger toward the government because they need to be able to select their agents as they desire, but is angry that they give false reasons for his removal. Says his side of the story has not been made public. Says "My offense I presume consisted in saying that 'a purely naval attack' was not the way to take Charleston and that Monitors could not do it, and…

GLC06453

27 April 1856

Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry A. Davis

Responds to Davis's former request for one of Fillmore's speeches on the subject of slavery. Relates that he never saved his speeches. Referring to slavery, remarks "all who know me must know that I am opposed to it. I enclose an article which supports me here on that subject, and my Biography, where you will see a letter at page 49, used against me at the South to prove I am an abolitionist; and two other letters in 1848, which are all I have on the subject." Marked "Private" at the top.

GLC06454

19 February 1864

Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892

Autograph document signed

Title: [Appointment of Gibson's aide-de-camp to serve as agent in matters pertaining to slaves]

Brigadier General Gibson (Confederate) discusses matters pertaining to people enslaved by his family. Appoints his aide-de-camp, H.P. Kernochan, as his agent to handle all business discussed within this letter. Learned from his brother Preston that five slaves (Thornton, Wallace, Big Jim, Little Jim, Baker, and Bidwell) from his father's plantation have been sent to Judge Thomas Gholson. Discusses other slaves sent to Gholson for work in the mines. Relates that his brother has thus far been in charge of these matters. Written from Headquarters, Gibson's Brigade, Army of Tennessee.

GLC06455