1784

Muhlenberg, John Peter Gabriel, 1746-1807

Diary

Title: [Diary of a journey over the Alleghenies to the Ohio River]

Writes this journal while travelling from Pennsylvania to Ohio after obtaining appointment by the Assembly of Virginia to locate lands intended for Virginia officers who served in the Continental Army.

GLC04438

8 June 1798

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frederick Jacob Wichelhausen

Letter forwarded to Wichelhausen, American Consul in Bremen, by Rufus King, American Ambassador to Britain. King's signature appears on the address. Secretary of State Pickering says he received Wichelhausen's letter of 16 January 1798 as well as several other letters and states he is providing diligent service. Comments on Wichelhausen's idea of issuing certificates to American merchant ships that state no British goods are being carried in order to counter a French decree of seizures. Says the French decrees are contrary to international law and will only be countered with force and…

GLC04439

January 23, 1837

Tyler, John, 1790-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to H. A. Weber

Discusses tariff reduction at length and the opposing views of the southern states on the matter. Also brings up sectionalism, the failed Whig campaign of 1836, and fear that " ... no union can be formed between us and the latitudinarians of the north." Written from "Gloucester Place."

GLC04440

18 June 1859

N.B., Onthank, fl. 1859

Photograph signed

Title: Original painted photograph of Abolitionist John Brown, inscribed by Brown to his children

This is a photograph which has been painted in watercolor by N.B. Onthank. Written on front bottom corner of mount is Brown's signature and salutation, which reads "June 18th 1859. Your Affectionate Father, John Brown." With the oval blind embossment of J.B. Heywood, 176 Wash. St., Boston.

GLC04447

23 September 1861

Hunter, R.M.T., 1809-1887

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Appointment of James M. Mason as Confederate Special Commissioner to England]

Credentials appointing James M. Mason Confederate Special Commissioner to England. Signed by Hunter as Secretary of State. Partly printed document, in calligraphic hand with blind stamp of the Confederate States of America, Department of State. The arrest of Mason and John Slidell on their diplomatic voyage to Europe began the Trent Affair.

GLC04448

8 June 1778

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Hartley

Written by Franklin as a diplomat in France to Hartley as a member of the British Parliament. The two were friends since the 1760s. References a letter he wrote to Hartley on 25 May 1778 concerning 200 British prisoners of war. Franklin says "We are oblig'd to keep the Prisoners on shipboard where I doubt they can be comfortably accommodated" and hopes they can be exchanged. Hartley and Franklin would later work together in Paris to sign the peace treaty ending the war. Docketing appears to be in Hartley's hand.

GLC04449

16 February 1862

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Simon Buckner

Souvenir autograph copy of Grant's famous February 16, 1862, letter to Buckner demanding "unconditional surrender" of Fort Donelson, Tennessee, one of the best-known of Grant's wartime letters. This copy was written by Grant, probably in the late 1870's or early 1880's. Grant often signed copies of this letter for friends but this is only one of two copies known to be entirely in Grant's own hand. Misdated 1863. When the Confederates' breakout attempt failed, Buckner, an old friend of Grant's, asked what terms of surrender he would offer. Grant replied "No terms except unconditional and…

GLC04450

circa 1863

Giers & Co.

Photograph signed

Title: [Andrew Johnson]

Carte de visite signed twice below image and on verso, by Giers & Co. Probably signed as military governor of Tennessee.

GLC04451

1843/11/30

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William C. Clark re: death of son, Robert, 6 days after death by typhus

GLC04456

1945 July/August

United States. Army. Signal Corps.

Photograph

Title: [Harry Truman, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin at Potsdam]

Signed by Harry Truman and Winston Churchill. Shows "the Big Three" at the Potsdam Conference in Germany. Includes stamp on verso.

GLC04457

1930-1940 ca.

Photograph signed

Title: [Group portrait of Roosevelt family at Campobello Island]

Signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, and their son, James Roosevelt. 14 other men are pictured with the family on a beach.

GLC04458

2 July 1903

Pach Bros.

Photograph signed

Title: President Roosevelt and Family.

One image entitled, "President Roosevelt and Family," dated July 2, 1903. The portrait is of the family sitting outdoors in front of a garden. President Roosevelt's head has been cut from a similar photograph and pasted onto this one. The printed label beneath the image lists the names or nicknames of each of the family members. In addition to these printed names, the family members have signed below their places in the portrait. President Roosevelt and Edith Roosevelt sit while the children stand behind them, except for Theodore Jr., who sits on his father's knee. According to the label, the…

GLC04459

1861/03/31

Anderson, Robert, 1805-1871

Letter signed

Title: to Lorenzo Thomas re: no work done, supplies nearly exhausted

GLC04461.01

March 14, 1861

Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant, 1818-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Manigault

The letter discusses sending ammunition & weapons to Morris & Sullivan Islands.

GLC04461.02

1888/01/18

Doubleday, Abner, 1819-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isaac N. Roland re: Fort Sumter, "I aimed the first gun there"

Writes Roland that he has no time for a detailed answer to his question. He notes that there were 60 regular soldiers at Fort Sumter and that "I aimed the first gun there."

GLC04461.03

1892/04/25

Gibbes, William H., fl. 1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isaac N. Roland re: an article on Fort Sumter, no bloodshed there, perception

Written on stationery of W. H. Gibbs, Jr. & Company. Gibbes writes about Fort Sumter, how the first battle of the Civil War saw no bloodshed and mentions the fear common among Charleston women and children "that all the 'mans' would be killed."

GLC04461.04

1819-1943

Header Record

Title: Letters and documents relating to John Brown & Family [decimalized .01-.10]

GLC04463

11 October 1856

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frederick Brown & Jeremiah Brown

Leaving Kansas, his poor health, and the health of his sons. Says he is leaving Kansas "both on business: & to recover my health," as he is suffering from "Dysentary & Chill Fever." However, "I expect to go back should the trouble continue" Mentions his half-sister Fiorella Adair and her family. Says John Jr. "is very much broken down; & altered by his troubles" which included being beaten and imprisoned. Brown was also inclined to leave Kansas because he was a wanted man there, and because his homestead had been destroyed. Written to his brother Frederick and half-brother…

GLC04463.01

1859 ca.

Platt, A.C., 1828-1884

Photograph

Title: Sepia head and shoulders image of John Brown, with lock of hair

GLC04463.02

28 April 1855

Brown, Frederick, 1830-1856

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Brown

Journey to Kansas, staking claims in Osawatomie, and plans to build a settlement. Says he, Owen, and Salmon arrived in Osawatomie, without John Jr. and Jason, and have found good land. They "intend to put up some cabbins and get to ploughing as quick as possible." Says he has the Ague, Calves are doing well, mentions their relatives the Adair family. Written to his father.

GLC04463.03

1863/03/17

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joshua F. Speed re: asking Speed to help Lyman Guinnip in Louisville

A confidential letter. Guinnip had been accused of helping enslaved people seek refuge. Lincoln comments "I scarcely think he is guilty of any real crime." Basler, Roy P. The Collected Works Of Abraham Lincoln. (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1953), Vol. VI 1862 - 1863, p. 140.

GLC04370

31 October 1824

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Everett

Written by Monroe at the end of his presidency to Everett, his family physician and neighbor in Virginia. References Everett's previous letter and says he remained behind an extra day in the hope of seeing him. Relates that his duties are forcing him to go back to Washington "immediately & reluctantly." Laments not being able to see Lafayette before his sudden departure to the capital. Lafayette was on his farewell tour through America in 1824-1825. He was previously entertained by Monroe in September 1824, but Monroe expresses disappointment to Everett at not being able to attend an…

GLC04374

1837/12/12

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Simon P. Colby re: claiming that Boston "Federalists" aided N.H. Whigs

Emphasizing the need for Democrats to organize to secure victory in the Spring elections. One bust engraving of Franklin Pierce included.

GLC04376

February 13, 1869

Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882

Photograph signed

Title: [Group portrait of signers of the Treaty of the Isthmus of Darien]

One group portrait of the Treaty of the Isthmus of Darien's signers dated February 13, 1869. The image was taken by Alexander Gardener. Pictured is Secretary of State William H. Seward, who sits in the center. He holds a document labeled "Treaty - Isthmus of Darien - Feb. 13 1869" in his hand. Below the image are the subjects' signatures. The men photographed are from left to right: William Hogan, R.S. Chilton, F.W. Seward, William H. Seward, [unidentified], [unidentified], George E. Baker, and Thomas C. Cox.

GLC04383

1829/01/15

Tyler, John, 1790-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Saunders

Reports on the Senate's plans to distribute extra revenue in the future, once the debt has been taken care of. Also mentions Littleton W. Tazewell's probably being offered Secretary of State, and Jackson expected to leave Nashville.

GLC04384