8 March 1878

Hayes, Rutherford B., 1822-1893

Document signed

Title: [Presidential authority to the Secretary of State to affix the seal to the pardon of eight men].

Conditional pardon for John P. Muncie, Lewis Spencer, John M. Hibbard, William Griffin, William W. Workman, Henry Holzhauser, Samuel Walters, Eugene Slinker, John Frazier and James M. Norris.

GLC05489

31 May 1850

Clarke, Matthew St. Clair, 1791-1852

Printed letter signed

Title: [American Colonization Society circular proposing steamship line between the United States and Africa]

Addressed to "His Excellency the Gov of NJ" (Daniel Haines). Signed by [Matthew St. Clair Clarke]. Copy of the memorial of Joseph Bryan, of Alabama, to Congress, proposing to establish a line of steam ships between the U.S. and Africa. Cites the need for maintaining a naval force on the western coast of Africa, the need for extinguishing the slave trade, to extend trade between the United States and Africa, and to convey that emancipated people can emigrate to Africa, if they wish.

GLC05492

14 March 1830

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Chase

Writes to his brother, a lawyer in Lockport, New York, about his journey from Washington, D.C. to Cincinnati, Ohio. Laments his undesirable traveling companions among whom was a woman convict. "A woman too - who had been committed for Infanticide and discharged because she was the only female in prison. You may imagine I was not highly delighted with my company..." Describes the events of the rest of his trip and the scenery along the way. Exhorts his brother to act in "...the great cause of truth and virtue. I look to see you standing beside the ark of national purity ... I hope to…

GLC05494.01

1865-1869

English, John G., fl. 1827-1869

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Post-war plantation diary and journal of Mississippi cotton planter]

English mentions Confederate generals visiting, Civil War battles, slavery, and Reconstruction, among other topics. Provides a list of all slave families on this Mississippi Cotton plantation. Contains a detailed account of crops planted, weather, and other topics related to plantation life. (Refer to related items GLC05496, an antebellum journal, and GLC05460, English's presidential pardon). There is a space in the front of this manuscript as the result of pages which were cut out. Rebound, but accompanied by original cover.

GLC05497

18 December 1790

Waln, Nicholas, fl. 1790

Broadside

Title: [Explaining why Quakers refuse to pay a fee for their pacifism]

Quakers explaining why they refuse to pay a fee to the government for their pacifism.

GLC05326

October 1779

Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797

Autograph note signed

Title: to Andrew Adams

Signed with initials. Date from docket. Wolcott attests to a statement he made in a letter to Jacob Bogardus: "The aspersion mentioned in Mr. Bogardus letter was that I wrote to him that the conduct of [Mr. Shneill] in selling his negro I considered a wanton act of Barbarity. OW." Written on a blank leaf, with address leaf on verso, to Andrew Adams, docketed "Genl. Wolcott's letter inclosing a letter from Jacob Bogardus & Dep. Oct. 1779."

GLC05330

February 12, 1862

Van Brunt, G.J., 1801-?

Letter signed

Title: [Report on condition of the CSS "Merrimac"]

Reports that a William West, a rigger "who made his escape from Norfolk," said the "Merrimac" was still in dock on 10 February. Claims the ship draws 17 feet of water, has 10 gun (8 of which are 9 inch smooth bore broadside gun and 2 heavy rifled guns). Carries 200 men and 12 lieutenants. Expects the ship to draw 21 feet with everything on board. Says the "Pilot house is in shape like a sugar loaf, and of cast-iron 5 inches thick and about 4 feet in diameter. She will be ready to come out of dock next Monday. Her engines are also working well. Captain Van Brunt commanded the USS "Minnesota…

GLC05331.01

20 February 1862

Van Brunt, G.J., 1801-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to A. A. Harwood

Marked "Private." Sends a report on the CSS "Merrimac" to Captain Harwood, the Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, based on his examination of William West, a rigger who had been aboard the vessel and later "made his escape from Norfolk." Van Brunt says that "there have been so many reports about the 'Merrimac' & her movements, which have been false - I send you this under the belief that it is correct. We may expect her [the Merrimac] down at any moment & if she comes it will be my endeavour to prevent her return - I can get this ship [the Minnesota] under weigh night or day in 10…

GLC05331.02

17 October 1782

Wheeler, Paul, fl. 1782

Document signed

Title: [Record of money due to an African American for service in the Connecticut militia]

States that eight pounds, nine shillings, and three pence is the balance due to Cato Cuff from the State Treasurer for his military service. Signed by Wheeler on behalf of Cuff. Partially printed.

GLC05333

circa 1863-1864

Manuscript letter

Title: to officers and soldiers of the Virginia colored guards

An unknown female author presents a flag to African American troops stationed in the vicinity. States "it has often been remarked how much better this company has behaved than others previously encamped on this ground_ the ladies have spoken highly of the courteous manner of the soldiers ..." Urges the men to protect the flag during battle at all costs, stating "but soldier! never let its shadow be tarnished by a mean or cruel deed ... Ladies cannot fight, we have not courage to face the cannon's mouth ... but we respect a brave and honorable soldier." Instructs the soldiers to protect the…

GLC05335

28 February 1863- 1 April 1865

Various

Header Record

Title: Items pertaining to the 11th Regiment, United States Colored Troops and to Major Milton Wells [Decimalized .01-.04]

GLC05336

3 July 1866

Wood, J.H., fl. 1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown [incomplete]

Warns of the impending arrival of emancipated Black people seeking to buy land. Lists reasons not to lease land them. Encourages White people to move away.

GLC05337

circa 1840-1850

Object

Title: [Shackles used on enslaved people]

These shackles resemble those used during the mid-1800s. Handwrought iron, consisting of two leg shackles linked by a flat iron plate. Could have been used for enslaved people, but also might have been used in a jailhouse for criminals.

GLC05338

1859-1860

Duncan, Stephen, 1787-1867

Header Record

Title: Collection of letters pertaining to Stephen Duncan [Decimalized .01-.12]

Written mostly to Charles P. Leverich, a financial agent active in New York and New Orleans. Discusses accounts, supplies, secession, and slavery.

GLC05339

4 June 1907

McCurtain, Green, fl. 1903-1908

Printed document signed

Title: [Official Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations patent to freedman Morris Clark]

Serves as an official document issued 3 December 1904 providing for the allotment of land to freedmen within the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. This particular document allots 40 acres of land to Morris Clark. Partially printed; information pertaining to acreage and specific land allotment is typed in blue ink. Signed by McCurtain as Principle Chief of the Choctaw Nation on 4 June 1907. Signed by Douglas Hancock Johnston as Governor of the Chickasaw Nation 14 June 1907. Signed by Oliver A. Phelps, clerk for the Department of the Interior on behalf of James Rudolph Garfield, Secretary of…

GLC05340

1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: Items related to John Slidell [Decimalized .01-.02]

Letter by Slidell and print of him, clipped from a newspaper.

GLC05342

circa February 1788

Adams, Abigail, 1744-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clement Cotterell

Requests Cotterell inform her whether or not she has an appointment at court that day with King George III and the Queen. She and John Adams were requesting their leave of the court as he had been called back to America. Undated, date inferred from events.

GLC05343

28 April 1871

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frank H. Alfriend

Marked "Private" at the top. Davis has not been able to obtain a copy of the biography which Alfriend wrote. The book is available only through subscription. He heard the book was "the best work on the subject which had been produced." He encourages Alfriend to write a history of the war between the states that would do "justice to our Section . . . ." He continues: "The severe ordeal of War and the still harder test of unrestrained power in the hands of the successful combattant [sic], have shed a flood of light on the questions which were discussed in the formation of the plan of Union…

GLC05344.02

3 October 1876

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frank H. Alfriend

Enclosing a letter from an author name Spruce [?], who wrote a history of the "War between the Northern and Southern States." Davis notes the book is widely circulated in America. [Enclosure is not included in the collection.]

GLC05344.03

1861-1877

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Autograph note

Title: to Frank H. Alfriend

Informing Alfriend that Davis will come to see him tonight or tomorrow.

GLC05344.04

8 February 1867

Ewell, Benjamin S., fl. 1867

Autograph document signed

Title: [extracts from the President of William and Mary College]

Two extracts from the President of William and Mary College. Also signed by the Secretary of the Faculty. The first extract bestows a Bachelor of Arts degree on Frank H. Alfriend of Richmond. The document notes that Alfriend would have received the degree in 1861, had the college not suspended services because of the war. The second extract bestows a Masters of Arts on Alfriend to date from July, 1866.

GLC05344.05.01

circa 5 October 1850

Friends of Freedom (Boston, Mass.)

Broadside

Title: Declaration of sentiments of the colored citizens of Boston, on the fugitive slave bill!!!

African American citizens of Boston respond to the Fugitive Slave Law. Published by the "Friends of Freedom." Signed in print by Lewis Hayden as President of the Friends of Freedom and William C. Nell as Secretary. Also includes another text block at the bottom titled "Address to the Clergy of Massachusetts." Printed at No. 86 Hanover Street, Boston.

GLC05345

circa 1861

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Introductory address to American Society for Promotion of National Unity]

Morse, president of the society, introduces Rabbi Morris Jacob Raphall. Discusses "Whether Slavery, or the condition of being held in subjection to the will of another, is a divine institution, sanctioned by laws & commands, and regulated from the earliest times or whether it is forbidden as a sin, as a violation of the laws of God... Until this point is satisfactorily settled we cannot reach the expediency or inexpediency, the advantage or disadvantage of this system of servitude." Circa date based on the publication of Raphall's speech, "The Bible View of Slavery."

GLC05350

30 December 1864

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

Autograph document signed

Title: to Benjamin F. Butler

Arranging for a courier to deliver a sealed letter to "a Commissioned Confederate officer," who will pass it on to Jefferson Davis. The sealed letter requested a meeting with Davis to negotiate peace, and is possibly related to the Hampton Roads Conference.

GLC05456

11 May 1865

Halleck, H.W. (Henry Wager), 1815-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Marsena R. Patrick

Halleck writes as Union Major General Commanding to Brigadier General Patrick. "The Secty of War wishes proof of the fact ... that Libby Prison was mined at about the time of [General Hugh J.] Kilpatrick's raid for the purpose of blowing up our prisoners." 1 full length seated black and white engraving of Halleck included.

GLC05457