4 July 1866

Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881

Envelope

Title: [Envelope addressed to C. H. Carter]

Addressed to Carter at Waterbury, Connecticut. Stamped with free frank in Washington, D.C.

GLC03895.01

8 June 1803

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Oldham

Discusses construction materials and methods used at Monticello. Suggests that it would be better to use riven pine slabs than linen. Includes a drawing of six parallel lines to show how the boards can be laid out. Mentions that if Oldham needs more help than just Lewis (a slave), contact Mr. Gabriel Lilly, who will do the job for less money than Mr. John Perry, who charges one dollar a day.

GLC03897

1797/11/28

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clement Biddle re: selling his town coach, after retiring as president

Washington writes that he will sell his town coach "for whatever it will fetch."

GLC03903

1790/08/25

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Printed document signed

Title: [Land indenture for the sale of lands owned by Washington in New York, on the Mohawk River]

Partially printed document cosigned by George Clinton (Washington's real estate partner) and witnessed and signed by David Humphreys and Tobias Lear. Land sold by Washington and Clinton to David Risley of Whitestown, New York. Describes the lot sold.

GLC03904

7 August 1862

Marshall, Humphrey, 1812-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jefferson Davis

Marshall believes "unless Col Morgans movement into Kentucky formed part of a plan of invasion intended to be permanent and effective, it would do harm instead of good." Thoroughly details his plan for such an invasion of Kentucky. Thinks Colonel John Morgan's raiding actions are ineffectual for creating armed resistance to Union control. Instead feels that if he launches a sustained invasion Kentucky residents will join him by the thousands, and he will be able to take Kentucky, and even move against Ohio. Letter mentions numerous officers including Confederate Major General William Wing…

GLC03906

2 November 1815

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Moses Abbott

Written by Monroe as Secretary of State. Monroe apparently owes Abbott a substantial debt, saying he will pay to his order five hundred dollars by Mr. Dabney next week and the balance in 90 days. Says his farms in Albemarle and Loudoun Counties in Virginia have been "miserably deficient," and that the current harvest will hardly pay for the expenses of the plantations. Asks Abbott to communicate with Dabney and to get back to him without delay. Asks to send the letter marked "private" and in another envelope. Monroe had gotten himself into substantial debt, which he was not able to get out of…

GLC03908

15 January 1784

Washington, Martha, 1731-1801

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Hannah S. Boudinot

Writes about the pleasure of returning to domestic life after the termination of the Revolutionary War. Congratulates Boudinot on returning to her own home after a seven year exile and on the improved health of her daughter, Susan Boudinot. States, "The difficulties, and distresses to which we have been exposed during the war must now be forgotten. We must endevor to let our ways be the ways of pleasantness, and all our paths Peace." Mentions that she would love to have the Boudinots visit Mount Vernon as she has not the strength to undergo another journey. Comments on the health and…

GLC03909

25 March 1865

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Robert Barnett by Abraham Lincoln]

Barnett was arrested during the New York Draft Riots and convicted of discouraging enlistments, he was pardoned due to poor health. Endorsed on verso on the date of Lincoln's death. (c/s F.W. Seward)

GLC03912

25 November 1861

Buchanan, Franklin, 1800-1874

Document signed

Title: to Lewis Doughty

Receipt from the Confederate States Navy Department for $518.18 for repairs and equipment for Confederate gunboats. Payment made to Lewis Doughty, who signed this document twice, of the Marine Railway Co. Marks down work on 9 ships and the supplies of wood needed to repair them. Approved by Captain Franklin Buchanan, who signed the receipt. Also signed by boatswain W.H. Face. Marked at top as "In Triplicate." Buchanan was a Confederate admiral. In 1845-47, he served as the first Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy, followed by notable Mexican-American War service. In 1859-61,…

GLC03914

24 December 1823

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Letter signed

Title: [Instructions to James Brown, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to France]

Written by Quincy Adams as Secretary of State to Brown as American Ambassador to France. Lists 14 items he included with instructions, including: a commission for his post, a letter of credence to King Louis XVIII, full powers for negotiating commerce and navigation issues, a cypher to send coded messages, a letter of credit to the banks in Amsterdam to carry out his duties and draw his salary, various legal books, a passport, full powers to negotiate an end to slave trade, and a letter for Albert Gallatin, who he was replacing in France. Spells out salary and expense issues in detail and…

GLC03922

22 February 1865

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin M. Stanton

Marked Cipher at top and copy on verso. Grant writes to the Secretary of War that he had a 100 gun salute fired yesterday for the capture of Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina, and has sent out Stanton's order to have it repeated.

GLC03923

1868/01/14

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

Autograph letter

Title: to Andrew Johnson re: ceasing to be Secretary of War ad interim

Probably a retained draft. Grant has blotted and overwritten numerous words. He claims that he cannot serve because of the Senate's "Act Regulating the Tenure of Certain Civil Officers."

GLC03924

1867/10/03

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William T. Sherman re: Indian Peace Commission. Signed with initials

GLC03927

24 April 1861

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Letter signed

Title: to Philip St. George Cocke re: organizing Virginia's forces, Virginia's borders

Written two days after Lee accepted command of Virginia's forces. Noting that an invasion of Virginia would be considered an act of war. With an initialed postscript.

GLC03874

17 November 1859

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [$10.00 Check to Mary Todd Lincoln]

Check signed by Lincoln payable to "wife." Printed in blue ink, drawn on the Springfield Marine & Fire Insurance Company. Printed by Richards & Smith.

GLC03875

22 July 1860

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George C. Latham re: encouraging Robert's friend to reapply to Harvard

Lincoln writes to his son's friend, who had been rejected by Harvard. He writes a letter of encouragement: "It is a certain truth, that you can enter, and graduate in, Harvard University; and having made the attempt, you must succeed in it. 'Must' is the word. [....] In your temporary failure there is no evidence that you may not yet be a better scholar, and a more successful man in the great struggle of life, than many others, who have entered college more easily. Again I say let no feeling of discouragement prey upon you, and in the end you are sure to succeed." According the Lincoln's…

GLC03876

1776-1778

Header Record

Title: Items pertaining to British soldier Henry Rooke [Decimalized .01-.04]

GLC03881

12 September 1864

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John B. Hood

Writes to Confederate General Hood to discuss a prisoner exchange. Also discusses the deplorable conditions at Andersonville Prison, asking him to give the Union prisoners more room and food, and to allow them to construct shelters. Written on stationary of the "Headquarters, Military Division of the Mississippi."

GLC03882

June 1844 - October 1846

Taney, Roger Brooke, 1777-1864

Header Record

Title: Collection of five letters of Roger B. Taney [Decimalized]

GLC03883

24 November 1865

Wirz, Elizabeth, 1826-?

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Affidavit concerning the lies of General L.C. Baker in regard to the case of Henry Wirz]

Wirz, the wife of the recently executed Captain Henry Wirz, denies Baker's allegation that she attempted to deliver a poison to her husband during one of her visits to him before he was convicted of war crimes at Andersonville Prison during the Civil War. Contends that Baker was angered by her claim that government officials committed perjury during her husband's trial and forbade additional meetings with her husband. Without money to support herself, she returned to Kentucky "Committing her husband to the care of his Maker, and submitting his fate to the honor and Justice of a shoulder…

GLC03887

29 June 1854

Young, Brigham, 1801-1877

Letter signed

Title: to Thomas L. Kane

Young writes to Colonel Kane, an abolitionist and friend. Praises his acquaintance with Kane, and Kane's knowledge of the Mormon people. Thanks Kane for his assistance in a legal case, the "May case," noting "...it is no remedy at all, to put a man to death unjustly, and then punish his executioners, but actually makes matters worse." Remarks that President Franklin Pierce has not acted regarding the case, but Young doesn't think the prisoner will be hanged. Thinks Congress should spend more time developing the railroad than deliberating the slavery question: "Whether the principle [of…

GLC03888

8-9 January 1776

Bartlett, Josiah, 1729-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Bartlett, a Continental Congressman, informs Langdon that "The Congress have ordered the Secret Committee to purchase & bring in for the use of the navy & army sundry articles which were under consideration before you left the Congress." Discusses the purchase and transport of goods bought from the European Market. States that he received information from Langdon's friend Wharton (possibly Samuel Wharton) regarding drawing money from Mr. Tracy in Newbury Port to assist with shipping cargo. Refers to the Philadelphia arrival of Major Patton's (possibly John Patton's) brig, which…

GLC03892

15 October 1885

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Signature

Title: [Clipped signature]

GLC03893.02

6 September 1896

Garfield, Lucretia Rudolph, 1832-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Root

Apologizes for not writing sooner as she has been busy with family and friends. Discusses a sketch of James Garfield's life that Root was to write and states that she is sure he will say what is best to honor him. Mentions that their son, Abram Garfield, has gone abroad to study architecture for a year. Another son James is devoting his time to the campaign against free silver. Gladly remarks that all her sons adhere to the same political doctrines as their father. Reports that her family is well and they all send regards. Written on black bordered mourning stationery.

GLC03895.02

2 June 1905

Garfield, Lucretia Rudolph, 1832-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. George W. Childs

Addressed to Childs at "The Manhattan, 42nd Street, New York City." Asks how she is doing in New York and mentions that she planned on visiting her yesterday, but got caught up in errands. Explains that she had not planned to be in Princeton but her son Harry Augustus Garfield and his family went abroad for the summer and would not be in Mentor, Ohio at all. Reports that she is leaving to go back to Ohio on Monday. Asks Childs about her journey and discusses her own. Mentions the New York City subway system (which would have just opened the year before) and states, "Isn't it wonderful?…

GLC03895.03