January 14, 1803

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Letter signed

Title: to William Jarvis

Secretary of State Madison responds to a 16 November 1802 letter from Jarvis, United States Consul in Portugal. States that the United States' right of deposit was obstructed in New Orleans. Refers to a letter (not included) from Juan Manuel de Salcedo, the Governor General of Louisiana to Governor William Charles Cole Claiborne of the Mississippi Territory, stating that the prohibition against the United States was imposed against Salcedo's opinion. Informs Jarvis of James Monroe's nomination as Envoy Extraodinary to Paris and Madrid to secure rights to navigate the Mississippi River.…

GLC03329.01

1 January 1803

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Letter signed

Title: to William Jarvis

Secretary of State Madison sends a copy of a letter from Samuel Snow, United States Minister to Canton, to Jarvis, United States Consul in Portugal. Sent with GLC03329.01, dated 14 January 1803. Snow informs Madison that the Chinese government desires foreigners to depart from China after the business season ends in April. States that most Consuls retire to Macao, a nearby Portugese settlement, until the business season resumes in September. Requests that Madison obtain the Portugese Government's permission for his Maceo residence from Jarvis.

GLC03329.02

October 1849

Manuscript document

Title: The Chugg Water Journal [Vol. 1, no. 1 (October 1849)]

Handwritten first issue of a Fort Laramie newspaper. Introduces the self-described "largest paper printed at Fort Laramie" with the goal of keeping "our friends and fellow exiles, up with the spirit of the age" and promoting political and religious principles. Introduces the four editors. Contains a letter from R. Jones, the commanding officer of the Minnesota Territory, about the war between the Sioux and the Brulees. Contains other local news items. Written at Fort Laramie

GLC05067.01

5 September 1781

Beckwith, George, 1753-1823

Manuscript document

Title: [British spy report]

Reports on George Knox "formerly a Capt. in the Continental Army" who had resigned his commission in April 1780 and resumed farming in Newark. Informs that Knox turned himself over to loyalist refugees at Bergen and sought to join the British service. Relays that Knox reported that General George Washington is below Philadelphia and the troops with him are the Jersey Brigade of about 600 or 700, the Congress Regiment, a detachment of light infantry formed from York troops, and the French troops. Knox also reported that the New England troops are at the Hudson Highlands under General…

GLC05224.01

10 September 1781

Beckwith, George, 1753-1823

Autograph document signed

Title: [British spy report]

Reports on intelligence given by Jesse Sturges, "Washington's army passed that place on his march to Virginia, in order to form a Junction with the French." Informs that Washington has 5000 French and 2000 Continental troops. States that any boat in the Chesapeake that could carry men was used. Reports that the French fleet is in Lynnhaven Bay, Virginia.

GLC05224.02

15 March 1954

Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969

Typed letter signed

Title: to Vernon Smith

Sends thanks for the "treasured photographs of Abraham Lincoln" taken by Smith's grandfather. States that he will take great care of them and will eventually donate them to the Museum at Abilene. Accompanied by the President's schedule for March 12, 1954, accepting the gift (see GLC07094.02).

GLC07094.01

12 March 1954

Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969

Typed document

Title: The President's Appointments Friday, March 12, 1954.

Eisenhower's schedule for the day showing an appointment at 8 AM to accept some photos of Abraham Lincoln from Vernon Smith, a worker in the Social Room. Smith's grandfather, who was a personal friend of Lincoln, took the photos. Also shows an 8:30 appointment with the Secretary of the Treasury, Hon. Sherman Adams, and Hon. Bryce Harlow and a 10AM Cabinet meeting. Lists a 1:30 PM departure for Camp David. Accompanies GLC07094.01.

GLC07094.02

19 September 1859

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Printed document

Title: Douglas an Enemy to the North.

Title continues: Reasons Why the North Should Oppose Judge Douglas. Speech of Hon. Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois. Delivered at Cincinnati, September 19, 1859. Paraphrases and summarizes a speech delivered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Lincoln says Douglas is "the man of the North, pre-eminently the man, who moulded the public sentiment of his section to the uses of the South...As an illustration of the vast power with which Douglas was wielding the public sentiment of the North to suit the South, let it be remembered that five years ago there was not a man on the continent who had said that the…

GLC08933

1821-1855

Hale, Aurelia, 1798-?

Header Record

Title: Aurelia Hale letters to her sister Sarah, and brother Horatio [Decimalized .01- .52]

52 letters covering New England transplant Aurelia Hale's travels in the South, including her views on slavery. Born in Connecticut, Aurelia moved to Savannah, Georgia in 1821, and later migrated to Washington County, Georgia, and then to Alabama. She wrote sporadic letters to her sister Sarah and her brother, Horatio. She was not disturbed by slavery, remarking on 11 June 1821, that the people of Georgia "differ in every respect from the Northerners; are much more agreeable, polite, attentive, and friendly...When we entered Savannah we were astonished at the number of blacks...We find it no…

GLC08934

28 February 1854

Fessenden, William Pitt, 1806-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James D. Fessenden

Writes to his son about his opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska Bill. Fessenden, who had recently been sworn in as a Maine senator, comments that "The Nebraska outrage occasions great feelings here...It is near pretty well understood that the free states were sold by their leaders in 1850...and they are to be plundered. I see no help for it. If the Southern Whigs stopped the measure in body...there is no longer a national Whig party for me." Earlier in the letter he urges James to stay in his position, which he apparently dislikes and discusses Frank's (possibly Francis, another of his sons…

GLC08935

26 November 1864

Benedict, Nehemiah W., 1817-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Newton Benedict

Writes to his brother, praising the election of Reuben E. Fenton as Governor New York over the incumbent, Horatio Seymour. Explains that "We have had a glorious election and not withstanding a traitorous governor had, through the aid of his 'friends', secured more than thirty thousand 'marrow fat' & other bogus notes for his personal benefit. He is overthrown by the spontaneous uprising of an indignant and patriotic people." Making clear that he (and the new governor) supports the Union cause in the Civil War, he writes: "How much better shall we feel that the executive head of the…

GLC08936

October 1859

Douglas, Stephen Arnold, 1813-1861

Pamphlet

Title: Popular Sovereignty in the Territories: Judge Douglas in Reply to Judge Black

Responds at length to the criticisms of his position on popular sovereignty by Attorney General Jeremiah S. Black. Emphasizes that he would "never vote for a slave code in the Territories by Congress." First edition with original free franked envelope Douglas used to send it to Samuel Arnold of Haddam, Connecticut.

GLC08940

1897

Hammond, B.F., fl. 1897

Print

Title: Afro-American Monument

Oil process chromo-lithographic poster. A picture of an angel putting her hand on the head of a slave, surrounded by nine vignettes depicting scenes from slavery to results of emancipation. Includes pictures of Booker T. Washington and Frederick Douglass, the death of Crispus Attucks, the initial arrival of African slaves in 1619, and Abraham Lincoln "breaking the chain of bondage," among other scenes. There is also related statistical information.

GLC08941

20 April 1865

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Endorsement of a runaway slave to return to Tennessee to search for his family]

President Johnson, five days after taking office endorses the petition of Jermain Westley Loguen, an escaped slave and Underground Railroad conductor, to return to Tennessee to search for family members. Written on the leaf of a 31 March 1865 autograph letter signed in which Samuel May made the request of Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. May's letter is also signed by C.B. Sedgewick, Sherman B. Canfield, Reverend George Whipple, and Lewis Tappan. Johnson's endorsement reads: "the within named Rev J. W. Loguen (col'd) of New York is recommended to the favorable consideration of the Civil…

GLC08942

17 February 1881

Purvis, Robert, 1810-1898

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Wendell P. Garrison

Answers questions about William Lloyd Garrison. Comments on his 1833 trip to England, at which time "he was indicted for a libel, by several of the persecutors, of Miss." Explains how he, Lewis Tappan, and others helped Garrison escape apprehension and make the trip. Also comments on Nathaniel Jocelyn's 1833 portrait of Garrison, which was thought "by all his friends, as a most excellent likeness" and subsequently used to make engravings. Mentions the publication of the Liberator. Notes that he recollects Tappan making a statement at an 1833 convention, probably the Anti-Slavery…

GLC08944

20 April 1818

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Printed document

Title: [Act in addition to another act prohibiting the importation of slaves]

Passed by Congress and approved by the President. Outlines the ban on importing slaves, the forfeiture of ships built for such a purpose, and the penalties for involvement in the slave trade. The act being added to prohibited the importation of slaves as of 1 January 1808. The names of Henry Clay (Speaker of the House), John Gaillard (President of the Senate, pro tempore) and President James Monroe are printed at the end. The date is the day Monroe approved the act.

GLC08946

23 June 1834

Williams, Henry, fl. 1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Arthur Waring

An appeal by Williams, on behalf of "the Colourd Citizens of N.Y.," to "the good Colourd Citizens of Washington" for help "in the great and noble under taking to save our paper the Liberator." Explains that the paper is $1,000 in debt, which must be "raised by Coloured Citizens of the U.S. by the middle of July." Implores them to contribute. In a postscript, he asks for a response in a week. Also asks that the matter be kept quiet, because if the American Colonization Society finds out, they will rejoice and "on the 4 day of July blow a trumpet and thunder it from one end of the union to…

GLC08947

17 July 1872

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Pamphlet

Title: U. S. Grant and the colored people

Urging black voters to re-elect President Grant. Subtitled "His wise, just practical, and effective friendship thoroughly vindicated by incontestable facts in his record from 1862-1872." Addressed "To the Colored People of the United States." Defends Grant as a friend of African Americans and cataloges the ways in which he has helped the black race. Two months prior to this letter Douglass declined Victoria Woodhull's offer to run as her Vice-President on the Equal Rights Party ticket.

GLC08950

2 October 1858

Bailey, Gamaliel, 1807-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Request for help in keeping the Abolitionist newspaper National Era in business. Competition has greatly reduced the papers circulation, and it is in danger of folding. Will not take charity or aid from Congress, so only greater circulation can save the paper. Asks the recipient, addressed simply as "My dear sir" to support the paper by renewing their subscription and encouraging others to subscribe. Gives a history of the newspaper and explain why it should be saved. The letter appears to be intended for all the subscribers of the newspaper. It is possible that copies were printed or…

GLC08956

10 June 1862

Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron M. Powell

Discusses an abolitionist meeting he attended, where a memorial was drafted calling on President Lincoln to immediately abolish slavery. Now in New York, an "immense, dirty, bustling, turbulent city." Says of Theodore Tilton, one of his companions at the meeting "should his life be spared, he is destined to be 'a burning and a shining light' in the cause of humanity and progress."

GLC08958

February 15, 1866

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isaac Errett

Believes that continued war, and not the recent peace, is the best course of action in regard to the South. "I am more convinced every month, that no truce can be made with the spirit of rebellion, that to fight it to the death is the only way to conquer it or even to secure its respect. Rebels never respected us so much as in battle & never despise us so much as when we attempt to conciliate." Offers to contribute an article to the Chirstian Standard. Both men helped found this newspaper, which was attached to the missionary religious order the Desciples of Christ, and Errett was its…

GLC08959

1905

Header Record

Title: Photograph of Peace Commissioners who met to negotiate the Treaty of Portsmouth and a letter dicussing the signatures of said Commissioners [Decimalized .01-.02]

Dated August-September 1905.

GLC00861

February 14, 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Printed document signed

Title: [Commission of Gideon Stebbins]

Countersigned by Charles Thomson. Partially printed appointment of Gideon Stebbins to Second Lieutenant in the Army of the United States Colonies. Accompanied by two signed payrolls for militia commanded by Stebbins during Shays' rebellion. The payrolls are dated June 1786 and September 1786. (GLC01412.10.01 + GLC01412.10.02)

GLC01412.10.01

June 1786

Stebbins, Gideon, 1739-1829

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Pay roll for Captain Stebbins militia company for service suppressing Shay's Rebellion]

Lists the men and indicates that they helped suppress "the Mob at Northampton."

GLC01412.10.02

September 1786

Stebbins, Gideon, 1739-1829

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Pay roll for Captain Stebbins militia company for service suppressing Shay's Rebellion]

Lists the men and indicates that they served under General William Shepard "in defense of the Supreem Judicial Coart at Springfield."

GLC01412.10.03