September 10, 1835

Polk, James K. (James Knox), 1795-1849

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Andrew Kincannon

In his letter, James K. Polk informs that he cannot give a reliable opinion on Kincannon's congressional run though he feels he made a respectable showing. Mentions recommendations being forwarded from the Choctaw Agency West after the death of Colonel Armstrong. Discusses politics in Tennessee and informs that, "The mass of our people are essentially Democratic, and all they want is right and correct information, to induce them to act out practically their principles." But then he states that he believes Tennessee will stay Republican. He remarks on the strong influence the press has in…

GLC00129

June 3, 1767

Carroll, Charles, 1737-1832

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Addressed to "Gent." Discusses the necessity of purchasing goods from England by fall, or at a greater expense, purchasing them in the country. Requests a meeting about this issue. Postscript states the letter need not be sent to Mr. Carroll Barrister as he is out of town. Docketed with date and "B:C" on verso.

GLC00130

October 8, 1781

McKean, Thomas, 1734-1817

Letter signed

Title: to Joseph Reed

Written by McKean, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as President of the Confederation Congress to Reed as President of the supreme executive council in Pennsylvania. Says that Brigadier General William Irvine (McKean has written Irwine) sets out tomorrow to take command of Fort Pitt and might need the assistance of the local militia. Sends along a copy of Irvine's instructions (not included here). Says he "rests assured" that every measure of support will be given to Irvine by the militia. Written 11 days before the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown.

GLC00131

April 12, 1957

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

Typed letter signed

Title: Memorandum for the Secretary of State and Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission

Informs that he has approved H. R. 5866 which enables the United States to cooperate with Berlin to use atomic energy peacefully. Interprets language in the Act and informs that it is his intention to have the Secretary of State handle negotiations related to the Atomic Energy Commission and international relations. Written on White House stationery.

GLC00164

1810-1953

Various

Header Record

Title: Collection of 12 documents relating to pardons (collection #6). See decimalized entries. [Decimalized .01-.12]

GLC00173

January 10,1810

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of John Bladen for assault and battery].

Cosigned by Robert Smith. Bladen was convicted of assault and battery. He was sentenced to 1 month imprisonment and to pay a $100 fine and court costs. Pardoned after serving out his prison sentence because he was unable to pay the resulting fine and the costs for prosecution.

GLC00173.01

22 May 1846

Polk, James K. (James Knox), 1795-1849

Document signed

Title: [Presidential authority to the Secretaty of State to affix the seal to the pardon of David Babe, alias William Brown].

Babe had been convicted of murder on the high seas in December 1843.

GLC00173.02

15 September 1849

Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850

Document signed

Title: Pardon of William Childers, convicted of counterfeiting.

Convicted of passing counterfeit coin; sentenced to 2 years imprisonment. Pardoned for "...divers good and other sufficient reasons...". (c/s John M. Clayton)

GLC00173.03

09 November 1850

Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874

Document signed

Title: [Presidential authority to the Secretary of State to affix the seal to the pardon of J.N.F. Fulirmann].

GLC00173.04

17 November 1854

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Lucy Wheeler, "a negress," convicted of two counts of aggravated assault.

Wheeler, convicted of two counts of aggravated assault: sentenced in one case to 1 year imprisonment, and to pay a $0.50 fine and court costs; sentenced in the other to 6 months imprisonment [to be served following the first term], and to pay another $0.50 fine and court costs. Pardoned after serving out her first prison term and paying $0.50 fine. (c/s William L. Marcy)

GLC00173.05

28 March 1859

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Document signed

Title: Pardon of the Steamboat "Terror" for violations of steamboat inspection laws [fraud].

Convicted of being in violation of steamboat inspection laws [fraud]. Pardoned because the crime was unintentional. The steamboat had been rented only as accommodation to a charitable, religious society for a trip down the Penobscot River at no cost. (c/s Lewis Cass)

GLC00173.06

30 October 1868

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: [Presidential authority to the Secretary of State to affix the seal to the pardon of James O'Neill].

GLC00173.07

02 May 1871

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

Document signed

Title: Pardon commuting death sentence of Charles Purdue, convicted of arson while at sea.

Convicted of arson on the high seas; sentenced to death by hanging. Pardoned by recommendation of the convicting jury and since it was the first such conviction to fall under the statute of 1790, imposing the death penalty for the said offense, and that Purdue could not have known the consequences of the crime. It was also stated that there had been no intention to destroy life and none were lost. Grant recommends "...his sentence be commuted to some long term of imprisonment at hard labor...". (c/s Hamilton Fish)

GLC00173.08

December 19, 1889

Harrison, Benjamin, 1833-1901

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Frank Lucas, convicted of counterfeiting.

Convicted of passing counterfeit silver dollars; sentenced to four years hard labor, and to pay a $500 fine and court costs. Pardoned since his innocence had been corroborated by the U.S. Marshall, deputies, and clerk. (c/s James G. Blaine)

GLC00173.09

January 7, 1916

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Document signed

Title: [Presidential commutation for Tonko L. Milic, convicted of conspiracy to smuggle cocaine into the U.S. on 25 March 1915 and sentenced to one year imprisonment]

Tonko L. Milic was sentenced to one year imprisonment in the state penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia. Wilson commuted his sentence to expire immediately, no reason mentioned. Countersigned by Attorney General Thomas W. Gregory. Printed document with blanks filled in by hand.

GLC00173.10

1789

Morse, Jedediah, 1761-1826

Book signed

Title: The American Geography / By Jedediah Morse

8vo. Signed on titlepage by George Washington with his engraved heraldic bookplate. Contemporary calf. With two fold-out engraved maps, as issued. Athenaeum Catalog (1897) p. 506 (item 161 in the GW's estate inventory), mentions that it was once owned by Senator Hearst of Washington.

GLC00176

1787

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Header Record

Title: A Defence of the Constitutions, with Summary History... [Decimalized .01-.02]

[decimalized 00177.01-00177.02]

GLC00177

February 4, 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Respite of execution for slaver Nathaniel Gordon]

Countersigned by Secretary of State William H. Seward. Convicted of engaging in the slave trade, respite granted to allow Gordon to prepare for execution. He was the only slave trader in U.S. history to be executed for that crime and was executed on 21 February 1862 in New York. See story in Harpers Weekly, 8 March 1862, p.150 (ill. p.157).

GLC00182

August 15, 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George H. Penfield

Abraham Lincoln directs Penfield to supply ordnance and cavalry arms by contract to P. B. Fowke's regiment. Penfield had an existing contract to supply the government with ordnance.

GLC00183

June 13, 1813

Gerry, Elbridge, 1744-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: Catherine Coles

The letter is written to his niece regarding the death of her father.

GLC00184.12

8 April 1775

Hewes, Joseph, 1730-1779

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt to Richard Caswell]

Certifies receipt of Governor Richard Caswell of North Carolina 466 pounds, 13 shillings to cover the expenses of attending the first and second Continental Congress. There are four symmetrical holes in the page causing text loss.

GLC00168

June 27, 1771

Lee, Francis Lightfoot, 1734-1797

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Lee

Writes to his brother, a merchant in London, regarding tobacco shipments from Virginia to England and the vessels carrying the tobacco. Discusses business clients, bills, payments, and insurance. Includes a postscript on page 2 dated June 28 with a second signature that adds more information about the shipments. Tipped to a border.

GLC00169

July 4, 1776

Paine, Robert T., 1731-1814

Broadside signed

Title: [Oath of allegiance to the independence of the United States]

Signed by 12 men, including two signers of the Declaration of Independence, Robert Treat Paine and Matthew Thornton. Paine's signature is unusual because he is from Massachusetts. Certifies that the signers, "Do solemnly swear, that I do renounce, refuse, and abjure, any Allegiance, or Obedience to George the III, King of Great Britain: and that I will to the utmost of my Power, support, maintain and defend the Independence of all the United States of America." Goes on to state that the signers also swear an oath of allegiance to the state of New Hampshire. Other political leaders that…

GLC00170

1 May 1862

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Broadside

Title: Proclamation

Institutes "the administration of Law Martial" in New Orleans, two days after it was surrendered to the Union. Terms include respect for the United States flag, punishment for aiding Confederates, harsh treatment for crimes against Federal, prohibition of public gatherings. "The armies of the United States came here not to destroy but to make good, to restore order out of chaos, and the government of laws in place of the passions of men." Same text as GLC04081.

GLC00171

1789

United States. Congress

Book

Title: Journal of the first session of the Senate of the United States...

The official printing of the journal of the first Senate, containing the first official printing of the Bill of Rights pp. 103-106. A wide-margined copy with slight browning of the leaves. Evans 22207, Grolier American Hundred 20.

GLC00172