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

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

circa 1859

Anderson, Osborne Perry, 1830-1872

Signature

Title: [Signatures of six of John Brown's supporters]

Piece of paper with six signatures, reportedly found in Brown's carpetbag. After Brown's capture, soldiers found a carpetbag of his in the farm where the raiders had been living. The bag contained numerous papers written and signed by his Northern supporters, this piece supposedly included among them. John Jr., Jason, and Owen Brown were Brown's sons. Neither John Jr. nor Jason came to Harpers Ferry. Owen participated in the attack, but managed to escape capture. Anderson, one of five African Americans that participated in the raid, also managed to escape, later wrote a book on the…

GLC04463.04

23 February 1851

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ruth Brown

Relates news of friends and family from "the hill," their house in Ohio. Encloses a letter from "grandfather," most likely Owen Brown. Discusses construction projects, his health, family pastimes, a fire in Akron and Ruth's recent marriage. Asks that she and their brother Owen both reply to him, and that Owen send him as many animal skulls as possible. Plans to leave the house soon, and resume time on the speaking tour. Last page includes a note from Jason Brown.

GLC04463.05

3 September 1830

Brown, Owen, 1771-1856

Document signed

Title: Almon Kingsbury petition for tavern licence

Petitioning the Court of Common Pleas in Portage County, Ohio for a tavern license. State their opinion that "a tavern is needed at the center of Hudson...that the house lately occupied by Owen Brown Esqr...would constitute a favorable stand for said tavern, and that Almon Kingsbury who now occupies said house is a suitable person to keep said tavern." Signed by Owen Brown and 13 others, including Gideon Mills, Oliver Brown, Heman Humphrey. Title from docket.

GLC04463.06

26 July 1819

Brown, Owen, 1771-1856

Autograph document signed

Title: [Invoice for work done in Portage County, Ohio]

Invoice stating Brown was owed twenty two dollars. Signed twice by Brown. Also signed by Elias Harmon and Samuel Brigg as Justices.

GLC04463.07

December 1859

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Header Record

Title: Stone print of John Brown's last written words with copy of original [Decimalized .01-.02]

Stone print of the last words of John Brown. "I John Brown am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty, land: will never be purged away, but with Blood. I had as I now think: vainly flattered myself that without very much bloodshed; it might be done." Accompanied by a reproduction on paper of a photograph of the original copy of John Brown's last written words.

GLC04463.08

3 February 1841

Brown, Oliver Owen, 1804-1858

Document signed

Title: [Promissory note]

Promissory note from Oliver Brown for five hundred eighty five dollars and sixty eight cents.

GLC04463.09

1933 circa

Benet, Stephen Vincent, 1898-1943

Typed letter signed

Title: to Mr. Lally

Affirms that "Five Men and Pompey" was his first published work. States that "We had a sketch of John Dos Passos in 'Books' recently, and there will be others. I don't know when or if we'll get together in book form." In 1933 Benet and his wife published "A Book of Americans," with biographies of many notable American figures. This may be a reference to this book, though at the same time he says he wonders if a book will be published.

GLC04463.10

31 May 1863

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Dixon Porter

Written from Headquarters, Department of the Tennessee, near Vicksburg, Mississippi. Grant orders Admiral Porter to direct the Marine Brigade to debark at Haynes' Bluff, Mississippi, and to send as many steamers as possible to obtain reinforcements from Memphis, Tennessee.

GLC04464

8 March 1782.

Matlack, Timothy, fl. 1782

Autograph document signed

Title: [Request of the Supreme Executive Council to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for clarification of a Constitutional point].

Requests the state Supreme Court for an interpretation of the twentieth section of the Constitution of the State of Pennsylvania. Written as Secretary of the Supreme Executive Council of the State of Pennsylvania.

GLC04465