February 12, 1783

Armstrong, John, Jr. 1758-1843

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Searle

Armstrong writes to Searle, a fellow Pennsylvania politician, to relate personal news. He complains about political infighting and expresses his hopes for treaty negotiations in Europe and the possibility of peace. Address leaf separated.

GLC01221.01

December 28, 1830

Armstrong, John, Jr. 1758-1843

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Buel

Thanks Judge Buel for a packet of books he sent. Discusses a publication by Buel's brother that proves a conspiracy to defraud the revenue. Remarks that the distress of Buel's brother has impaired his judgment though and "made his story highly excentric." Letter addressed to Buel "near Albany."

GLC01221.02

December 31, 1793

Clarkson, Matthew, 1733-1800

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Nicholson

Letter written by Clarkson, the mayor of Philadelphia, to Nicholson, a famous land speculator, as comptroller general of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He references Nicholson's letter from December 26, 1793. Says he has passed its contents on to the "Committee for the relief of the poor & distressed Citizens" who have been suffering from the "malignant disorder" - yellow fever. They accepted it with thanks and "will cheerfully undertake the distribution thereof as comfortably to your wishes as possible." Small hole where seal was removed. Paper has a watermark.

GLC01221.03

April 6, 1765

Galloway, Joseph, 1731-1803

Autograph note signed

Title: to John Lawrence

A note at the bottom of a bond of Catherine Evans tells John Lawrence that Galloway does not object to Lawrence "delivering up of yr above mentiond Bond." The letter is to John Lawrence granting bonds to carrier. Galloway, a delegate to Congress from Pennsylvania, publicly defended the Stamp Act in 1765 and became a Loyalist officer in 1776.

GLC01221.04

15 August 1797

Morris, Robert, 1734-1806

Printed document signed

Title: [Land share certificate for Moses Levy in Pennsylvania Property Company]

Partially printed certificate signed by Robert Morris, certifying that Levy owns ten shares in the Pennsylvania Property Co. Also signed by Garrett Cottinger, Thomas Fitzsimons, and Joseph Ball.

GLC01221.05

April 1, 1796

Smith, Thomas, 1745-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Smith

Thomas Smith writes in detail about accounts to be collected (while he is on the judicial circuit) interspersed with family news. He comments on Revolutionary War certificates: "I think I can make more by buying Certificates while they continue so low at present...for I am buying only to sell again." There are some notes on page 2.

GLC01221.06

June 14, 1759

Willing, Thomas, 1731-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Greenough

Letter discusses collecting debts from Mr. Elwers, and remarks that Elwers broke up his business 18 months ago so he fears they will not be able to get him to pay. Encloses Willing's account balance (not present) and explains it.

GLC01221.07

July 14, 1862

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Philemon Ewing

Sherman writes about his feud with the Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton. Informs that General Henry Halleck advised him not to reply to Stanton. Because of this, Sherman asks Ewing to keep this letter confidential, especially from the newspapers because he believes that, "No Military officer should write of the events of a Campaign until a year after the Campaign." He goes on to say, "I am satisfied Stanton is a Liar and Coward - for he states things by the merest guess." He expects to be sent to Memphis soon, and expresses his philosophy of fighting the South, " ... to subdue the South…

GLC01224

4 April 1695

Penn, William, 1644-1718

Document signed

Title: [Land grant to Thomas Church]

Witnessed by William Springett and Francis Harding. Signed three times as Proprietor of Pennsylvania.

GLC01227

April 28, 1785

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Trumbull

Mentions Trumbull's M'Fingal, a poem styled on Hudibras, the great poem by Butler concerning the English Civil Wars. Also discusses the desire for a national poem.

GLC01228

1865 ca.

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph signed

Title: Ulysses S. Grant, Lt. Gen., USA.

Published by E. & H.T. Anthony of New York from photographic negative in Brady's Nat'l Portrait Gallery. Inscription on the versi reads: "The last and best [illegible]"

GLC01229

January 31, 1865

Powell, George May, 1835-1905

Photograph

Title: Anti-Slavery Constitutional Amendment Picture

One photograph montage dated January 31, 1865 entitled, "Anti-Slavery Constitutional Amendment Picture." Reverse side contains a key for each senator photographed. Those photographed had voted to prohibit slavery. (see another copy in the Powell collection GLC00687, and in GLC07033; Powell designed the photograph.)

GLC01230

May 22, 1866

Cameron, Simon, 1799-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ulysses Mercur

Cameron responds to a letter from Mercur, a United States Representative from Pennsylvania. He denies recommending W. Clark for political appointment. Referring to the debate regarding reconstruction between Congress and President Andrew Johnson, he states "the contest now, between congress & the President in my mind, is very far above all personal considerations. Congress must be sustained or the rebels, who have been murdering our kindred will control and destroy the Government."

GLC01232

September 16, 1862

Ross, John, 1790-1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Abraham Lincoln

One letter addressed to Abraham Lincoln from John Ross dated September 16, 1862. Pertains to a visit with the Cherokee Nation. Mentions how they would like to establish a relationship with the United States.

GLC01233.02

June 22, 1839

Bonneville, Benjamin Louis Eulalie de, 1796-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Letter written to unidentified general. Undated but probably June 22 1839 (or a few days later) when Elias Boudinot, Major Ridge and John Ridge were assassinated for supporting the Treaty of Echota, which relocated the Cherokee. Stand Watie (mentioned herein) escaped assassination.

GLC01233.06

1783/09/03

Treaty of Paris, 1783

Pamphlet

Title: The definitive treaty between Great Britain and the United States of America

Printed by Philip Denis Pierres for Benjamin Franklin. Untrimmed and unopened. First printing of the Treaty of Paris. The seal on the title page perhaps the second appearance of the Great Seal of the United States and "E plurubus unum."

GLC01234

1786

Paine, Thomas, 1725-1802

Pamphlet

Title: Dissertations on government, the affairs of the bank and paper money

8vo; Howe P18, Sabin 58221, Evans 19880, NUC NP0023152A defense of the infant Bank of the US.

GLC01235

June 25, 1852

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Onslow Peters

Letter discusses a case concerning the sale and purchase of land held in trust for a minor. The Tazewell lands were purchased by the guardian of a minor named Shurtluff, using the proceeds from the sale of the original land held in trust for him. The Tazewell lands were then placed in trust until Shurtluff came of age and appropriated them. Letter written by Lincoln on blue paper as Peters' lawyer. Docketed by recipient.

GLC01236

1775

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Pamphlet

Title: A Declaration by the Representatives of the United Colonies Of North America, Now Met in General Congress at Philadelphia, Setting forth the Causes and Necessity of their taking up Arms.

Secretly printed pamphlet co-authored with John Dickinson. 8vo. Signed in type by Hancock and Charles Thompson. Printed in Philidelphia. For the London printing see GLC00156.

GLC01240

1874

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

Book signed

Title: Report of the proceedings of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, at the Seveth Annual Meeting ...

Title continues, " ... held at Toledo, Ohio, October 17 and 18, 1873." Printed by Robert Clarke & Co. With Mathew Brady imperial carte-de-visite of General William T. Sherman pasted on the flyleaf facing the title page, signed by Sherman on the mount. The book prints the constitution, by-laws, meeting proceedings, reports of officers, a list of members, etc. Also contains text of Sherman's address to his comrades. Original green cloth gilt stamped binding.

GLC01241

23 March 1681

Penn, William, 1644-1718

Document signed

Title: [Land indenture to Francis Rogers]

Official indenture granting Rogers 2500 acres of land in Pennsylvania for "fifty pounds of sterling money." Written a few weeks after Penn received his charter.

GLC01242

1838

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

Book signed

Title: An elementary course in civil engineering for the use of the cadets of the United States Military Academy

Signed by Sherman on the first fly leaf, "Sherman/West Point N.Y./Sept 1st/39." Class book for cadets written by D.H. Mahan, a professor of military and civil engineering at the Academy. Printed by Wiley and Putnam, New York. With doodles and a joke, "Cadet Sherman has permission to go just where he pleases," written in pencil on the dedication page. With bookplate from the library of John Sherman. Fold out diagrams at the end.

GLC01243

2 April 1795

Mifflin, Thomas, 1744-1800

Document signed

Title: [Pennsylvania land grant to William Lane]

Partially printed land patent counter-signed by JamesTrimble as Deputy Secretary and witnessed by Pennsylvania Governor Thomas Mifflin. Lane obtained the land, called "Oatland" in Bald Eagle township, from Isaiah Davis. The document describes the specific boundaries of the tract, the sale of which was orchestrated through 1793 and 1794. A note signed by Matthew Irvin on the verso indicates that the patent was recorded in the state records on 20 April 1795. Large star shaped paper seal on top left corner.

GLC01244

17 March 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Printed document signed

Title: [Appointment of Godfrey Weitzel as Brigadier General of Volunteers]

Also signed by Edwin McMasters Stanton as Secretary of War, and by Edward Davis Townsend as Assistant Adjutant General. Townsend attests that this appointment is recorded in the Adjutant General's office. Serves as an official United States Presidential form for appointments, containing an image of an eagle at the top of the page and a knight's helmet, weapons, and musical instruments resting amongst several flags at the bottom of the page. Contains a blue War Office seal.

GLC01115

22 August 1879

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Autograph quotation signed

Title: [Douglass quotation on each citizen's right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness]

One note from Frederick Douglass dated August 22, 1879. Writes that the government owes every citizen equal opportunity to live and when it does not provide this service should be overthrown.

GLC01116