circa 1850

Phillips, Wendell, 1811-1884

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Adams

Informs Adams, possibly an underground railroad train conductor in Fall River, Massachusetts, that British abolitionist George Thompson will be coming next Friday, the 13th. Tells Adams to meet him and states, "..He is a stranger and will need a conductor." Says they have no tickets and will need to get them printed. Undated. Integral address leaf.

GLC07356.02

1 April 1854

Stith, C., fl. 1854

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt of sale for a slave]

Signed by Stith. Receipt for the sale of a "Negro Boy Richard about fifteen or sixteen years of age..." sold for $1,000 to James W. Goodman. Refers to Richard as "a slave for life."

GLC07356.03

1783/07/17

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Letter signed

Title: to Robert R. Livingston re: receiving a request from Doctor Benjamin Franklin

Asks him to come to Paris to help finalize Treaty of Paris. (Mat burn at edges; possibly bleached.)

GLC07357

January 27, 1831

Curtis, Samuel Ryan, 1805-1866

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry B. Curtis

Curtis, a future Union general, writes his older brother a long letter about his time at West Point, from which he graduated that year. Among the many plans and topics he comments on is the prejudice at the military academy of the "Yankee Staff toward the South and Westerners."

GLC07358

1812/06/24-26

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Rush re: economic policy, declaration of war

"The prudence of an individual is the policy of a nation. Self preservation is the first law of nature to both...France, under Washington's administration, had in defiance of all laws human and divine, plundered our commerce in every sin in Europe and the West Indies...a plan was laid...which looked forward with a prudent foresight to the defence and preservation of the country...who destroyed this system? The Congress of the Nineteeth Century who by repealing the taxes, have emptied their treasury? Who by mud docking my navy have disarmed themselves at sea?...June 26. War! War! War! Sure…

GLC07306

1798/11/24

Henderson, Ann, fl. 1798

Manuscript document

Title: Court deposition transcript of Cherokee land sale in Tenn. (signed with mark)

Transcript of court deposition, signed by Henderson with her mark. Docketed on address leaf.

GLC07311

26 May 1862

Tod, David, 1805-1868

Broadside

Title: Telegraphic Dispatch!

Signed in print by "D. Todd, Governor." This is a mispelling of Ohio Governor David Tod's name. Tod, in this recruiting broadside, asks for "A force of 200 men and [to] send them as fast as raised to Camp Chase" to help defend Washington. Below Tod's call is a note telling the citzens of Ashtabula, Ohio that a meeting is being organized to raise a volunteer force in accordance with the governor's request. Signed in print by H.E. Parsons of the District Military Command and E.R. Williams of the County Military Command.

GLC07312

24 May 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Ezekiel D. Dyer for fraud].

Countersigned by Secretary of State William H. Seward. Dyer was convicted in December, 1859, and sentenced to the jail at Plymouth, Massachusetts. He remained in prison after completing his sentence because he was unable to pay his fine. He was pardoned at the request of Massachusetts politicians, Senator Henry Wilson, and representatives Alexander H. Rice, Charles R. Train, and H. L. Dawes. B. F. Hallett also requested Dyer's pardon.

GLC07314

15 December 1911

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of Charles L. King, convicted of Army desertion on 23 April 1908 and sentenced to two and one half years at Fort Leavenworth]

Sentence published in General Orders, No. 65, Department of the East, 30 April 1908. Secretary of War recommended pardon, which was granted by William H. Taft. Partially handwritten. With James Finch (signed), pardon attorney, warrant for pardon. Countersigned by George W. Wickersham, Attorney General.

GLC07318

1923/12/22

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Typed letter signed

Title: to Gertrude Ely

Notes that he shares Ely's "impatience and amusement" with the Molly Pitcher Club. Discusses attempts to alter the Volstead law and his personal opposition to prohibition. But because of his belief in popular government he must respect the law. After Taft's signature he writes by hand: "We were delighted with your visit. Come after and shake up our dry bones." Some hand written, law related notes appear on the verso of the second page. Written on stationary of the Supreme Court.

GLC07319

2 May 1828

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Document signed

Title: [Patent for Silas Hyde's improvements in the bedstead]

Signed by Adams as President. Countersigned by Henry Clay as Secretary of State and William Wirt as Attorney General. Docketed and signed by Henry L. Ellsworth, Commissioner of Patents. Sealed and bound with bright red ribbon.

GLC07324

13 June 1848

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Document signed

Title: [Patent for Jordan L. Mott's improvement in the process of chilling castings]

Signed by Buchanan as Secretary of State. Countersigned by Edmund Burke, Commissioner of Patents. Mott's written description of his improvement is signed by Edward Lewis and M. D. Van Doren as witnesses. Contains a one-page diagram of Mott's invention. Sealed and bound with faded white ribbon.

GLC07325

17 June 1926

Coolidge, Calvin, 1872-1933

Document signed

Title: [Presidential commutation for Arthur Franzblau, convicted of mail fraud 24 February 1924 in New York]

Arthur Franzblau was convicted of using the mails in a scheme to defraud in the U.S. District Court of Southern New York and sentenced to one year in the U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia. He appealed to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals on 2 February 1924 where his case was still pending. Coolidge commuted his sentence to one day in the custody of a U.S. Marshal; no reason given. Countersigned by William D. Mitchell, Acting Attorney General. Printed document with blanks filled in with type.

GLC07326

29 May 1835

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Document signed

Title: [Patent for Nathan Currier's improvements in a machine designed to excavate and remove earth]

Signed by Jackson as President. Countersigned by [Adam?] Birkins as Acting Secretary of State, and Benjamin Franklin Butler as Attorney General. Sealed and bound with mauve ribbon.

GLC07327

16 August 1808

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Document signed

Title: [Patent for John Templeman's improvement in the chain bridge]

Signed by Jefferson as President. Countersigned by James Madison as Secretary of State and Caesar Augustus Rodney as Attorney General. Templeman's written description of his improvement is signed by Thomas Corcoran and John Oto as witnesses. The final page, signed by Henry Leavitt Ellsworth, contains a written description of several diagrams of Templeman's invention. Sealed and bound with faded white ribbon.

GLC07328

13 August 1868

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Manuscript document signed

Title: Pardon of Leonhart F. Reik, convicted of a violation of Internal Revenue laws.

Convicted of violating Internal Revenue laws; sentenced to pay a $1000 fine and to be imprisoned until fine is paid. Pardoned after spending some months in prison and proving entirely unable to pay the fine due to poverty, and by recommendation of the U.S. District Attorney, A.S. Ridgby, the Mayor of Baltimore, most of the jury who convicted him, and many respectable citizens. (c/s William H. Seward)

GLC07329

15 July 1816

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Document signed

Title: [Patent for Schuyler Fisher's improvement in the Hatter's Plank Kettle]

Signed by Madison as President. Countersigned by James Monroe as Secretary of State and Richard Rush as Attorney General. Fisher's written description of his invention is signed by Samuel Fisher and Aston Peren as witnesses.

GLC07330

1952

Mays, David John, fl. 1952

Header Record

Title: Edmund Pendleton (1721-1803); A biography by David John Mays

Printed by Harvard University Press.

GLC07302.01

1863/09/04

Gilmore, Quincy A., fl. 1863

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: Endorsement on back of G.B. Brooks ALS re: idea of a "boat infantry"

Endorsement on T.B. (or G.B.) Brooks letter, with manuscript proposal entitled "Boat Infantry," a mobile attack force. Gilmore refers the proposal to a Board of Approval. The proposal may be response to the carnage the attack on Fort Wagner. (Water damage)

GLC07303

1861/08/15

Various

Autograph letter signed

Title: re: sight of secession flag over Marshall House in Annapolis, with photograph

Letter written by a private in the 13th NY volunteers, alluding to the circumstances of the death of Col. Elmer Ellsworth. "We begged for permission to land, to tear form that house that hated emblem of 'traitors', had we been permitted to land, doubt not but the life of Col. Ellsworth might have been saved..." Also mentions Baltimore riots and getting his uniform at Brooks Brothers. Accompanied by an oval photograph of Tomes in uniform.

GLC07304

1792/05/08

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Document signed

Title: An Act relative to the Compensations to Certain officers [duties]

Printed document signed. "An act of relative to the compensations to certain officers employed in the collections of the duties of import and tonnage." Outlining "allowances" to be paid to tax collectors of various areas

GLC07305

10 April 1865

Humphreys, Andrew Atkinson, 1810-1883

Document

Title: [Farewell address to 2nd Army Corps]

One day after Lee's surrender, General Humphreys issues a circular letter congratulating his men on having "done your full share in the Grand Closing scene." Issued as major general commanding; verified as official by Adjutant General Daniel Hart. Lists their achievements including pursuing General Robert E. Lee's army while they were in retreat toward the end of the war, the capture of prisoners, ammunitions, and supplies, and their victorious efforts at Petersburg. Thanks individual officers. On verso, additionally confirmed as official by another aid with his pencil signature.

GLC07307

6 January 1864

Couthouy, Joseph Pitty, 1808-1864

Letter signed

Title: to David Dixon Porter

Couthouy, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant commanding the U.S.S. Chillicothe, expresses his mortification at seeing the U.S.S. Osage, a ship formerly under his command, listed as having failed to comply with General Order No. 31, which required monthly reports of contrabands. Informs Navy Rear Admiral Porter that no list of contrabands was sent after August 1863 because Couthouy had been "instructed that freed blacks, regularly enlisting in the Naval Service of the United States, ceased thereupon, to be regarded as 'Contrabands.'" States that Lieutenant Commander Frank M. Ramsay, Commanding the…

GLC07308

3 January 1866

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John A. Andrew

Writes to the Governor of Massachusetts that he believes Massachusetts did its share in the Civil War. "The physical battle has been fought and a new one of ideas has begun. In this your state is preeminently gratified to take a leading part ... during the war I was constantly with Massachusetts men who are imminently practical, moral and useful citizens ... " Assures Andrew that he will do whatever is in his authority to protect Massachusetts citizens.

GLC07309

1842/03/24

Hatchett, Samuel, fl. 1842

Manuscript document signed

Title: Cherokee Indian "Spoilatia" claim against U.S. Goverment (signed with cross)

Claim for of $125.25 written after Winfield Scott and troops confiscated his property during the "Trail of Tears." Signed by Hatchchett with his mark, a cross ("+").

GLC07310