25 June 1864

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Wood

Thanks Wood for sending a letter written by Secretary of State William H. Seward concerning a petition for government aid in constructing an overland international telegraph line. Remarks upon the rapid progress of the telegraph throughout the world and mentions the first telegraph message, chosen by 18 year old Annie Ellsworth, "What hath God wrought." Comments that although he had predicted the telegraph would go around the world, he did not expect to live to see it happen. Expresses satisfaction that though many have tried to improve upon his system, the "Morse System…

GLC04080

1 January 1844

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph document signed

Title: Statement Showing expenditures on account of Magnetic Telegraph

Details the amount of money drawn from the Treasury, expenditure, and the balance left for the magnetic telegraph. Morse signed as Superintendent of the Electro Magnetic Telegraph. Entire right edge of paper is damaged with paper loss.

GLC04234

13 June 1843

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Spencer

Writes to the Secretary of the Treasury about saving $920 in making telegraph wires with colored varnish instead of colored thread. Asks permission to sell the unnecessary colored thread.

GLC04235

12 May 1854

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to E.H. Sanford

States that Amos Kendall is his agent for the management of his telegraphic business and he cannot answer Sanford's inquiry about the sale of telegraph patent rights in Oregon and California until consulting with Kendall. Comments that he believes that no definite sale has been made yet but advises on Kendall's whereabouts and states he will send Sanford's letter to him.

GLC04236

circa 1850-1859

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph note signed

Title: [Telegram message for Samuel Morse's coachman]

Note to be relayed to Morse's coachman informing that he will be arriving on the five o'clock train tonight. Written on stationery of the New York, Albany & Buffalo Telegraph Co. Gold envelope is printed with "Morse's American Telegraph, New-York, Albany and Buffalo Line."

GLC04650.01

14 June 1871

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Introduction for Mrs. Alfred Vail]

General introduction to "any of my friends with whom she may meet" for the widow of his colleague in telegraph business, Alfred Vail. Mrs. Vail was visiting Europe with her family. Notes Alfred Vail's authorship of an early history of the telegraph and comments, " ... to him belongs the credit of the first attempts to collate the facts bearing upon the invention."

GLC04650.02

31 March 1843 - 8 April 1843

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph document signed

Title: [Expenditures for first telegraph between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore]

Records expenditures for many of the key components for the first telegraph line between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland. Entitled "United States in account with Samuel F. B. Morse." Includes traveling expenses, advertising, office supplies, salaries, and wire.

GLC04894

9 July 1837

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Catherine A. Pattison

Apologizes profusely for not writing back sooner and expresses his fondness for her and her friendship. States he has been consumed with perfecting his telegraph, which is "nearly ready to put into operation." Writes very personally and asks about Pattison's summer plans. Advises that if she goes to Saratoga, she should not expect to experience the same pleasures as last year, possibly referring to a former love. Discusses parties he has attended and mutual acquaintances. Addressed to Pattison in Troy, New York.

GLC06327

27 August 1837

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Catherine Pattison

Mentions visiting Boston, Plymouth, and Cape Cod where he made a search for the relics of the Mayflower and the Pilgrims. Updates her on the progress of the telegraph. Reports that the telegraph is testing well but expresses some anxiety over being beaten to the punch. " ... I have reason to fear that other nations will have taken the hint, and will rob me both of the credit and the profit." Mentions what is being printed in journals about the issue. Comments on visiting her and tells her he loves receiving her letters. Discusses the works of Hannah More, an English evangelical writer…

GLC06328

1865-1870

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Header Record

Title: Letter and engraving of Samuel F. B. Morse, inventor of the telegraph [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC06329

30 August 1841

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rev. Sprague

Morse encloses autographs to Sprague and hopes that an upcoming venture will prove fruitful. "I confess that if unfavorable, (Unfavorable to our shortsightedness perhaps) I shall suffer much."

GLC05508.190

February 14, 1860

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Morse encloses an extract about Roman Catholics from a New Orleans journal. The extract criticizes the Roman Catholic Church for issuing a document falsely purporting to be the voluntary sentiment of the laity and meant as a token of praise for a "foreign temporal sovereign."

GLC05508.191

circa 1861

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Introductory address to American Society for Promotion of National Unity]

Morse, president of the society, introduces Rabbi Morris Jacob Raphall. Discusses "Whether Slavery, or the condition of being held in subjection to the will of another, is a divine institution, sanctioned by laws & commands, and regulated from the earliest times or whether it is forbidden as a sin, as a violation of the laws of God... Until this point is satisfactorily settled we cannot reach the expediency or inexpediency, the advantage or disadvantage of this system of servitude." Circa date based on the publication of Raphall's speech, "The Bible View of Slavery."

GLC05350

January 19, 1844

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John C. Spencer

States that the lead pipe delivered by F.O. J. Smith, the contractors with Mr. Tatham and his brothers, is defective. Describes the main problem, "I find it defective in many points but particularly in the destructive effect that has been produced upon the insulation of the wires by the hot process of manufacture." Informs that the wires will have to be removed from the pipes, re-varnished, and put back in the pipe. Estimates the cost of the repairs to be $500. States that the Tathams will credit $50 of the cost. Puts much of the blame on his Assistant Professor Fiskee, whom he has since…

GLC02112

15 March 1844

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John C. Spencer

Answers Spencer's questions about matters involving telegraphic conductors. Gives information on who will supply the pipe, pricing and payment, and delivery of it. States that he first found out about the deficiencies of the pipe on 6 December 1843. With an addition in a different ink at the end of the last paragraph.

GLC02113

September 3, 1813

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Jarvis

Morse complains of problems with the mail. He lists books (and their prices) he obtained for Jarvis. Comments on politics in Europe and his hopes for peace in the War of 1812. Jarvis was rector of St. Michael's school in Bloomingdale, New York.

GLC01092

July 16, 1859

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward P. Fry

Replies to Fry's letter stating that he will inform him of his partners' decisions as soon as he hears from them. Comments that he is convalescent and will probably pass through Philadelphia to New York soon. Advises that if a satisfactory arrangement is made with a company for a telegraphic line from Philadelphia to New York, he will do what he can to secure Fry his desired situation.

GLC04503.02

10 July 1844

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward P. Fry

Writes that he has just received word from his partners that a proprietor will contract to complete a telegraph line from Philadelphia to New York for $60,000 to be finished by 1 January 1845. Includes technical details about the line and how the payments will be made. Informs that he will attend to procuring and training young men to use the system if compensated. Gives Fry 20 days to accept the offered terms. Addressed to Fry in Philadelphia.

GLC04503.03

14 September 1849

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to J. F. Frazer

Asks if he can use Frazer's copy of Moigno's "Traite de Telegraphic," and replace it at a later date so that he may have it on hand during the trial next month. Reports that he tried to purchase the book but the bookstore was out of it. He has ordered one from France with which he will replace Frazer's copy. Addresses Frazer as Professor. Written from Jones Hotel, no city or state.

GLC04480.01

July 1844

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward P. Fry

Writes that he has seen Mr. Smith who will be at his office tomorrow morning. States that Mr. Burbank, the man who is in charge of negotiations for Morse, is at Lovejoy's Hotel and advises Fry to bring this letter as an introduction. Dated Wednesday morning.

GLC04503.01

22 August 1844

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward P. Fry

Regrets that he cannot yet give Fry an answer to his request because he cannot get in touch with all the other proprietors. Sends a paper Fry requested (not present), and states he has made an improvement in the telegraph machinery which will allow him to write at least 25 characters a minute. Informs that he has just completed experiments on running telegraph lines across rivers. Addressed to Fry in Philadelphia.

GLC04503.04

1 January 1869

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward P. Fry

Replies to Fry's request for his memories of events occurring in 1844. Morse states that " ... with my feeble memory in regard to the details, I fear I can give you but little satisfaction." Remembers negotiating with Amos Kendall to have him put in control of the business aspects of the telegraph. Believes that Fry is correct in saying that Fry was the first to attempt to form a company to extend the telegraph line from Philadelphia to New York. Concurs that he was obstructed from doing this by those ruling Wall Street at the time. Comments that he does not remember the details of their…

GLC04503.05

11 March 1870

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward P. Fry

Thanks Fry for sending a memorandum that proves that Morse was interested in having the government own the telegraph invention back in 1844. States that he made concessions to make it easier and less costly for the government but that they did not take advantage before the offer expired. Believes that this is now to his advantage and that it would not have been a good idea to have the government control the telegraph.

GLC04503.06

14 March 1870

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward P. Fry

Complains about mail he has sent that has failed to reach its destination, including a recent letter to Fry. Includes a transcript of the earlier note that was never received in which he thanks Fry for information sent to him proving that Morse was interested in having the government purchase the telegraph invention back in 1844 (see GLC04503.06 for original letter).

GLC04503.07

18 August 1865

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. M. Stuart

Gives the address of William Goodrich in Paris. Also encloses his photograph (not present). Replies to her request for his opinion on the Atlantic telegraph by saying "I have always had full faith in its final accomplishment; It is practicable, and therefore the demands of the world will eventually accomplish it." He has faith that it will be completed despite the current gloomy prospects. Addressed to Stuart in Abington, Pennsylvania.

GLC06329.01