1839

American Anti-Slavery Society

Pamphlet

Title: The American anti-slavery almanac, for 1839.

With original yellow wrappers and illustrations for almost every month. Illustrations depict the horrors of slavery. Contains ink stains. Published for the Anti-Slavery Society by S. W. Benedict.

GLC05826

1840

Hopper, Isaac T., 1771-1852

Pamphlet

Title: Exposition of the proceedings of John P. Darg, Henry W. Merritt, and others, in relation to the robbery of Darg, the elopement of his alleged slave...

(title continues)... , and the trial of Barney Corse, who was unjustly charged as an accessary.

GLC05828

1832

Faulkner, Charles James, 1847-1929

Pamphlet

Title: The speech of Charles Jas. Faulkner (of Berkeley) in the House of Delegates of Virginia, on the policy of the state with respect to her slave population: Delivered January 20, 1832.

Printed by Thomas W. White. Faulkner states, "... the evils of slavery stand confessed before us. The only question with a Virginia statesman, should be-- is there any remedy and what shall that remedy be?... although I am decidedly in favor of some scheme of manumission that will ultimately relieve my country from the catastrophe which threatens it, let no gentleman suppose, from what has fallen from me, that I am in favor of any rash, violent, or hasty legislation." Bound with string.

GLC05829

1832

Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879

Book

Title: Thoughts on African Colonization

Early critique of the Colonization Society. Published by Garrison & Knapp.

GLC05830

1853

Hale, Sarah J.B., 1788-1879

Book

Title: Liberia; or Mr. Peyton's experiments.

304 pages of text followed by twelve pages of advertisements. Published by Harper & Brothers. Contains sticker from Bryant Circulatory Library Association of Roslyn, New York.

GLC05831

1857

Header Record

Title: Collection of documents related to stopping the African slave trade [Decimalized .01-.05]

Five documents regarding efforts of British and American Naval ships off the African coast and around the mouth of the Congo River to end the illegal African slave trade.

GLC05832

1839

United States. Congress (26th: 1839-1841). House

Pamphlet

Title: Report of the committee on the judiciary. Relative to the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia and in relation to the colored population of this country.

Printed by Boas & Coplan. Signed on front cover by "J. H. Battain." "Slavery is justly deplored by every good man, as a great evil, and one which should be removed as speedily as the safety and welfare of the country will permit, but let it not be removed in a manner that will inevitably produce a greater evil."

GLC05837

1856

Thompson, John, 1812-?

Book

Title: The life of John Thompson, a fugitive slave; containing his history of 25 years in bondage, and his providential escape. [incomplete]

First edition. Incomplete copy lacking pages 99-106 in chapter 15. In the introduction, Thompson writes: "I am aware that now, when public opinion makes it no martyrdom to denounce slavery, there are multitudes of men that grow bold, and wield a powerful weapon against this great evil; and even school boys daringly denounce a system, the enormity of which they cannot appreciate, surely I thought it may be permitted to one who has worn the galling yoke of bondage, to say something of its pains, and something of that freedom which, if he should succeed in accurately defining, he can truly say…

GLC05841

1850

Stuart, Moses, 1780-1852

Pamphlet

Title: Conscience and the Constitution with remarks on the recent speech of the Hon. Daniel Webster in the Senate of the United States on the subject of slavery.

Published by Crocker & Brewster. Stuart, a minister and Professor of Biblical Studies at Andover Seminary (near Boston), justifies slavery using a Biblical argument. Also predicts the economic repercussions of abolition: "Suppose the black population are made free; then what is to be done with them after this, specially in those States, or parts of States, where they are more numerous than the whites; how are they going to live and prosper... What then I ask the Abolitionists... what is to be done with such a population?" Argues for colonization.

GLC05845

18 December 1859

Wise, Henry A., 1806-1876

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles D. Meigs

Governor Wise responds to a letter from Meigs, a professor of obstetrics and diseases of women at the Jefferson Medical College (in Philadelphia). Arguing for unity between North and South, writes, "I eagerly grasp your hand, as Thomas Jefferson did Benjamin Franklin's at Carpenter's Hall on the 4th of July 1776." Claims Northerners "meddle with what is not their business." Writes, "I am a Union man- have been so ever. Mean to be so, forever. But if my honor is pricked in any Union I will burst its bonds... I mean to fight for the Union- never against it- but fight I will if it is…

GLC05854

4 June 1858

Ericsson, John, 1803-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John B. Kitchen

Written by noted Swedish inventor Ericsson. Tells him to put off construction of the "Caloric boat." Regrets having to say this because he believes the engine would useful. Says he wants to test other large engines that are weaker before they continue on the potentially more powerful Caloric engine.

GLC05857

1856

O'Callaghan, E.B., fl. 1856

Book

Title: Colonial History... Holland Documents, Vol. 1 [with fold-out maps]

One volume only. Printed by Weed, Parson and Co. Rebound. Three large facsimile maps (damaged by refolding) are housed separately.

GLC05859

1860

Object

Title: [Wide-awake election of 1860 campaign ribbon]

Republican campaign ribbon supporting Abraham Lincoln for President printed with "Wide Awake," and a large eye. Printed on white silk. Thousands of young men turned out in "Wide Awake" torchlight parades in support of Lincoln. The Wide Awakes are credited with helping Lincoln win the Republican presidential nomination at the Wigwam convention Hall in Chicago. Their stand against slavery helped bring the party to greater national attention.

GLC05865

1856

Object

Title: [Campaign ribbon on silk: "Old buck is coming"]

Faded pink silk ribbon with black ink images and text. Begins with an image of a buck (male dear), and the statement "Old Buck is Coming," referring to 1856 presidential candidate James Buchanan. Below the buck, the ribbon depicts blacks with knapsacks and a bear, apparently fleeing westward, with the exclamation "Fremont! Free Niggers! Off for the Rocky Mountains" (Buchanan's opponent, Senator John C. Fremont, argued that the government should prevent the spread of slavery into the new western territories). The next image on the ribbon portrays a pistol, and the exclamation "'National…

GLC05877

1854-1874

Cameron, Simon, 1799-1889

Header Record

Title: Letters from Simon Cameron to Robert G. White [Decimalized .01-.17]

Seventeen letters from Simon Cameron to Robert G. White. Most of the letters concern Cameron's campaigns for various offices and his political maneuverings and use of influence. Cameron was a Senator from Pennsylvania and President Lincoln's Secretary of War in 1861. Thanks to his wealth and connections he was power broker in national and Pennsylvania politics throughout his life. Robert Gray White was a district court judge in Pennsylvania, and was Cameron's friend and political ally.

GLC05891

1856

Bradford, William, fl. 1856

Book

Title: The History of Plymouth Plantation, printed from the original manuscript

Published for the Massachusetts Historical Society by Little, Brown & Co.

GLC05894

1837

Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873

Pamphlet

Title: Speech of Salmon P. Chase, in the case of the colored woman Matilda

Speech given before an Ohio court, arguing for the freedom of a slave named Matilda. Argues that Matilda should be free now that she is in Ohio, and argues that the Fugitive Slave Act is unconstitutional. Matilda had been brought before the court by a writ of habeas corpus. She had been working as a servant for Chase's client, when it was discovered she was an escaped slave.

GLC05114

1854-1858

Pamphlet

Title: Pamphlets related to the extension of slavery and the Kansas-Nebraska dispute [Decimalized .01-.20]

GLC05116

1850

Tappan, Lewis, 1788-1873

Pamphlet

Title: The fugitive slave bill: its history and unconstitutionality

Gives various arguments why the Fugitive Slave bill should be declared unconstitutional. Also tells the story of James Hamlet, a mulatto arrested under the law despite protests that he was not a slave. Eventually Hamlet was returned to freedom. Full title reads: "The Fugitive Slave Bill: its history and unconstitutionality; with an account of the seizure and enslavement of James Hamlet, and his subsequent restoration to liberty." Printed by William Harned. First edition. With handwritten notes in an unknown hand in pencil on pages 24-6, 28, 30, 32, 24 and 36.

GLC05118

1856

Book

Title: Cherokee Bible [old testament]

Cherokee Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Psalms, Wisdom and Isaiah) printed at Park Hill, Cherokee Nation, by Edwin Archer. Imprint date varies slightly since Exodus is dated 1853, Genesis 1856 and the rest undated. With manuscript notations in Cherokee.

GLC05122

26 October 1847

Smith, Persifor Frazer, 1798-1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. Welman Nichols

Smith, General Winfield Scott's second in command, provides a first-hand account of the capture of Mexico City. Also criticizes Gideon Pillow and praises Van Doren.

GLC05128

1860's ca.

Photograph

Title: Ambrotype of a civilian man holding a military hat

Full length view of a civilian man with a moustache and beard holding a military hat. CASE: Stamped cloth on wood featuring gathering of roses. Imprint on mat "Waterbury, CN # 836 Scovel Manufacturing Co. Superior" [Plate determined to be adhered to case per photographic conservator, Nov. 1996.] Case thickness 1.8 cm.

GLC05131.12

1859 October 4

Fassett, Samuel M., fl. 1859-1865

Photograph

Title: [Abraham Lincoln]

Oval albumen print portrait of Lincoln. Ostendorf O-16, which provides dating. Taken while visiting Chicago.

GLC05133.01

1854-1856 ca.

Nicolay, John G., 1832-1901

Photograph

Title: Daguerreotype of Nicolay with staff of Pittsfield, Ill. "Free Press" [framed]

Cased image showing four men in a printing office, including owner and editor Nicolay. The image is in a contemporary wooden frame. Nicolay stands second from left. According to Sothebys, the pencil inscription on the back of the frame ("Free Press") was supposed to have been written by his daughter Helen Nicolay. Conservator notes that the stamp on the clad plate is that of Louis L. Bis manufacturing in New York from 1845-47 (see report).

GLC05133.02

27 August 1860

Tyler, John, 1790-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Tyler

Tyler, former President of the United States, elaborates on the 1860 Presidential election to his son Robert. States that he discussed the election with Colonel William T. Withers of Mississippi. Expresses approval at the fusion of Stephen Douglas' and John Bells' supporters in New York, and declares "that in my view the defeat of Lincoln was the great matter at issue, and that all others were subordinate." Encloses a letter (not included) from General Foote, a Douglas supporter. Expresses his support of Presidential candidate John Cabell Breckinridge and Breckinridge's running mate Joseph…

GLC07112