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May 1914
American literary figures: 36 letters, quotes and documents [decimalized .01-.37]
Hopkinson was a congressman, jurist and author of the lyrics to "Hail Columbia!"
GLC02453
1845
Carney, Julia A. Fletcher, 1823-1908
Little drops of water [poem signed and dated 1845]
GLC02453.07
1843/04/13
Hoffman, Charles, fl. 1843
to B. F. Schneck re: personal matters
Charles Fenno Hoffman, founder of the Knickerbocker magazine?
GLC02453.17
1826/03/02
Hopkinson, Joseoph, 1770-1842
to James C. Fisher re: personal matters
GLC02453.19
1853/02/23
Lossing, Benson, fl. 1853
to unknown recipient re: thank you letter for a note
GLC02453.22
24 March 1859
Moore, Clement Clarke, 1779-1863
to Lewis J. Cist
Sends an autograph and informs Cist, "The inclosed is all I can get for you. I have cut it from an old book."
GLC02453.23
1857
Helper, Hinton R., 1829-1906
The Impending crisis of the South: How to meet it
First edition. Signed as presented by Samuel A. Winsor. Published by the Burkick Brothers, New York. Bookplate removed. In 1857, Hinton Rowan Helper, the son of a western North Carolina farmer, published one of the most politically influential...
GLC00267.074
1860
Olmsted, Frederick Law, 1822-1903
A journey in the back country.
Volume III of Our Slave States. Previous documentation indicates this is a first edition. Published by Mason Brothers. Introduction begins: "This is the third volume of a work, the first of which was a narrative of a journey in the sea-board...
GLC00267.073
The impending crisis of the South: how to meet it.
Cited as "Fourth thousand" above publisher information. Previous documentation indicates this is a first edition. Published by Burdick Brothers. Signed on inner front cover by B.B. Eldridge. Introduction states: "it has been no part of my purpose...
GLC00267.075
1843
Abell, Alexander Gurdon, 1819-1890
Life of John Tyler, president of the United States, up to the close of the second session of the twenty-seventh congress:...
Title continues: ...including some of his most important speeches while a member of the House of Representatives and the of the Senate of the United States, and his principal messages and other public papers as chief magistrate of the union. A...
GLC00267.183
1837
eman, Frederick, 1799-1883
A plea for Africa, being familiar conversations on the subject of slavery and colonization, [originally published under the title "Yaradee."]
Published by J. Whetham. Discusses African history, slavery, and colonization. Contains reviews following the appendix. Also includes an advertisement for Psalmodia, another book by Freeman. On inner front cover, contains a Henry F. Porter...
GLC00267.392
1849
Thoreau, Henry David, 1817-1862
A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers
First edition printing in original brown pebble cloth. Printed by James Munroe & Co., Boston; New York : George P. Putnam; Philadelphia : Lindsay and Blackiston; London : John Chapman, 1849. Based on a boat trip taken with his brother from Concord...
GLC00326
Prescott, William Hickling, 1796-1859
History of the Conquest of Mexico
Hill, p. 240, BAL 16340, Sabin 65262. The first American edition, second (corrected) printing. In original publisher's cloth. H. Bradley Martin's copy.
GLC00361
1847
History of the Conquest of Peru
H. Bradley Martin copy.
GLC00362
March 14, 1830
Tyler, John, 1790-1862
to Mary Tyler
Replies to his daughter concerning a discussion of the Duke of Marlborough and Charles XII of Sweden. Then proceeds to discuss English writers and Joseph Addison's and Richard Steele's Sir Roger De Coverley papers. Writes that he hopes to be home...
GLC00128
20 May 1843
Madison, Dolley, 1768-1849
[Quotation on love]
Six line poetic quotation on love. "Love should be pure harmless as pilgrims kisses on the shrines of virgin martyrs, . . ." Docket states "Mrs. D. P. Madison, lady of the late President, her own composition and writing."
GLC00163
December 6, 1838
Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862
to the Senate of the United States
Instructions for complying with the act of 1 July 1836 concerning a bequest made by James Smithson to the United States government. Asks Congress to attend to properly fulfilling the object of the bequest. Informs that last July the Secretary of...
GLC00198
03 February 1829
Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848
to Miss Anna McKnight
A poem in which he expresses his attachment to her and asks her to consider him a true and honest friend: "My pulses, mix'd emotions blend, unchang'd by wind or weather. Of lover-brother-father-friend, to take them all together." Adams was President...
GLC00209
February 7, 1820
Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826
to James Ronaldson
Mentions his failing health. The plaster bust of Jackson, by William Rush, was ordered by Ronaldson for a number of important Americans. The only surviving terra-cotta is at the Art Institute of Chicago; the only surviving plaster is at the...
GLC00496.041
July 18, 1822
Docketed by Ronaldson. Jefferson compares the speciments (probably Ronaldson and Binney no. 1) to those used in a book in the mid-eighteenth century, and is cheered by the prospect of human progress. Ronaldson-Binney's first typeface was the first...
GLC00496.042
June 5, 1820
Monroe, James, 1758-1831
to unknown
Possibly written to President Monroe's lawyer. Involves a financial claim Mr. Coffin held against Monroe, who disparagingly refers to Coffin as a "adventurer, without talents, & therefore an impostor." Monroe paid Coffin $35 for four busts, but...
GLC00496.071
circa 1820
Scott, Walter, Sir, 1771-1832
The fortunes of Nigel [incomplete]
Single page only with revisions. Sellers note on verso reveals source and location of remaining sheets.
GLC00496.083.01
November 25, 1840
Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852
to General Kimberly
Introduces John J. Audubon. Infers Audubon's dependence on the success of the quarto "Synopsis of the birds of North America," published 1839. Hand delivered by Audubon.
GLC00496.109
July 24, 1815
Lawrence, Thomas, 1769-1830
to Mrs. Wolff
Discusses Duke of Wellington's heroism during the 18 July 1815 Battle of Waterloo. Describes circumstances surrounding death of Sir Alexander Gordon. Gordon was Wellington's aide de camp. Lawrence was a British portrait artist. Mrs. Wolff was the...
GLC00496.119
April 9, 1830
Allen, William, 1810-1872
to Thomas Pringle
Requests a note. Written in Stooke Newington area of London, England.
GLC00496.123
May 14, 1833
Banim, John, 1798-1842
Introduces Henry Morton.
GLC00496.128
circa 1850
Bremer, Fredrika, fl. 1850
[In all things seek the truth!]
Manuscript consists of an aphorism in German, its English translation ("Trans. In all things seek the truth!"), and the signature. Verso is an inscription, "with Mrs. Porter's compliments and thanks, to Mr. Ryland", and (in a third hand) the...
GLC00496.132
July 21, 1834
Brougham and Vaux, Henry Brougham,, 1778-1868
Introduces Harriet Martineau. Martineau was a British author and transcendentalist.
GLC00496.133
circa 1847
Bryant, William Cullen, 1794-1878
[The May sun sheds an amber light]
Poem lamenting a woman's death. Imprint of a crown on upper left hand corner.
GLC00496.134
March 22, 1828
Buxton, Thomas Fowell, 1786-1845
Thanks recipient for book of poetry. Discusses dinner plans with William Wilberforce and Zachary Macaulay. Buxton, Wilberforce and Macaulay were British abolitionists who worked for social reform. The letter also mentions Secretary of State...
GLC00496.137
February 23, 1820
Adams, John, 1735-1826
Character of General Jackson.
GLC00496.002
1823/07/15
to John Trumbull re: his engraving "Declaration of Independence", Univ. of Va.
With integral address leaf, free franked. Docketed by recipient. Jefferson agrees to subscribe to a copy of Trumbull's engraving of the signing of Declaration (Staufer 679) and also orders a print of Washington's resignation. He invites Trumbull...
GLC02483
July 13, 1854
Gray, Asa, 1810-1888
Writes to an unknown bookseller asking if he has copies of Gray's manual of botany available because Mr. Willis, the principal of the Freehold Institute, is not able to obtain a copy. Asks what the selling price is. With small square fragment of...
GLC02475.06
8 May 1819
Whitney, Eli, 1765-1825
to John Trumbull
Whitney, noted for his invention of the cotton gin, writes to Colonel John Trumbull, an established artist residing in New York City. Introduces Trumbull to Lucius Manson, a young, self-taught artist from New Haven, Connecticut, who will soon visit...
GLC02480.19
28 March 1850
Quitman, John Anthony, 1798-1858
Cancels an appointment to sit for his picture. Impression in upper left corner reads "P & H" within a filigree emblem.
GLC02494.08
23 August 1844
Polk, James K. (James Knox), 1795-1849
to Samuel Laughlin
Mentions some proofs Edwin Polk obtained to be added to a publication about Ezekial Polk (James K. Polk's grandfather) and his service in the Revolutionary War. Advises that this be done soon. Asks when the full report of the proceedings of the...
GLC02496
14 April 1845
Greenleaf, Simon, 1783-1853
to Francis E. Parker, Anson Burlingame, and A. Peniston
Greenleaf, a Harvard University professor, declines a dinner invitation from committee members of the Dane Law School (possibly another name given to Harvard's Law School). States that "a meeting of the Law School in Boston will be a surrender of...
GLC02504.20
1837-1908
Stafford, Robert H., fl. 1837-1866
Robert H. Stafford Collection [Decimalized .01- .98]
Stafford enlisted as a sergeant in the 12th Alabama infantry. Contains letters and newsclippings about the Peninsula Campaign, advance into Maryland, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Early's raid on Washington, D.C....
GLC02618
1841
McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885
Cavalry tactics. Third part. Evolutions of a regiment.
McClellan's personal copy of an army cavalry tactics manual, signed by McClellan on the titlepage as "Capt. 1st Cavalry." Pencilled note on rear pastedown by Millis Knickerbocker, a member of McClellan's Dragoons, states that he found the book near...
GLC02645
25 April 1854
Buchanan, James, 1791-1868
to Nahum Capen
Discusses Capen's book, The History of Democracy, and mentions people to whom he has sent it, including members of the press who have responded favorably to it. Comments that although he is doing well in England, he is looking forward to the end of...
GLC02658
29 December 1847
Stephens, Alexander Hamilton, 1812-1883
to James R. Branche
Stephens, a United States Representative from Georgia, responds to a communication from [Branche?], Corresponding Secretary of the Franklin Literary Society of Randolph Macon College in Ashland, Virginia. Thanks Branche and the society for his...
GLC02469.25
17 June 1848
[Quotation for Miss Saltonstall]
Poetically compares human actions to nature. "The passions were like sounds of nature, only heard in her solitude! Our senses may captivate us with beauty but in absence we can forget . . ." Inscribed to Miss Saltonstall.
GLC03010.01
Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872
The Life of Lincoln
Tribune Tracts no. 6. Extra-illustrated biography with engravings of Lincoln, the Executive Mansion, the Capitol, and a Lincoln-Hamlin electoral ribbon depicting Lincoln pasted in first few pages. Published by Horace Greeley & Co.
GLC03012
1816
Halliday, Thomas, fl. 1797
[Bronze medal commemorating George Washington's resignation from the Presidency at the end of his second term]
Depicts Washington in profile, with the title "George Washington President of the United States." The opposite side portrays an altar crossed by a sword and ax, with a verse stating "Commission resigned: Presidency relinquished."
GLC03222
13 January 1817
Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845
to Samuel Carswell
Asks Carswell to extend a line of credit to John H. Eaton on Jackson's behalf. Eaton was travelling to Philadelphia in order to publish his Life of Jackson.
GLC03243.01
19 June 1856
to William Sipes re: regrets that Sipes has written his biography
Buchanan also politely declines to read Sipes' manuscript. He claims that the materials for a biography would have to come from himself in order to be accurate. Also, "an eminent literary friend offered to write my Biography & I gratefully accepted...
GLC03243.02
1831/02/25-1901/02/25
Livingston & Alexander
to Johnston Livingston re: Johnston's failure to correspond
Apparently written by a sister of Johnston Livingston. She chides Johnston for failing to correspond with either his sister or his parents, who have gone to great ends to provide for him while he is away at college. She also notes that his last...
GLC03107.04065
[n.y.]/03/19
Rogers, Matilda, fl. 1817-1834
to Johnston Livingston re: developing Johnston's writing ability
Matilda remarks on an improvement of Johnston's writing, and asks for his opinion regarding the romantic inclinations of his sister "[T]il." She explains how she is anxiously awaiting winter's end, and also relates some gossip concerning the Van...
GLC03107.04067
1833-1834
Livingston, Johnston, 1817-1911
Journal
The journal contains drawings, poems, excerpts from literary and philosophical works, as well as notes on scholarly subjects. Most likely from Johnston's studies at Union College, Schenectady, N.Y.
GLC03107.04079
1833/10/17
Livingston, Mary Lawrence, 1821-1833
to Johnston Livingston re: news of friends and family
Written by Johnston's youngest sister. Mary informs Johnston that a young man who used to live with them was recently killed while working on a ship, and that their Aunt Maria just sold her house. She also describes a trip to New York where she saw...
GLC03107.04080
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