Historical Manuscripts Collection. This collection, about 400 folders, arranged chronologically, contains material on almost every phase of political, social, mercantile, and military life in the United States, during the period 1636-1936. Some of these folders contain single items - others contain numerous and generally related items. There are three 17th century items, two of them legal documents and one a business receipt. Of the 18th century documents, there are 105 folders. They contain business correspondence, bills of lading, invoices, receipts, price lists, bonds, contracts, promissory notes; documents of the Mayor's Court of New York City, last wills and testaments, deeds for land, land grants, power of attorney papers, apprenticeship papers; personal correspondence; papers concerning construction of ships; clearance papers for ships; innkeeper's licenses; receipts for slaves; certificates of army services and a bounty certificate of a Revolutionary veteran. Among the prominent persons represented are John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, the Marquis de LaFayette, Major General Charles Lee, Toussaint L'Ouverture, Governor Horatio Sharpe of Maryland, Ben Stoddert, and George Washington. The 19th and the few 20th century documents in this collection contain personal and business letters; documents relating to carrying of mail, customs declarations, documents on privateering, correspondence on smuggling through Canada, letters on revenue collections, U. S. Internal Revenue forms, appointments of U. S. Marshals, and claims against the Government; a diary concerning Woodrow Wilson; payments to school teachers; fishing permits; character references; deeds, mortgage documents, promissory notes; land grants; bills of sale and receipts for negro slaves; shipping matters, marine insurance, ships' passes, and bills for ships' supplies; military commissions, general and other military orders, orders for military supplies, letters concerning defenses of the United States, appointments to the United States Military Academy, recommendations for military promotions, and letters from soldiers describing conditions in the field; passenger list of a stagecoach; and certificates of apprenticeship. The Presidents of the United States whose signatures appear among these papers are John Adams, Chester A. Arthur, Jmes Buchanan, Grover Cleveland, Willard Fillmore, William Henry Harrison, Rutherford B. Hayes, Andrew Jackson, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, James Madison, James Monroe, Theodore Roosevelt, Zachary Taylor, and Martin Van Buren. Other prominent figures represented here are George Babcroft (historian), Aaron Burr, John C. Calhoun, Simon Cameron (Sec'y of War), Lewis Cass (Sec'y of War), Lord Randolph Churchill, Winston S. Churchill, Lord Cornwallis, William H. Crawford ( Sec'y. of Treasury), Oliver Cromwell, Jefferson Davis, James Cuthrie (Sec'y. of Treasury), Oliver Wendell Holmes, Samuel Houston (Pres. of Texas), Marquis de LaFayette, General Robert E. Lee, King Louis XVIII of France, James Russell Lowell, Lord Nelson, James K. Paulding (Sec'y. of Navy), William Pitt (Earl of Chatham), Dr. Benjamin Rush, William H. Seward, General William T. Sherman, J. Gregory Smith (Governor of Vermont), Daniel Webster, and Emile Zola. Although many of these documents are valuable only for their autograph value, most of them contain excellent source material on almost every phase of American History. Seven boxes and miscellaneous oversize material.

Folder also contains Library of Congress Ms. Div. report on the document, English translation, and typed transcript in Latin. Oversize material.

documents receipted by Pascaud at Quebec, October 1697.

Folder includes note in longhand of FDR.

Oversize material.

Witnessed and notarized by Philip Cortland. Oversize material.

raise sufficient funds for provisioning of the royal navy.

Includes longhand note by FDR.

Contains 42 items.

October 17 and 23, 1745 [handwritten contemporary copy], re Governor Fairfax's claim to quitrents within Virginia's boundaries.

Contains 36 items.

Contains 3 items.

Contains 30 items.

Oversize material.

Oversize material.

Contains 9 items.

Drawn in Paisley, Scotland.

Contains 8 items.

Contains 17 items.

Parts of letter in code.

Also includes photostats of document.

Also includes photostats.

Contains 7 items.

Contains 11 items.

Folder includes donor's letter and FDR's reply.

Photostat copy.

Contains 10 items. Originals in possession of M. L. Suckley.

Contains 5 items.

re sale of the ship WASHINGTON.

Signed by James Clinton and Simeon DeWitt, commissioners for determining the Pennsylvania-New York boundary, for tents to house the commissioners while marking the boundary.

Verso contains notation of habeas corpus granted, January 2, 1787.

Verso contains certificate that document is a true copy, dated May 30, 1787.

To pay 20 pounds to Messrs. Taintor and Isham and charge same to his salary account as Judge of the Superior Court [of Connecticut].

Includes Waln's transcript of Washington's reply [n.d.].

praying for prevention of ferry planned on the Congaree River "at the land of [?] McCord."

Oversize material.

Enclosing copy of Dunham's letter to revenue collector John N. Cummings re discrepancies in Cummings' report of January and July 1792. Oversize material.

Statutes not included. Oversize material.

re establishment of federal government, early Washington City, etc.

document endorsed by M. [Marinus?] Willett.

re law passed December 21, 1794 and possibility of L'Ouverture's resignation from the government. Memo from FDR also in folder, giving history of document as gift from Pres. Lescot of Haiti in 1943.

Note presumably in handwriting of Rufus King, American Minister at London. Oversize material.

Signature of Robert Benson. Oversize material.

Drafted March 10, 1780, and sent by Alexander Seton to his attorneys, presumably in the U. S.

Oversize material.

In auction folder, with lengthy description of document, price, and date purchased, all in hand of FDR.

Oversize material.

Also contains on verso Catharine Fuller's relinquishment of her rights and claims on the property, 1901. Oversize drawer.

Also Abraham Bradley, Asst. PMG, re Cadawallader's contract to carry mails between Harrisburg, Pa., and Alexandria, Va. Contains 17 items.

Signed by Thomas Jefferson as President and countersigned by James Madison, Secretary of State. Oversize material.

In French, with contemporary English translation.

Contemporary translation included.

Oversize drawer.

Two from Louis Rossignol, Savannah merchant, and one from Louis Long, Marseilles merchant.

One to an unnamed individual re his son Edward's schooling and upbringing, and the other to Messrs. Willing and Francis, merchants, re business matters.

complaining of the conduct of Generals Dearborn and Lewis and progress of the war.

Notations by FDR on auction folder.

Order for "George and Jack" [Chicksaw Indians who served with Andrew Jackson] outfitted with "a Blanket and Shirt each" on their way to visit President Madison.

Oversize drawer.

Listing rules for pupil conduct, teaching methods, curriculum, etc.

Contains 27 items.

Folder also includes two engravings [one of Madison and the other of his home at Montpelier, Va.] and facsimile of his letter of March 15, 1820 to President Monroe. Oversize drawer.

re efforts to prevent smuggling of British goods via Canada.

Includes royal seal.

By James Tallmadge of Poughkeepsie and Theodorus Bailey, New York City Postmaster.

re necessity of maintaining defenses of the fort.

Both were former law students of Richard Rush.

Signed by James Monroe and Josiah Meigs, General Land Office Commissioner.

re shipping of an order for drygoods from Chester, Pa., to Wilmington, Del.

Contains 9 items. Oversize drawer.

Signed by Sir Peregrine Maitland, K.C.B., Lieut. Governor. Oversize drawer.

Thanking him for care of his horse.

To Mrs. Mary Pringle and Mrs. Patience W. B. Eustis in trust for Ralph Stead Izard, a minor for Milton Plantation. Oversize drawer.

Attached to the document is a metal identification tag worn by one of the slaves.

Covering letters of introduction to Baron [Barthold Georg] Niebuhr and [Prof.?] [Friedrich Gottlieb] Welcker of Bonn University. Oversize drawer.

Also cover addressed to Col. F. Patterson, Wilkesboro, N. C.

Oversize drawer.

Contains 58 items.

Contains 9 items.

Requesting names of men competent to survey and estimate for construction of new railroad.

re state legislation on federal funds for equipping the state militia.

Signed by Walter N. Bowne, Mayor.

Oversize drawer.

re latter's accounts.

Included is letter to Mrs. Roosevelt from Michael Miller, Baltimore, identifying document as one from FDR's collection of covers auctioned in 1946. with Mrs. R's reply.

Letter encloses receipt for Davis' annual subscription.

Letter is notifying Caldwell that the [U. S.] Senate has confirmed his nomination as Receiver at Shawneetown.

Franked by J. Bell, John Forsyth, and Levi Woodbury.

Also includes a letter from R. S. Yardborough, Cotton Gin Port, Md., to Margarett Riddle, Abbeville Dist., S.C., re family matters. Contains 22 items.

Contains 2 items.

Letter mentions taking "Camilla to Warm Springs for her health."

Merchant letters (4) of J. C. Harter in England to Ebenezer Chadwick, Boston; Smith, Hubbard & Co., New Orleans, to Smith & Co., Hartford, listing saddles, bridles, etc., and commenting on business matters; letter of F.A. LeMaun, England, and letter of Gartner, Harter & Kilgour, England, to Kirk Boott, Lowell, Mass. Contains 7 items.

re importance of Andrew Jackson's administration; tipped in is letter of Throop's great nephew, James A. Throop, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, explaining relation to the writer, November 12, 1908.

re medical opportunities in South America and imminence of war.

re death of "our dear Sarah," and family affairs.

Letter discusses proposed move to Illinois, local news and gossip, Poughkeepsie regatta, etc.

Oversize drawer.

Contains 16 items.

re confirmation of Judge Blythe as Collector of the Port of Philadelphia and other political news.

re his brother, John Lindsay, and latter's service as blacksmith for the Potawatomie Indians. Also includes draft on the Post Office Department, signed by Amos Kendall, to Joshua Lindsay for $58.74, to pay William Scott for his mailcarrying contract. Contains 2 items.

Signed by Martin Van Buren. Oversize drawer.

Letter supports Houston's veto of Texas legislature's demand for war with Mexico.

[on verso] "To Hembury Gamekeeper Hyde Park."

re consignment of axes received from Hartford for shipment to New Orleans. Letter written on bill of lading form for the ship HUNTSVILLE, filled out for passage of 75 packages of axes from New York to New Orleans.

re purchase of a farm, family matters, health, etc. [3 pp.]

Letter notifies McCulloh of the appointment of William C. Anderson as U. S. Marshal for District of Missouri.

Schedule shows attendance record of the five pupils, April-June, signed by their teacher, E. L. Graves; also school trustees' certificate showing school inspection and remuneration of teacher.

Letter declines invitation to address the Mercantile Library Association of Boston.

Awarded by the school's trustees.

re shipment of root hames for horse and mule harness via the BAYOU PIONEER for New Orleans; also includes bill for $185.75 for same.

Note accepts invitation to lecture before the Washington [D.C.] Trinity Church Library Association.

Also mariner's register ticket for Huggit, North Shields, England, giving description of him and other information.

On same sheet is letter from Brookins B. Moore [son-in-law of Gipson ?] to "Dear father & mother brothers and sisters"; both letters concern family matters.

Letter offers to buy bounty land warrants at $105 each. The letter is written on printed form letter of 1844 describing operations of Washburne & Woodman.

Note is wishing her a happy new year, and presenting her with a copy of POET'S OFFERING.

By Elizabeth A. Moulton, postmistress, with her signature.

Letter written on sheet of MERCHANTS' AND PLANTERS' PRICE-CURRENT, even date.

re shipment of hemp and other goods from New Orleans to Sisal [Yucaten, Mexico?] and possible sale of vessel.

See item 250.

Sending some "greens from the TOMB OF WASHINGTON" and a "Canuc Newspaper" [?].

re attitude of the French Government toward U.S. annexation of the Sandwich [Hawaiian] Islands.

Consisting of 73 signatures, notes, short letters, etc., sent to Kibbee by various Governors, Cabinet members, and Congressmen.

Authorizing funds for new sails and repairs to the revenue boat at Nantucket.

re his coming voyage to England and the Baltic in U.S.S. SAN JACINTO, taking dispatches to the American minister at St. Petersburg, etc.

Letter encloses extract from minutes of General Conference of the M. E. Church, South, re legacy of Cornelius Vanhouton, May 8 and 29, 1854, held at Columbus, Ga.

Probably in re Vanhouten legacy mentioned in item 263.

Includes unstamped cover, and letter to FDR from donor, 1934.

Actual dates are February 1 and July 11, 1856, and March 5, 1858.

re his low opinion of Jefferson, democratic government, etc. [3 pp.]

re the sending of Congressional publications to the Westchester County Library Association at Yonkers, N. Y.

License permits him to navigate boats on the river between St. Louis and New Orleans. Also includes summary of oath taken by Clemens upon receiving his license.

Includes envelope in Sumner's hand.

Microprint reproduction.

Contains 3 items.

Letter recommends Lt. Thomas B. Oakley for appointment as U.S. Army Paymaster. Verso is endorsed by other officers, including General Burnside, and contains President Lincoln's Executive Order of August 16, 1861, appointing Oakley as Paymaster. Photostat copy.

Apprising him of troop movements ordered for approach to Elizabethtown [Ky.?] Modern copy.

On last page of four is letter from T. McCann to B. Lann [n.d.] which describes arrival of unit in Dallas, Texas, illness of the men, news of battles in Arkansas, etc., [4pp.] Includes typed transcript of the Letters, and copy of letter to donor of letters by R. E. Stone, Texas HRS of WPA.

Relative to inspection of regimental arms and ammunition.

Describes camp life, rains, illness, an attack by a brigade of negroes, prices in the South, etc.

Bley was lock-keeper of Klodnitz Canal in the Oppeln District of Berlin; signed by [Bismarck?]. Typed translation.

Telling of condition in the South during Civil War.

Possibly #2 issued at Fort Fisher.

Enclosing receipt for remittance for two passages aboard steamship amounting to $64; receipt also included. [2 items]

re conduct of Capt. T. E. Hall and reapprasal of Hall's motives in offering to resign his commission; on verso, endorsement by Lincoln having effect of an Executive Order, June 27, 1864.

describing conditions in camp, giving advice to his younger brother, etc. Envelope attached.

re changing of postoffice at Chalklevel, Va, and Farmer's delivery of mails between New Ferry and Chalklevel.

re clothing and shoes issued to enlisted men. Verso contains minutes of other entries.

[5 items]

Presumably tax payment.

Letter reports her busband [Hiram E. Pettis - see item 300] "all right so far as reported" in October 1864.

For land presumably in Wyoming Co.

Recommendation missing.

Announcing surrender of the Army to Northern forces.

Includes cover.

Agent for the Methodist Publishing House, Nashville.

Oversize material.

Expressing the Emperor's [Maximilian] thanks to Hellwald for his gift of a volume on early American geography. [In German.]

Discusses coming cotton crop, high postage on DeBow's REVIEW, etc.

Informing him that correspondence re Mexican matters may be conducted only through diplomatic channels.

re Charles Loew's promise to buy some of the Tammany Hall mortgage bonds.

Introducing the bearer, W. A. M. Mazzoletti, representative of Italian silkworm growers, and asking Cowdin to supply him with all needed information re American silk culture. Includes cover.

Requesting Thayer's aid in securing passage of a bill to grant prize money or bounties to members of the "Inland Squadron" during the Civil War; also included is Thayer's reply from Washington, telling Shaw that prospects for the passage are not good. [2 items.]

Soon-kia-sung and Che-koh-an, apparently of members of the Chinese Embassy staff in Washington.

Couple were married ca. 1850 by Driscoll; verso contains Driscoll's certificate and extract from marriage records, notary's seal, etc.

re his impending visit to Richmond, illness, etc.

re approaching Baltimore convention of the Democratic Party, Seymour's attitude toward the Greely ticket, dangers of a third party, etc.

Also attached are four cancelled checks for teachers' salaries, coal, and school supplies, December 1884 to March 1885.

Verso is Young's certificate of September 12, 1879, attesting that Huggitt had completed his apprenticeship satisfactorily, Oversize. [See also item 241.]

re subscription policies of the TIMES; includes check issued to Rame, envelope, and clipping.

Requesting Lee to act as Aide-de-camp to General [Joseph Roswell] Hawley at opening ceremonies of the Centennial Exposition. Includes envelope.

Charging that Postmaster D. G. Hunt of Rochester, N.Y. was attempting to influence "& control" the nominating convention by means of the Post Office.

Written on stationery of the India Office, re Majendie's request to Churchill to forward to the Home Secretary [of Great Britian] any petition submitted on behalf of mitigating the sentence of George Twiney [?].

re Sherman's difficulties since the Civil War with Charles A. Dana of the N. Y. SUN, Edwin M. Stanton, and others.

Includes envelope.

re publication and sale of his book, THE RISE AND FALL OF THE CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT.

re "Mr. Bonaventure" [evidently a dealer] and Drexel's inability through illness to continue with his collecting of books and prints.

Together with photostat of engrossed testimonial presented to William F. Harrity for aid in securing passage of the 8-hour law. [2 items.] Oversize.

On verso is testimonial in another hand to the work of Hepburn's Japanese mission.

written in Turkish characters. Oversize material.

re impending flood investigation and latest methods of flood control.

Informing her that the Legation is unable to furnish cancelled Korean stamps due to great demand.

re international conditions in the Orient, Boer War, Germany and Russia, family matters, etc. Typed transcripts of three letters are included; also donor's letter to FDR.

Regarding betting on Theodore Roosevelt's chances of winning the New York State Governorship election.

re Democratic prospects for 1900, Republican waste, etc. Included with Cleveland's letter is typed transcript.

re the Governor's advisers, machine politics vs. the reformers, "Boss" [Thomas Collier] Platt, etc. Includes 2 items.

Includes clipping from [London?] MORNING POST, Sept. 17, 1901, re Theodore Roosevelt's accession to the Presidency. Date is approximate.

Letter thanks him for copy of MIREILLE that Mistral had sent, extolling the "homely virtues", etc. Verso contains note on origin of copy.

An increase in military horsemanship, etc. 2 copies of photostat.

re his attitude toward pending federal employees' liability bill. 2 pages. Gift of William J. Pinkerton, 1933.

Oversize.

Countersigned by Lentze for the Minister of Public Works, Berlin. In German; translation included.

Describing attitude of men in T.R.'s office [of the METROPOLITAN MAGAZINE] toward military preparedness.

re attitude of British toward America prior to U.S. declaration of war on Germany; also included is letter from Mrs. Hamlin to Mrs. F.D. Roosevelt, Dec. 15, 1924, enclosing the photostat.

Date is approximate.

re FDR's unfitness as Presidential candidate, party bankruptcy, etc.

Offering his services to FDR in some capacity connected with public relations.

Oversize.

Includes correspondence from State Dept., 1944, concerning gift of letter from Austin Taylor of Wales.

Typescript included.

Together with a letter to her sister, n.d., n.p., by Anna Wilkinson Chase [1768-1844], daughter of Jeremiah Wilkinson.

Asking him to determine when umbrellas were first used in the U.S., and whether [David?] "Rittenhouse" could have used one in 1769.

And printed designation that Hayes was aide-de-camp to Commander in Chief [of the Ohio National Guard?], at Fremont, Ohio.

Introducing Dr. S. W. Francis of Newport, who wished to exhibit to Blair a stamp-cancelling machine.

Oversize.

[possibly to Sara Delano Roosevelt, whose note in longhand, "Please return this" is on the last page of the ms.], giving President Cleveland's brother's estimate of his character.

Saying he did not know of Parr's wish to accompany Wolfe on the Canadian campaign, mentioning damage inflicted on Montcalm's forces and the fact that "Tomorrow all being well we move a little closer, changing camp to the North bank of the River." Gift to FDR from Lord Beaverbrook, 1942.

Discussing business of the House of Lords, mentioning Lord Egremont, Sir Joseph Yorke, and Lord Granby; also discussing the progress of the wars in America against the French: "I trust however that firmness and perseverance will add Canada, with the Gulph of St. Lawrence, its Islands, and its Fishery to his Majesty's ancient possessions in North-America." Bound in same folio with item 396; gift of Lord Beaverbrook, 1942.

Discussing Layfayette's impending departure for America with troops, a resolution of the Holland States General authorizing convoys for their merchantmen to protect them from British privateers, etc. Gift to FDR from the French Vice Admiral R. A. Fenard of the French Naval Mission, March 10, 1944; letter from Fenard to FDR, with copy of FDR's reply, laid in.

Containing an "Order of March for the Right Column of the American Troops who are to move by the Right" during realignment of forces for the Southern Campaign undertaken after Washington had decided to abandon the proposed siege of New York City. Photostats of correspondence with donor, Eleanore Bruno, indicate the manuscript came from the papers of Major Genl. Edward Hand, one of the officers mentioned in the document. (1942)

Introducing his son, John Quicy Adams, recently appointed Minister to Holland. Gift to FDR from Lord Beaverbrook.

Signed by Timothy Pickering, Secy. of State, and Charles Lee, Attorney General; includes description of the steam engine signed by the inventors. 2 pp. Gift of Eleanore Bruno.

Regarding loss of a letter supposed to have been delivered for Monroe by Philip Kearney of New York. Gift to FDR from Lord Beaverbrook.

Includes an account of the early weeks of his teaching at Wilmington.

Laid in loosely is letter from Julia Taft-Bayne, Urbana, Ill., to Harry F. Banknecht, Ridgewood, N.J. (1931) indicating that the writer knew the Lincolns in the White House; relationship to the account book not determined.

This was written for and at request of Elliott Cresson, Quaker philanthropist. Verso also contains a brief statement in longhand of James Madison and one written by William Short, also of Virginia [1759-1849].

3 vols., lithographed from manuscript originals, with notations and drawings in hand of Cadet [Lt.] Samuel M. Plummer, class of 1835.

Among the signatures are those of John Van Buren and Millard Fillmore.

Contains signatures of members of Congress, Horace Greely, and the following cabinet members; Hannibal Hamlin [Vice President under Lincoln]. William H. Seward [and Fredrick W. Seward], Edwin M. Stanton, Gideon Welles, and John P. Usher.

Rector of St. Margaret's, Westminster, enclosing as part of the letter a suggested inscription for the Raleigh Memorial Window [obtained by American subscription] to be installed in St. Margaret's. Gift to FDR from Lord Beaverbrook.

Originally filed in the audio-visual collection

465 matches returned.