Letters/Correspondence

    Entries drawn from collection & document descriptions

Letters from William Wagenseller to Eli Slifer
1851-1861

William Wagenseller writes ten letters to Eli Slifer on a number of different topics, including funding a monument for his late brother and recommending his nephew for a position as a doctor in the Union army. In addition, Wagenseller provides information regarding a soldier who left military...

Letter from James Buchanan to James Henry
May 3, 1851

James Buchanan writes his nephew and legal ward, James Buchanan Henry, to discuss a recent school report. "In Scholarship you are 93.9; not so high as formerly," as Buchanan notes. In addition, Buchanan comments on his niece, Harriet Lane, and mentions the recent death of a Mrs. Pleasanton....

Location: I-Friends-2010-2

Subject: Education, Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from James Buchanan to Robert Flenniken
May 5, 1851

James Buchanan writes Robert P. Flenniken to discuss a number of political issues, including the 1852 Presidential election, the implications of General Lane's nomination in Indiana, and the intentions of Mr. Cameron to "admit the Frazer delegates from this county over the heads of the regularly...

Location: MC 1998.10, B3, F3

Subject: Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from James Buchanan to Robert Tyler
May 7, 1851

James Buchanan writes Robert Tyler, son of President John Tyler, about Buchanan's tenure as secretary of state under President James Polk and the Mexican War. "The appointments of officers in the Mexican war nearly ruined me politically in Pennsylvania" and, as Buchanan explains, "I solemnly...

Location: I-Friends-2003-4

Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from James Buchanan to John Tyler Jr.
June 11, 1851

James Buchanan writes John Tyler Jr. and explains how sectional tensions will increase after the Whig party nominates General Winfield Scott as their candidate for the 1852 Presidential election. "The result most probably will be to increase the strength & bitterness of those sectional...

Location: MC 1998.10, B3, F4

Subject: Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letters from Charles Collins to Harriet Collins (Jul. 1851)
July 8-9, 1851

Charles Collins writes two letters to his wife, Harriet, regarding his trip to Portland, Maine, and shares news of their family and friends. Collins also mentions watching a doctor perform an operation with chloroform and listening to a lecture on temperance by John B. Gough. "[Gough] is a...

Letter from George Freaner to Christian Humrich
August 1851

A description of this letter is not currently available. Transcripts included.

Location: I-Original-undated-15

Subject: Dickinson College Student Life, Education

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from Herman Johnson to Unknown Recipient
August 25, 1851

Dickinson College Professor Herman M. Johnson writes this letter to recommend a recent graduate, Martin T. Rohrer (Class of 1851), for a teaching position. Rohrer "is a young gentleman whom we believe to be... well qualified to fill the office of...

Location: I-SpahrB-1952-9

Subject: Dickinson College Alumni Affairs, Education, Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from Thomas Sudler to Unknown Recipient
August 26, 1851

Former Dickinson College Professor Thomas Emory Sudler (Class of 1840) writes this letter to recommend a recent graduate, Martin T. Rohrer (Class of 1851), for a teaching position. Rohrer "is a Gentleman qualified to give instruction" in subjects such as "Algebra, Geometry, [and] Trigonometry,"...

Location: I-SpahrB-1952-9

Subject: Dickinson College Alumni Affairs, Education, Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from Hetty Parker to James Henry
September 12, 1851

Hetty Parker, James Buchanan's housekeeper, writes to James B. Henry, Buchanan's nephew. Parker reports news of various Buchanan family relatives and friends, including Miss Ward, Mr. Lane, Miss Harriet, and many others. Transcript included.

Location: I-Friends-2010-3

Subject: Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from James Buchanan to Henry A. Clover
September 20, 1851

James Buchanan writes to Henry A. Clover regarding the Pennsylvania gubernatorial election and the election prospects of Clover's relative. "Your relative General Clover is in no danger" because, as Buchanan explains, "his opponent, John Strohm is one of the fourteen in the House of...

Letter from Roger B. Taney to William P. Smith
November 13, 1851

Roger Brooke Taney, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, writes to Mr. William Prescott Smith: "Accept my thanks for the 'Scientific American,' and the two pamphlets.... I was so much impressed with what I saw in my brief visit to the Institute a few evenings ago...." An engraving...

Letter from James Buchanan to Charles Shriner
November 24, 1851

James Buchanan writes Charles H. Shriner regarding the status of the Democratic party in Union County, Pennsylvania. "What is the matter in Union County?," as Buchanan asks. Transcript included.

Location: MC 1998.10, B3, F5

Subject: Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letters from George Miller to Eli Slifer
1852-1862

George Miller writes sixteen letters to Eli Slifer, Secretary of the Commonwealth during the Civil War, in which he discusses construction of the Sunbury and Erie railroad, repeal of the tonnage tax, the raising of a Corps of Engineers, developments in local elections, several legal cases, as...

Letters from James Buchanan to Henry Wise
1852-1857

James Buchanan writes three letters to Henry A. Wise that focus largely on various political matters, including the 1852 Democratic Convention, the election of US Senators from Pennsylvania, and who to appoint to President-elect Buchanan's cabinet. Transcripts included.

Location: MC 1998.10

Subject: Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letters from James Buchanan to James Campbell
1852-1854

James Buchanan writes five letters to James Campbell regarding Pennsylvania politics, the Democratic conventions, President Franklin Pierce's appointments, and Buchanan's experience working as the United States Minister to the United Kingdom. Buchanan also discusses the possibility of a war...

Letter from Simon Cameron to Reah Frazer
March 9, 1852

Simon Cameron writes to Reah Frazer, an attorney in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and requests copies of James Buchanan's speeches against the war, presumably the Mexican-American War. With them, Cameron explains that southern senators will demolish "the old sage." Cameron, a Pennsylvania...

Location: I-SpahrB-1957-5

Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letters from Andrew Curtin to Eli Slifer, 1852-57
1852-1857

Andrew Curtin writes four letters to Eli Slifer in which he discusses a recent appointment bill and the potential impact on the political strength of the Democratic party as well as other political developments in Pennsylvania. Transcripts included. 

Location: MC 2003.4, B3, F9

Subject: Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from James Buchanan to James Henry
March 26, 1852

James Buchanan (Class of 1809) writes to his nephew, James Buchanan Henry, and congratulates him for good grades in mathematics as well as offers advice for an upcoming exam. Buchanan also mentions his niece Harriet Lane, who is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania but expected to return in the coming...

Location: I-AsbellY-2003-8

Subject: Education, Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from William Wilkins to John Bigler
April 2, 1852

Former Secretary of War William Wilkins writes California Governor John Bigler to recommends Samuel A. Dickey, the son of Representative John Dickey, for a position or an appointment. Samuel "is of good character and correct deportment," as Wilkins notes.

Location: I-Purchase-1998-1

Subject: Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from Jesse Peck to A. W. Foote
April 7, 1852

Jesse Peck, President of Dickinson College, responds to A. W. Foote's request for an autograph. 

Location: I-SpahrB-1963-6

Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from James Buchanan to William L. Hirst
April 23, 1852

James Buchanan writes to William L. Hirst recommending the appointment of Judge Campbell to a position rendered vacant by the death of Judge Coulter, under the rationale that it will benefit the Democratic party of Pennsylvania. Buchanan includes a copy of the letter he wrote to Pennsylvania...

Location: MC 1998.10, B3, F7

Subject: Legal Affairs, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from James Buchanan to James Henry
May 5, 1852

James Buchanan writes his nephew and legal ward, James Henry, to ask about "the results" of a class meeting at Princeton and discuss plans for an upcoming vacation. Buchanan also includes a brief report on their family, including how "Harriet [Lane] returned from Pittsburgh ten days ago in good...

Location: I-Friends-2010-2

Subject: Education, Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from Thompson Ege to Oliver Ege
May 11, 1852

Thompson Prettyman Ege writes to his father, Oliver Ege, with updates on his life as a student and interactions with people in Carlisle. While "we will commence to review for [end of term] examination" in less than a month, Thompson assures his father that "I am very well and I am trying to get...

Letters from James Buchanan to John Wheeler
May 11 ; May 31, 1852

James Buchanan writes to Col John H. Wheeler regarding the 1852 Democratic National Convention, which is held in Baltimore, and who the delegates will select as the party's candidate for the 1852 Presidential election. "I think my prospects are fairer at present than those of any other...

Location: MC 1998.10

Subject: Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

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