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Collections of college and personal papers, as well as a select number of individual documents, have been briefly described in entries available for browsing and searching on this site. All collection and document descriptions contain a representative image and a summary of the contents. 

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Letter from Robert Grier to Aubrey Smith
December 29, 1860

United States Supreme Court Justice Robert Cooper Grier (Class of 1812) writes to Aubrey H. Smith regarding the secession crisis. Grier describes President James Buchanan as "wholly unequal" to dealing with the secession crisis, calls Secretary...

Letters from Andrew Curtin to Eli Slifer, 1860-63
1860-1863

Governor Andrew Curtin writes eleven letters to Eli Slifer in which he offers him the position as Secretary of the Commonwealth, describes his preference for David Wilmot as Senator, recommends Wallace Kerr for the vacant clerkship in Slifer's...

Letter from William Wright to James Buchanan
January 5, 1861

New York Supreme Court Justice William B. Wright writes to President James Buchanan and recommends John C. Perry for an appointment as a judge in one of the western organized territories. Wright's letter also includes short notes from prominent...

Location: I-SpahrB-1952-11

Subject: Legal Affairs, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: PDF icon Letter from William Wright to James Buchanan

Letter from Henry Hogeboom to James Buchanan
January 12, 1861

New York Supreme Court Judge Henry Hogeboom writes to President James Buchanan and recommends John C. Perry for an appointment as a judge in one of the western organized territories.

Location: I-SpahrB-1952-11

Subject: Legal Affairs, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: PDF icon Letter from Henry Hogeboom to James Buchanan

Letters from Thomas Orwig to Eli Slifer
1861-1864

Thomas Orwig writes twelve letters to Eli Slifer, the Secretary of the Commonwealth during the Civil War, regarding Orwig's military and administrative affairs with Battery "E" of 1st Pennsylvania artillery. " My greatest [military] ambition is...

Letters from Henry Maxwell to Eli Slifer
1861-1863

Henry D. Maxwell writes sixteen letters to Eli Slifer, Secretary of the Commonwealth during the Civil War, regarding the following topics: Maxwell's application for the directorship of the mint, recruitment and funding for the army, potential...

Letters from Jacob Frick to Eli Slifer
February - December 1861

Jacob G. Frick writes thirteen letters to Eli Slifer, the Secretary of the Commonwealth under Governor Andrew Curtin, on a number of topics, including conflict with Baltimore over commerce, affairs in military administration and compensation, as...

Letter from Edwin Stanton to James Buchanan (Copy)
March 10, 1861

Former Attorney General Edwin McMasters Stanton writes former President James Buchanan to discuss public affairs in Washington and comment on events that occurred during the last few months of Buchanan's administration.

Letter from James Buchanan to James Gordon Bennett
March 11, 1861

Former President James Buchanan writes publisher James Gordon Bennett several days after leaving the White House and asks that the New York Herald be sent to him in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Buchanan also reflects on his administration,...

Letter from Edwin Stanton to James Buchanan (Copy)
March 14, 1861

Edwin McMasters Stanton writes former President James Buchanan to discuss possible nominations to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court and comment on resolutions in the Senate that might end the secession crisis.

Letter from W. Armstrong to James Marshall
March 21, 1861

W. Armstrong writes to Professor James William Marshall (Class of 1848) about money collected from Daniel Hesey. Armstrong also refers to the "Smiths" and explains that he has "not proceeded against them" even though he has not received anything...

Location: I-Original-1861-1

Subject: Economics and Finance, Land and Real Estate

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: PDF icon Letter from W. Armstrong to James Marshall

Petition to Appoint Theodore Christ as Surgeon’s Assistant
[April 1861?]

The Officers of the Lewisburg Infantry company - Captain J. W. Chamberlin, First Lieutenant G. H. Hassenplug, , Second Lieutenant J. Merrill Linn, and Chaplain Rev. L. W. McDaniel - file this petition to ask that Dr. Theodore S. Christ be...

Letter from Edwin Stanton to James Buchanan (Copy)
April 3, 1861

Edwin McMasters Stanton writes to former President James Buchanan regarding Abraham Lincoln, in particular his state of mind.  Stanton also discloses that he believes the Secretary of the Treasury made an error in not accepting a loan.

Letters from Israel Gutelius to Eli Slifer (Apr. - Dec. 1861)
April - December 1861

Israel Gutelius writes fifteen letters to Eli Slifer, the Secretary of the Commonwealth during the Civil War, in which he asks Slifer to go to Washington and request the Secretary of the Navy to appoint Gutelius to a position in Philadelphia. "If...

Letter from Andrew Curtin to Unknown Recipient
April 11, 1861

Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin writes to an unknown recipient and asks if he will be in Washington, DC. Curtin, who will go to Washington on Saturday, explains that "we will pass a bill at once to prepare the State for what may occur...

Letter from Edwin Stanton to James Buchanan (Copy)
April 12, 1861

Edwin McMasters Stanton writes to former President James Buchanan regarding the start of the Civil War, stating that " in less than 30 days Davis will be in possession of Washington."

Letters from John W. Killinger to Eli Slifer
1861-1864

John W. Killinger writes eleven letters to Eli Slifer, Secretary of the Commonwealth during the Civil War, in which he recommends Doctor John H. Shank for the place of assistant surgeon, requests advice for a trip to Washington, discusses the...

Letters from Oliver Worden to Eli Slifer
1861-1865

Newspaperman Oliver Worden writes fifteen letters to Eli Slifer, the Secretary of the Commonwealth during the Civil War, in which he requests information on military and political issues for publication in the in the Star and Chronicle....

Letters from Thomas Chamberlin to Eli Slifer
May 3 - November 15, 1861

Union officer Thomas Chamberlin writes twelve letters to Eli Slifer, the Secretary of the Commonwealth under Governor Andrew Curtin, regarding his experience leading his company in the Union Army during the Civil War. Chamberlin discusses new...

Location: MC 2003.4, B2, F15

Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: PDF icon Letters from Thomas Chamberlin to Eli Slifer

Letter from Edwin Stanton to James Buchanan (Copy)
May 11, 1861

Edwin McMasters Stanton writes to former President James Buchanan apologizing for his previous letters being delayed by the Baltimore Riot. Stanton tells Buchanan news regarding the Civil War and President Lincoln's administration. 

Letters from Everard Bierer to Eli Slifer
1861-1865

Captain Everard Bierer writes a series of twelve letters to Eli Slifer, the Secretary of the Commonwealth under Governor Andrew Curtin, regarding the assembly and movement of army troops, the transportation of said troops, and requests for...

Letter from Edwin Stanton to James Buchanan (Copy)
May 19, 1861

Edwin McMasters Stanton writes to former President James Buchanan regarding the Civil War. Specifically, the unsuccessful evacuation of Fort Sumter, William Henry Seward, the Secretary of State's negotiations,...

Letter from Andrew Curtin to H. C. Baird
May 23, 1861

Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin writes to H. C. Baird about a complaint against the officers of the Fifth regiment. Curtin notes that he has little power or control over most of the issues since that regiment is under federal authority...

Location: I-SpahrB-undated-26

Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: PDF icon Letter from Andrew Curtin to H. C. Baird

Letters from Thomas Dick (May - Dec. 1861)
May - December 1861

Thomas William Dick writes a series of six letters to his family and friends describing his experience as a soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War. Dick discusses the possibility of taking a leave of absence and daily life in the military...

Letters from John Cuddy (Jun. - Aug. 1861)
June - August 1861

John Taylor Cuddy writes six letters to his mother and father, describing life as a soldier in the Union army at the start of the Civil War. Transcripts included. 

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