Entries drawn from collection & document descriptions
Assistant Postmaster General Horatio King writes the Postmaster of Athens, Pennsylvania , to reprimand him for "the negligent and imperfect manner in which the cancellation of postage stamps is... performed in your office."
Location: I-SpahrB-1950-6
Subject: Business and Industry, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
President James Buchanan writes former President Franklin Pierce and encloses "the first copy of the message which has been delivered to any person." The "message" that Buchanan refers to is likely his first State of the Union, which was published on December 8, 1857. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B3, F25
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
United States Senator Simon Cameron writes Samuel D. Ingham, a former United States Secretary of the Treasury, to discuss President James Buchanan and other national political matters. "Our old friend [President James] Buchanan is really in trouble," Cameron explains, "for the first time in his...
Location: I-SpahrB-1963-1
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Rufus Choate, a former US Senator from Massachusetts, writes President James Buchanan (Class of 1809) to request the appointment of Edward Riddle as a naval agent in Boston, Massachusetts. "Mr Riddle [is] eminently well suited to perform the duties of the place in question," as Choate explains....
Location: I-AsbellY-1978-1
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
William Bigler writes to A. Boyd Hamilton and discusses President James Buchanan and several national political issues, including slavery, the Dred Scott decision, and the Lecompton Convention in Kansas. "I should sacrifice much before I would be found in the ranks of those who attempt to...
Location: I-SpahrB-undated-3
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
James Sellers writes fifteen letters to Eli Slifer concerning help with managing his father's estate, the possibility of his election as Senator as a result of his affiliation with the Whig party, questions about the division of Union County, as well as other political news. Transcripts included...
Location: MC 2003.4
Subject: Business and Industry, Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes Professor Joseph Henry, the first Smithsonian Secretary, to explain that he cannot meet with the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. As the Supreme Court Justices are meeting to decide cases, Taney explains that "every one of us must...
Location: I-SpahrB-1969-7
Subject: Legal Affairs, Politics and Government, Science and Technology
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Andrew Curtin writes fourteen letters to Eli Slifer in which he discusses a number of political issues, including who to nominate as candidates in Congressional elections. Curtin also reflects upon Slifer's potential candidacy for treasurer of Pennsylvania. In addition, Curtin requests a...
Location: MC 2003.4, B3, F10
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
President James Buchanan explains why he cannot grant E. L. Molineux's request that a merchant clerk of New York City receive an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B3, F26
Subject: Education, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
United States Attorney General Jeremiah Sullivan Black writes to Jacob Thompson, Secretary of the Interior, with a legal opinion on the question of whether widows of officers and soldiers could receive a government pension if they remarry. "Upon the whole it is clear," as Black concludes, that...
Location: I-BeachW-1974-1
Subject: Legal Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
President James Buchanan writes the Burns Club of the City of New York to decline the club's invitation to a dinner celebrating Robert Burns's centennial birthday. Buchanan also expresses his personal views on the poet's life and work. "[Burns] has ever been a favorite poet of mine," as Buchanan...
Location: I-Friends-2011-3
Subject: Literary Pursuits
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
President James Buchanan writes Charles E. Wentz regarding possible political appointments for Col. Samuel Stambaugh. "I have offered him two good offices; but he will accept neither of them," as Buchanan explains. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B4, F2
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
President James Buchanan writes to Secretary of State Lewis Cass, Secretary of War John B. Floyd, and Attorney General Jeremiah S. Black regarding orders that they need to send to federal officials in Utah. "The State of Affairs in Utah renders it necessary that new & harmonious instructions...
Location: MC 1998.10, B4, F2
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
United States Secretary of the Interior Jacob Thompson forwards a commission from President James Buchanan (Class of 1809) to John A. B. Leonard. The commission appoints Mr. Leonard as "Secretary to sign patents for lands."
Location: I-AsbellY-2002-63
Subject: Land and Real Estate, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Spencer Fullerton Baird writes to A. Haen & Company about the redrawing of some plates. Dr. John Newberry has left, and Baird has no authority in the matter but will write to Newberry.
Location: I-BeachW-1983-2
Subject: Science and Technology
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Governor of Virginia Henry Alexander Wise comments on various national political issues and on the 1860 presidential election. Wise tells his correspondent that "I hope you will deal hardly by the Softs and expose their connection at Cincinnati in...
Location: I-SpahrB-1954-9
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
President James Buchanan writes to W.C.N. Swift and voices his opinion that the Massachusetts delegation at the 1860 Democratic National Convention in Charleston, South Carolina "should be composed of sound national men who will act in unison." Buchanan also explains that he "feel[s] a deep...
Location: I-Friends-2001-3
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Spencer Fullerton Baird (Class of 1840) writes to Osmond Tiffany, responding to the latter's request for documents about the Pacific Rail Road and the Mexican Boundary.
Location: I-Friends-1982-7
Subject: Business and Industry, International Affairs, Science and Technology
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Pennsylvania politician Andrew Gregg Curtin writes to John V. Hart with updates about a financial matter . Curtin hopes that once "Beckwith" is paid for the timber he sold to the Tyrone and Lock Haven Rail Road Company, he will have more money. Transcript included.
Location: I-Purchase-1955-11
Subject: Business and Industry, Economics and Finance
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
President James Buchanan responds to John A. Wilstach's letter about domestic issues and foreign affairs. "I shall take great pleasure in reading your remarks on these important subjects at my earliest convenience," as President Buchanan explains.
Location: I-Friends-2005-4
Subject: International Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Assistant Postmaster General Horatio King writes to Ginery Twichell, president of the Boston and Worcester Railroad. King assumes that bids for new lines to Portland, ME and New Orleans, LA will be kept secret until "the whole matter is referred to Congress." Transcript included.
Location: I-Friends-1983-10
Subject: Business and Industry, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Harriet Lane writes to a Mr. Childs from the White House in 1859 regarding changes to a publication about her uncle President James Buchanan. Besides making corrections, Lane also wants Mr. Childs to use a different portrait of President Buchanan. The portrait that Mr. Childs had selected is, as...
Location: MC 1998.10, B4, F16
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Andrew Curtin writes eight letters to Eli Slifer in which he discusses appointing a new colonel, providing money to Hays for a contest, an article in the Pennsylvanian, and nominations for Senate. Transcripts included.
Note: These letters are undated.
Location: MC 2003.4, B3, F9
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Alexander McClure writes thirteen letters to Eli Slifer, the Secretary of the Commonwealth under Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin, in which he criticizes the management of local military troops, proposes raising regiments for the Union Army, comments on various Pennsylvania political issues, and...
Location: MC 2003.4, B7, F12
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney asks Representative George W. Hughes to "to call at my house some morning this week as you pop to the Capitol." Taney explains that he is still "suffering from my unlucky fall" and promises that he "will detain [Hughes] but a few minutes." Hughes is...
Location: I-SpahrB-1951-3
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
