Entries drawn from collection & document descriptions
This collection consists of folders in 13 manuscript boxes relating to correspondence and papers of Eli Slifer (1818-1888), an active figure in Pennsylvania politics and the Secretary of the Commonwealth under Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin, 1861-1867. Most of the letters were written during the...
Location: MC 2003.4
Subject: Business and Industry, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Engravings and Illustrations, Financial Documents, Legal and Government Documents, Letters/Correspondence, Photographs
Collection Inventory: 
mc2003.04.pdf
Collection Inventory: Appendix A - Civil War Units
Collection Inventory: Appendix B - Military Affairs
Collection Inventory: Appendix C- Political Affairs
Collection Inventory: Appendix D - Business Affairs
Collection Inventory: Appendix E - Miscellaneous Affairs
Oliver Worden writes five letters to Eli Slifer in which he comments on Slifer's "very interesting and very racy" first chapter of Shades of Public Life as well as offers advice for political speeches. Worden also updates Slifer on affairs regarding the Star and Chronicle paper...
Location: MC 2003.4, B11, F11
Subject: Literary Pursuits, Politics and Government
Format: Legal and Government Documents
Time Period: 1840-1859
Alexander McClure writes sixteen letters to Eli Slifer, a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, on a number of different topics, including the senatorial and representative delegate elections, reports on "Abolishing Capital Punishment," the abolition of slavery, and other...
Location: MC 2003.4, B7, F10
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government, Social Reform and Advocacy
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Israel Gutelius writes eight letters to Eli Slifer regarding issues related to the publication of Gutelius' German language newspaper, including laws that would allow "reasonable compensation" for the work in translating and publishing county news. Gutelius' paper is the Der Demokrat,...
Location: MC 2003.4, B5, F7
Subject: Business and Industry, Legal Affairs, Literary Pursuits, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
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...
Location: MC 2003.4, B10, F21
Subject: Health and Medicine, Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
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...
Location: MC 2003.4, B8, F3
Subject: Economics and Finance, Legal Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
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
Jacob C. Bomberger writes thirteen letters to Eli Slifer, Pennsylvania State Treasurer and later Secretary of the Commonwealth during the Civil War, regarding various financial transactions, politics issues, local and federal elections, Pennsylvania bank business, and other local news....
Location: MC 2003.4, B1, F23
Subject: Economics and Finance, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government, Religion and Spirituality
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Alexander McClure writes seventeen letters to Eli Slifer in which he discusses the political campaigns of various Pennsylvania politicians, denies his opposition towards Whigs, expresses joy at the success of Pennsylvania Governor James Pollock and James M. Sellers in elections, and discusses...
Location: MC 2003.4, B7, F11
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
John W. Killinger writes four letters to Eli Slifer discussing candidates for local elections as well as other political matters. "I have secured a place for [Snyder], after such a struggle as exceeded all my past political experiences," as Killinger notes. Transcripts included.
Israel Gutelius writes sixteen letters to Eli Slifer in which he primarily discusses his political activity and its relation to his paper, a German language newspaper published in New Berlin, Pennsylvania (The Der Demokrat, which is also known as the Union Demokrat). "You know...
Location: MC 2003.4, B5, F8
Subject: Business and Industry, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Jacob Frick asks Eli Slifer to write to Pennsylvania Governor William F. Packer "in my behalf for the office of Notary which will become vacant here [in Pottsville] this Fall." Transcript included.
Location: MC 2003.4, B4, F17
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
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
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
Dr. Theodore S. Christ writes eleven letters to Eli Slifer, the Secretary of the Commonwealth under Governor Andrew Curtin, regarding the organization of volunteer companies and daily life in a Union Army infantry company during the Civil War. Dr. Christ describes the injuries of soldiers and...
Location: MC 2003.4, B2, F18-19
Subject: Health and Medicine, Military Affairs and Conflict
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
Israel Gutelius asks M. N. Taggart for help to secure Gutelius' nomination for Senator in the upcoming election. "As it is certain that there will be a split in the Democratic party," Gutelius explains that "it is believed that we have a chance to elect a Senator." Gutelius also notes that his...
Location: MC 2003.4, B5, F8
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
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 office, notes problems with General Biddle's...
Location: MC 2003.4, B3, F11
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
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 to crush the rebellion," as Orwig notes....
Location: MC 2003.4, B8, F19
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
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 candidates for vacant positions in the military,...
Location: MC 2003.4, B7, F7
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
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 well as daily life in the Union army during the...
Location: MC 2003.4, B4, F17-18
Subject: Economics and Finance, Health and Medicine, Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
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 I am appointed," Gutelius promises to "publish...
Location: MC 2003.4, B5, F9
Subject: Business and Industry, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
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 military draft, and offers his opinion on various...
Location: MC 2003.4, B6, F15
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
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. Worden also offers his services to communicate...
Location: MC 2003.4, B11, F11
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
