Personal and Family Life

    Entries drawn from collection & document descriptions

Letter from Roger B. Taney to Taney Campbell
August 18, 1855

Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes his grandson, [Roger Brooke] Taney Campbell, and notes that he is glad to have heard so much from the Campbell family this summer. As Taney explains, he and his wife just this morning received letters from Taney Campbell's father and sister...

Letter from Roger B. Taney to J. Mason Campbell
August 25, 1855

Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes to J. Mason Campbell about the summer at Old Point with regard to the nearby outbreak of yellow fever and the construction of a new wharf. While his family is safe from the outbreak, Taney finds sadness in the illness and death as well as the...

Letter from Roger B. Taney to J. Mason Campbell
September 28, 1855

Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes to J. Mason Campbell and discusses Mrs. Taney's ill health. "Maria -- who was sleeping the bed with her -- discovered that she was making an effort to raise herself in bed -- and was unable to do so," as Taney explains. Taney also asks...

Location: I-SpahrB-1964-8

Subject: Health and Medicine, Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Telegram from Roger B. Taney to J. Mason Campbell
September 29, 1855

Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney sends a telegram to J. Mason Campbell: "Mrs Taney is dying. Charter a Boat from Mr Falls and send it for us as soon as possible."

Location: I-SpahrB-1964-8

Subject: Health and Medicine, Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from James Buchanan to Eliza Watterston
December 28, 1855

James Buchanan, the United States Minister to the United Kingdom, writes to Miss Eliza Watterston and offers condolences regarding the death of her father and a Mrs. Baker. Buchanan also explains that he is ready to return home. "I long to return to my own country which is the happiest land...

Letter from Roger Brooke Taney to Mrs. Patterson
March 17, 1856

Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney thanks his daughter, Alice Taney Campbell, for sending a letter that arrives on his 79th birthday. Campbell's "affectionate remembrance," as Taney explains, reminds him of her "affectionate & constant attention to [her] dear grandmother."...

Location: I-SpahrB-1964-7

Subject: Health and Medicine, Personal and Family Life, Weather and Climate

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from John Gilmore to "Lib"
June 1856

John Calhoun Gilmore writes to "Lib" prior to the Dickinson College Commencement exercises about his class rank in the Class of 1856. Gilmore lists the full ranking of the class of 1856 in his letter. "You will see that my standing is high - I am the first one next to the honor men," as Gilmore...

Letter from Roger B. Taney to Taney Campbell
August 10, 1856

Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes to his grandson, [Roger Brooke] Taney Campbell, with family news and provides some advice on horsemanship. Taney provides his grandson with an explanation on why one should learn to ride in the country before riding in a city like Baltimore...

Location: I-SpahrB-1965-8

Subject: Health and Medicine, Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from Roger B. Taney to Phoebe Campbell
September 5, 1856

Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes to his granddaughter, Phoebe K. Campbell, about the summer weather as well as reports and comments on various family news. Family members mentioned include Phoebe's aunt Maria and Mr. Allison, her siblings Alice and Taney, her father, her...

Location: I-SpahrB-1965-9

Subject: Health and Medicine, Personal and Family Life, Weather and Climate

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from Roger B. Taney to D. Perine
April 5, 1857

Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes to D. M. Perine regarding a life insurance policy payment at the Baltimore Life Insurance Company. As he is still in Washington, Taney asks Perine to take the payment to J. J. Donalson. While "I was much broken down in the last two weeks of...

Letter from Thomas M. Griffith to His Sister
June 23, 1857

Thomas Griffith, a member of the Class of 1858, writes to his sister about his semester at Dickinson College. Griffith writes about some of his friends, health, as well as his studies. Griffith also tells his sister about his plans for the remainder of the semester, including his decision to...

Letter from Robert Grier to Nelson Grier
July 8, 1857

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Robert Cooper Grier (Class of 1812) writes to his brother, Nelson Grier, and discusses a picnic as well as a trip to the mountains.

Location: I-Friends-1981-7

Subject: Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from Harriet Lane to Lily Macalester
September 13, 1857

First Lady Harriet Lane writes to Lily Macalester about the going ons of Washington D.C., her trip to Pennsylvania, Macalester's trip to West Point, as well as various bits of gossip. Lane also comments on several political figures, including Secretary of War John B. Floyd and Senator Stephen...

Letters from James Sellers to Eli Slifer
1851-1858

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...

Letters from Andrew Curtin to Eli Slifer, 1858-59
1858-1859

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

Journal of Horatio Collins King
1858-1859

Horatio Collins King, a member of the Class of 1858, records his thoughts and activities of his daily life in the first year after his graduation from Dickinson College. King's entries include notes on his travels through New England, Canada, and New York. In addition, King discusses social life...

Location: MC 1999.9, B3, F1

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

Format: Diaries and Journals

Time Period: 1840-1859

Biographical Sketch of President James Buchanan by Lily Macalester
1859

Lily Macalester writes this biographical sketch of President James Buchanan in 1859. Macalester is friends with First Lady Harriet Lane, Buchanan's niece. Transcript included.

Journal of Charles F. Thomas
July 9, 1859 - November 13, 1861

Charles F. Thomas' diary includes intermittent entries dating from leaving Dickinson College in July 1859, to attending at Garrett Bible Institute in Evanston, Illinois, and to working as a Methodist circuit rider in Pennsylvania as the Civil War begins. In March 1860, Thomas saw Abraham Lincoln...

Letters from Andrew Curtin to Eli Slifer (circa 1860)
circa 1860

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. 

Letters from Alexander McClure to Eli Slifer, 1860-62
1860-1862

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...

Letter from Roger B. Taney to George Hughes
May 7, 1860

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

Letter from Lily Macalester to Charles Macalester
May 11, 1860

Lily Macalester writes her father, Charles Macalester, regarding her stay at the White House with her friend, First Lady Harriet Lane. Lily describes a dinner hosted by Lord Richard Lyons, the British minister to the United States, that a number of prominent officials attended, including General...

Location: I-Friends-2000-2

Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Lily Macalester to Charles Macalester
May 13, 1860

Lily Macalester writes to her father, Charles Macalester, about a dinner party she attends while staying at the White House with her friend First Lady Harriet Lane. Lily includes a description of her conversation with President James Buchanan and provides updates on other political issues,...

Location: I-Friends-2000-3

Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Lily Macalester to Charles Macalester
May 25, 1860

Lily Macalester writes to her father about an "elegant" party at the White House in which the Japanese delegation attended. In addition, Lily describes the plans for a future dinner party. Transcript included.

Letter from Lily Macalester to Charles Macalester
May 26, 1860

Lily Macalester writes her father, Charles Macalester, regarding her stay at the White House with her friend, First Lady Harriet Lane. Lily describes the dinner party with Japanese delegates as a "great success." "My friend the young Prince Stkahara Jugoro, is very bright" and, as Lily explains...

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