Entries drawn from collection & document descriptions
James Buchanan, the United States Minister to the United Kingdom, writes to W. Hunter and encloses a communication of "an important religious subject" from Edward Ellice, a member of the House of Commons, to C. A. Davis of New York. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B3, F20
Subject: Politics and Government, Religion and Spirituality
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
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...
Location: MC 1998.10, B3, F20
Subject: International Affairs, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government, Travel and Tourism
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
James Buchanan, the United States Minister to the United Kingdom, writes to Mr. Tyler regarding his plans to leave London as soon as George Dallas, his successor, arrives. Buchanan is not looking forward to the trip back home. " I am a very very...
Location: MC 1998.10, B3, F21
Subject: Politics and Government, Travel and Tourism
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Postmaster General Horatio Collins King writes to L.A. Thomas, Postmaster of New Haven, CT, about a recent position vacancy. Collins states that Hervey T. Dayton resigned from the job and recommends Nathan U. Brown as a replacement.
Location: I-BeachW-1976-1
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Representative Alexander Hamilton Stephens writes to Thomas W. Thomas and discusses the 1856 presidential election. Stephens, a Democrat, supports James Buchanan and describes the reasons why the convention made the decisions they did with regard to President Franklin Pierce, Senator Stephen...
Location: I-SpahrB-1959-10
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Democratic Presidential candidate James Buchanan (Class of 1803) writes John S. Cunningham about various political issues, including his support of President John Tyler's veto of the Bank of the United States in 1841. Buchanan also returns President Tyler's letter to Cunningham and notes that he...
Location: I-Friends-2003-3
Subject: Economics and Finance, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Hiram Walbridge writes President James Buchanan to introduce Robert Gamble and recommend him for a political appointment. Walbridge notes that “Gamble is a sound reliable democrat” who “has held responsible public trusts in the City of New York.”
Location: I-SpahrB-1952-10
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
United States Attorney General Jeremiah Sullivan Black provides legal advice to President James Buchanan on whether the Chief Executive can remit part of the sentence of a convict. "I have examined and found that the universal practice of all your predecessors sanctioned by the courts has been...
Location: MC 1998.10, B1, F2
Subject: Legal Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
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...
Location: I-Friends-2000-8
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government, Travel and Tourism
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Treasury Secretary Howell Cobb writes to David Tompkins and accepts his election to the James Buchanan Literary Association of New Haven, Connecticut.
Location: I-Purchase-1966-1
Subject: Literary Pursuits, 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
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
J. Howard Beckwith prepared this oration, entitled “The Triumph of American Genius," for the Junior Prize (Grigg Prize) contest held on July 3, 1858. Twelve members of the Junior class gave speeches on a variety of subjects. Transcript included.
Location: Orations-1858-B397t
Subject: Education, Politics and Government
Format: Speeches and Sermons
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
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.
Location: I-BeachW-2001-1
Subject: Genealogy and Family History, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Essays and Dissertations
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
