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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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...
Location: I-SpahrB-undated-52
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: 
Letter from Robert Grier to Aubrey Smith
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...
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
View Item: Letters from Andrew Curtin to Eli Slifer, 1860-63
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: Letter from William Wright to James Buchanan
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: Letter from Henry Hogeboom to James Buchanan
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...
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
View Item: Letters from Thomas Orwig to Eli Slifer
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...
Location: MC 2003.4, B7, F7
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letters from Henry Maxwell to Eli Slifer
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...
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
View Item: Letters from Jacob Frick to Eli Slifer
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.
Location: I-SpahrB-1959-9
Subject: Legal Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letter from Edwin Stanton to James Buchanan (Copy)
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,...
Location: MC 1998.10, B4, F4
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to James Gordon Bennett
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.
Location: I-SpahrB-1959-9
Subject: Legal Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letter from Edwin Stanton to James Buchanan (Copy)
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: Letter from W. Armstrong to James Marshall
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...
Location: MC 2003.4, B2, F18
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Petition to Appoint Theodore Christ as Surgeon’s Assistant
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.
Location: I-SpahrB-1959-9
Subject: Economics and Finance, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letter from Edwin Stanton to James Buchanan (Copy)
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...
Location: MC 2003.4, B5, F9
Subject: Business and Industry, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letters from Israel Gutelius to Eli Slifer (Apr. - Dec. 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...
Location: I-Friends-1975-27
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
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."
Location: I-SpahrB-1959-9
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letter from Edwin Stanton to James Buchanan (Copy)
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...
Location: MC 2003.4, B6, F15
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letters from John W. Killinger to Eli Slifer
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....
Location: MC 2003.4, B11, F11
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letters from Oliver Worden to Eli Slifer
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: Letters from Thomas Chamberlin to Eli Slifer
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.
Location: I-SpahrB-1959-9
Subject: Economics and Finance, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letter from Edwin Stanton to James Buchanan (Copy)
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...
Location: MC 2003.4, B1, F18
Subject: Health and Medicine, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letters from Everard Bierer to Eli Slifer
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,...
Location: I-SpahrB-1959-9
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letter from Edwin Stanton to James Buchanan (Copy)
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: Letter from Andrew Curtin to H. C. Baird
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...
Location: MC 2001.10, B1, F2
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letters from Thomas Dick (May - Dec. 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.
Location: MC 2001.9, B1, F3
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letters from John Cuddy (Jun. - Aug. 1861)