Monroe, James, 1758-1831
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 2035
4 linear feet (18 boxes); 8 microfilm reels
James Monroe (1758-1831) was a soldier, statesman and the fifth President of the United States. Collection consists of correspondence and Monroe's writings. Correspondence, 1772-1836, is largely political, focusing on constitutional issues,...
more
James Monroe (1758-1831) was a soldier, statesman and the fifth President of the United States. Collection consists of correspondence and Monroe's writings. Correspondence, 1772-1836, is largely political, focusing on constitutional issues, Monroe's diplomatic assignment in France, Virginia politics, treaty negotiations with Great Britain, France and Spain, the slave trade, and Bank of the United States. Also discussed are foreign policy and war issues. Writings, 1785-1831, include manuscripts of Monroe's autobiography, notes, drafts of speeches and articles on foreign and domestic policy, drafts of treaties with Great Britain and Spain, draft of proposed Bill of Rights, and copies of Monroe's cipher and Jefferson/Monroe cipher.
less
Liberal Party of New York State
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 1751
197.5 linear feet (180 boxes, 28 volumes)
The Liberal Party of New York State, the most successful third party in the United States in the twentieth-century, was organized in New York City in l944 by two prominent trade union leaders, David Dubinsky, president of the International Ladies...
more
The Liberal Party of New York State, the most successful third party in the United States in the twentieth-century, was organized in New York City in l944 by two prominent trade union leaders, David Dubinsky, president of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, and Alex Rose, president of the United Hatters, Cap and Millinery Workers Union. The records (1936-2002) contain correspondence (mainly) of the executive director, Ben Davidson; records of the publicity director; administrative records; the Trade Union Council of the Party; minutes of the New York County Liberal Party and of the State Committee of the American Labor Party; press releases; printed ephemera and scrapbooks of clippings and memorabilia.
less
Adams, Samuel, 1722-1803
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 20
2.25 linear feet (7 boxes, 5 oversized folders)
Samuel Adams (1722-1803) was an American revolutionary and post-revolutionary era political leader. Adams served as lieutenant-governor of Massachusetts from 1789 to 1793, and was governor from 1794 to 1797. The Adams papers contain letters to...
more
Samuel Adams (1722-1803) was an American revolutionary and post-revolutionary era political leader. Adams served as lieutenant-governor of Massachusetts from 1789 to 1793, and was governor from 1794 to 1797. The Adams papers contain letters to Adams and drafts of letters by him, chiefly on public affairs; as well as manuscripts of addresses, petitions, committee minutes, resolutions, and other documents. Much of Adams’ correspondence is with notable figures of the period in America and Europe including John Adams, Samuel Cooper, Christopher Gadsden, Horatio Gates, Elbridge Gerry, Joseph Hawley, Thomas Jefferson, Arthur Lee, Richard Henry Lee, James Lovell, Thomas Paine, and James Warren. There are also letters (1778-1781) to Adams’ wife, Elizabeth Wells Adams, on family matters, as well as letters neither to nor from Adams.
less
Smith, William, 1728-1793
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 2796
4.18 linear feet (6 boxes, 10 volumes)
William Smith Jr. (1728-1793), an American Loyalist of New York and Quebec, was a prominent jurist, statesman, journalist and historian. The William Smith Jr. papers comprise the papers of William Smith Jr., 1683-1793; those of his son William...
more
William Smith Jr. (1728-1793), an American Loyalist of New York and Quebec, was a prominent jurist, statesman, journalist and historian. The William Smith Jr. papers comprise the papers of William Smith Jr., 1683-1793; those of his son William Smith III (1769-1847), a Canadian government official, historian and militia officer, 1797-1848; and Smith family land and estate papers, 1665-1912. The bulk of the collection consists of William Smith Jr.'s papers pertaining to his activities as a lawyer, journalist and historian, and as a Councillor and Chief Justice in the British provinces of New York and Quebec (later Lower Canada). Papers include his correspondence and documents, writings for publication, and the diaries he kept from 1753 to 1783, known as his Historical Memoirs. Volumes documenting his law practice in New York are also present.
less
Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 23877
.76 linear feet (4 volumes)
Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) was a soldier, politician, and seventh President of the United States. William Berkeley Lewis (1784-1866) of Tennessee was Andrew Jackson's friend and political advisor. The Andrew Jackson and William B. Lewis...
more
Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) was a soldier, politician, and seventh President of the United States. William Berkeley Lewis (1784-1866) of Tennessee was Andrew Jackson's friend and political advisor. The Andrew Jackson and William B. Lewis correspondence, 1806-1864, is an artificial collection consisting of their letters, 1814-1845; correspondence of the two men with other prominent individuals; and a few miscellaneous documents, chiefly military returns signed by or relating to Jackson, 1813-1814. The bulk of the Jackson-Lewis letters are written by Jackson to Lewis, spanning Jackson's military and political careers and retirement at The Hermitage. Lewis's letters to Jackson are Lewis's own copies.
less
Griffin, Anthony J. (Anthony Jerome), 1866-1935
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 1246
14 linear feet (25 boxes)
Anthony Jerome Griffin (1866-1935) was a lawyer and U.S. Representative from the Bronx, New York City. He served in the Spanish-American War, 1898-1899; practiced law in the Bronx; was founder and editor of the Bronx Independent; and served four...
more
Anthony Jerome Griffin (1866-1935) was a lawyer and U.S. Representative from the Bronx, New York City. He served in the Spanish-American War, 1898-1899; practiced law in the Bronx; was founder and editor of the Bronx Independent; and served four terms as New York State Senator from 1911 to 1915. He also was an inventor and amateur author. Collection consists of correspondence, writings, legal and military records, political and personal papers, memorabilia, and printed matter relating to Griffin's military and political career. Correspondence, 1885-1935, is largely related to his political activities; the remainder pertains to his legislative concerns, immigration matters for his constituents, as well as some personal correspondence. Legal papers, 1885-1930, include case files, estate files and title abstracts. His writings consist of manuscript and typescript versions and galley proofs of poems, plays and stories. Diaries, 1886-1930, and notes and notebooks, 1883-1934, contain his observations on many professional and personal activities in addition to subject files. Military and patent records concern his military service and endeavors in submarine safety. Political papers are a combination of printed matter, notes and memoranda. Financial records are his accounts from 1887 to 1934. Also, personal memorabilia; graphic materials including photographs, original paintings and maps; and printed matter such as reprints, government manuals and clippings.
less
Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 23168
.2 linear feet (1 volume)
Account book kept by Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States, showing receipts and disbursements mainly at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Monticello, Virginia; and Washington, D.C., 1791-1803. Daily entries in daybook form concern...
more
Account book kept by Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States, showing receipts and disbursements mainly at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Monticello, Virginia; and Washington, D.C., 1791-1803. Daily entries in daybook form concern family accounts, household costs, money paid to servants, slave labor, farming matters, taxes, loans, traveling expenses, and money donated to charity, as well as income from salary and crops. Tables show quarterly or annual analyses of expenditures by category, with income. Notable content includes travel itineraries with expenses for a trip with James Madison from Philadelphia to New York and New England, returning via Long Island, 1791 May 17-June 19, and from Philadelphia to Monticello, 1791 September 2-12. Accounts are paginated (odd numbers only, p. 1-173, [174]), with index. The volume also includes a table of weather data at Philadelphia and Monticello, 1791-1794; a list of wines provided at Washington, 1801-1808; and an inserted sheet noting how long some casks of madeira lasted from receipt to consumption.
less
Madison, James, 1751-1836
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 23110
.84 linear feet (4 volumes)
Letterpress copy (rebound in 4 volumes) of a transcript of James Madison’s Notes on Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787, made in 1791 with Madison’s approval by John Wayles Eppes of Virginia (1773-1823). Eppes was sent to Philadelphia in...
more
Letterpress copy (rebound in 4 volumes) of a transcript of James Madison’s Notes on Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787, made in 1791 with Madison’s approval by John Wayles Eppes of Virginia (1773-1823). Eppes was sent to Philadelphia in 1791 by his family to study and work under the guidance of Thomas Jefferson, his relative. James Madison (1751-1836), the fourth President of the United States, was a Virginia delegate at the Constitutional Convention and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1789. Debate notes, 1787 May 14-September 17, are incomplete. Notes are followed by two texts: "Copy of a paper communicated to J.M. by Colo. Hamilton about the close of the Convention in Philadelphia 1787: which he said delineated the Constitution which he would have wished to be proposed by the Convention. He had stated the principles of it in the course of the deliberations" (15 p.) and "Recommended by Mr. Randolph July 10th as an accommodating proposition to small States" (2 p.). The original transcript is held in the Edward Everett Papers at the Massachusetts Historical Society.
less
Morton, Levi P. (Levi Parsons), 1824-1920
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 2070
19 linear feet (16 boxes, 22 volumes)
Levi Parsons Morton (1824-1920) was an American businessman, banker, diplomat, and statesman. He founded the banking firm of L.P. Morton & Co. in New York City. After an unsuccessful bid for Congress in 1876, he was elected to the U.S. House of...
more
Levi Parsons Morton (1824-1920) was an American businessman, banker, diplomat, and statesman. He founded the banking firm of L.P. Morton & Co. in New York City. After an unsuccessful bid for Congress in 1876, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from New York in 1878. He was Minister to France from 1881 to 1885, was elected Vice-President of the U.S. under Benjamin Harison in 1888, and served as Governor of New York in 1895 and 1896. In 1899 he founded the Morton Trust Co. and retired after the company merged with Guaranty Trust. The Levi P. Morton papers consist of correspondence, family papers, speeches, biographical materials, political memorabilia, photographs, and scrapbooks documenting the political and professional career, personal life and family background of the businessman and politician. Correspondence, 1842-1920, relates to civil reform, Morton's political campaigns, his service as Minister to France, and his activities as businessman, banker, congressman, vice-president, and governor. Also, correspondence, 1871-1915, of his wives, Lucy K. Morton and Anna Livingston Morton; papers of the Morton, Parsons, Street, and Kearney families; memorabilia from Morton's political campaigns; and biographical sketches, speeches, photographs, and scrapbooks of clippings, 1859-1913.
less
New York (State). Comptroller's Office
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 2203
.1 linear feet (1 volume)
The New York State Office of the Comptroller was established in 1797. The Comptroller is the State’s chief fiscal officer. The collection consists of a memorandum book (1 volume) dating from 1799 to 1826, kept by Comptrollers Archibald McIntyre...
more
The New York State Office of the Comptroller was established in 1797. The Comptroller is the State’s chief fiscal officer. The collection consists of a memorandum book (1 volume) dating from 1799 to 1826, kept by Comptrollers Archibald McIntyre (1772-1858) and William Learned Marcy (1786-1857), relating to their oversight of public appropriations. McIntyre was a New York State assemblyman who served as comptroller from 1806 to 1821. Marcy was comptroller from 1823 to 1829 and state governor from 1833 to 1838. McIntyre's entries include extracts of laws enacted 1797 to 1811, with related transactions occurring 1799 to 1811, and an accounting of financial reports. Entries concern lotteries to fund public works and other initiatives, notably the construction and improvement of major roads, such as the Great Genesee Road, and navigation improvements for the Hudson River and other waterways. Education expenses and the purchase of the Elgin Botanical Garden from David Hosack in 1810 are also mentioned. Entries are followed by memoranda of tasks and queries made by William Learned Marcy, 1824 to 1826. Similar notes by McIntyre, 1816 to 1818, begin from the reverse end of the volume, turned over. Entries during the McIntyre administration appear to be written in two different hands.
less
Marcantonio, Vito, 1902-1954
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 24247
.21 linear feet (1 box)
The Vito Marcantonio photographs date from 1935 to 1956 and consist of black and white prints that primarily document Marcantonio's political career. Images capture Marcantonio in his office and interacting with his constituents including...
more
The Vito Marcantonio photographs date from 1935 to 1956 and consist of black and white prints that primarily document Marcantonio's political career. Images capture Marcantonio in his office and interacting with his constituents including unemployed constituents and trade and union leaders. Photographs pertaining to his congressional campaigns depict rallies and street scenes in his East Harlem and Yorkville district and provide a visual record of his campaign advertising.
less
Wilkinson, James, 1757-1825
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 4680
.1 linear feet (1 folder)
James Wilkinson (1757-1825) of Maryland was a United States Army officer and first governor of the Louisiana Territory. Wilkinson was implicated in the Burr Conspiracy and resigned from the Army in 1815. He was later appointed U.S. envoy to Mexico...
more
James Wilkinson (1757-1825) of Maryland was a United States Army officer and first governor of the Louisiana Territory. Wilkinson was implicated in the Burr Conspiracy and resigned from the Army in 1815. He was later appointed U.S. envoy to Mexico and died there in 1825. Suspicions that he had long been an agent of the Spanish government were confirmed after his death. The collection consists chiefly of letters written by Wilkinson to military personnel and politicians, especially at Fort Washington during the Northwest Indian War and later 1790s. Recipients include John Armstrong, 1792; Bartholomew Shaumburg, 1796, David Holmes, 1812, and James Monroe, 1814. Wilkinson’s letter of 1823 April 17, Mexico, to an unidentified correspondent (probably to Thomas Aspinwall, U.S. Consul in London), describes the election of Agustín de Iturbide as emperor of Mexico. Also included is Wilkinson's 1793 bill to the government for expenses of his servants, and an order of payment to James Wilkinson by Joseph Reed, 1781.
less
Everett, Edward, 1794-1865
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 4369
.2 linear feet (1 folder)
Edward Everett (1794-1865) was an American politician, pastor, educator, and diplomat from Massachusetts. He served as United States Representative and Senator, Governor of Massachusetts, Minister to Great Britain, and United States Secretary of...
more
Edward Everett (1794-1865) was an American politician, pastor, educator, and diplomat from Massachusetts. He served as United States Representative and Senator, Governor of Massachusetts, Minister to Great Britain, and United States Secretary of State. His papers consist primarily of letters from Everett to various parties relating to the printing and publication of his speeches and essays, to political business, and to social matters. Recipients include the printing firm Gales and Seaton, Mathew Carey and the firm of Carey & Lea, and George Bancroft. Several letters to Everett are also included, as is a passport for John Read signed by Everett in his capacity as Minister to Great Britain, and a certificate from the Mount Vernon Fund
less
Gore, Christopher, 1758-1827
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 4419
.1 linear feet (1 folder)
Several letters from American politician Christopher Gore to various parties relating to business and financial matters
Granger, Gideon, 1767-1822
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 4421
.1 linear feet (1 folder)
Letters from American politician and lawyer Gideon Granger to various parties relating to business and legal affairs, such as money owed on land purchases. Also present is an 1805 circular letter from Granger addressing charges made against him...
more
Letters from American politician and lawyer Gideon Granger to various parties relating to business and legal affairs, such as money owed on land purchases. Also present is an 1805 circular letter from Granger addressing charges made against him relating to his actions on behalf of the New England Company, and the Yazoo land scandal
less
Green, Duff, 1791-1875
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 4423
.1 linear feet (1 folder)
Letters from American military officer, politician, journalist, and railroad industrialist Duff Green to various parties. Early letters are political in nature, with most written in confidence, including an 1827 letter to publishers Gale and...
more
Letters from American military officer, politician, journalist, and railroad industrialist Duff Green to various parties. Early letters are political in nature, with most written in confidence, including an 1827 letter to publishers Gale and Seaton effectively leaking information relating to the Democratic Party from an unnamed colleague. The bulk of the letters date from 1858-1859, and pertain to Green's involvement with railroad expansion and consolidation projects, including the Texas Railroad and the New Mexican Railway, and to land grants relating to those railroads
less
Harper, Robert Goodloe, 1765-1825
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 4438
.1 linear feet (1 folder)
Letters written by American politician Robert Goodloe Harper between 1798 and 1824, with the bulk written between 1806 and 1823. Letters are generally professional in scope, and include discussions of the capture of the ship "Clyde" in September,...
more
Letters written by American politician Robert Goodloe Harper between 1798 and 1824, with the bulk written between 1806 and 1823. Letters are generally professional in scope, and include discussions of the capture of the ship "Clyde" in September, 1805; his law practice in Baltimore; and the political climate of Maryland and the United States at large in the early decades of the 19th century. Many letters are addressed to his friend and colleague, Virgil Maxcy
less
Kendall, Amos, 1789-1869
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 4479
.1 linear feet (1 folder)
Letters and documents of Amos Kendall, American lawyer, journalist, politician, and Postmaster General during the Jackson and Van Buren administrations. Early letters relate to business ventures and debts; letters dating from the 1830s concern...
more
Letters and documents of Amos Kendall, American lawyer, journalist, politician, and Postmaster General during the Jackson and Van Buren administrations. Early letters relate to business ventures and debts; letters dating from the 1830s concern Kendall's political activities as a member of Jackson's "Kitchen Cabinet," as well as his journalistic interests, with recipients including Virgil Maxcy and John McLean. Several letters relate to Kendall's investment in, and activities on behalf of, Samuel Morse's telegraph system. Other documents present in the collection were generated during Kendall's service as Postmaster General, and relate to the operations and management of the United States Postal Service
less
Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 4525
.1 linear feet (1 folder)
The collection consists of letters of Massachusetts senator Henry Cabot Lodge, as well as autographs, calling cards, clippings and related personal miscellany. Letters are brief and pertain to professional and political matters, including the...
more
The collection consists of letters of Massachusetts senator Henry Cabot Lodge, as well as autographs, calling cards, clippings and related personal miscellany. Letters are brief and pertain to professional and political matters, including the development of copyright law. Recipients include Worthington C. Ford, Charles S. Hamlin, Richard Watson Gilder, George Haven Putnam, and others.
less
Van Ness, William Peter, 1778-1826
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 4659
.2 linear feet (2 folders)
William Peter Van Ness (1778-1826) of Kinderhook, Columbia County, New York and New York City was a lawyer, U.S. District Court judge, author, and Columbia College graduate. He was active in Democratic-Republican politics and served as Aaron...
more
William Peter Van Ness (1778-1826) of Kinderhook, Columbia County, New York and New York City was a lawyer, U.S. District Court judge, author, and Columbia College graduate. He was active in Democratic-Republican politics and served as Aaron Burr’s second in his duel with Alexander Hamilton. The collection consists of approximately 100 letters, most written to Van Ness at Kinderhook, New York City and elsewhere, from friends, political figures and lawyers, and from his brothers John P. Van Ness and Cornelius P. Van Ness. The bulk date from 1801 to 1819 and concern state and national political affairs, especially party politics in the Hudson River Valley region and New York City, and the electoral strategies of DeWitt Clinton and his supporters. Political appointments or offices for Van Ness and others are also discussed. Correspondents include Peter Irving, Isaac Mitchell, John Swarthout, Matthias B. Tallmadge, Daniel C. Verplanck, and other New Yorkers. Letters from his brother John in Washington, D.C., and a lesser number from Cornelius in New York and Vermont pertain to personal, family and political matters. Van Ness’ relationship with Aaron Burr is seen primarily through John’s letters, questioning his brother’s public support of Burr. A small number of letters written by Van Ness include four to his father Peter Van Ness while a student in New York City, 1795-1796, as well as a letter to Richard Riker, July 17, 1810, accusing Charles Holt of spreading lies, with Holt’s response to Richard Riker. Also present are some undated legal notes and voting tallies.
less
Yates, Abraham, 1724-1796
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 3405
2.99 linear feet (8 boxes, 1 volume, 1 oversized folder)
Abraham Yates, Jr. (1724-1796) was an American lawyer, politician, and pamphleteer. He held numerous elected offices and political appointments throughout his life including sheriff of Albany city and county from 1754 to 1759, chairman of the...
more
Abraham Yates, Jr. (1724-1796) was an American lawyer, politician, and pamphleteer. He held numerous elected offices and political appointments throughout his life including sheriff of Albany city and county from 1754 to 1759, chairman of the Albany Committee of Correspondence from 1774 to 1776, member of the New York Provincial Congress from 1775 to 1777 and its chairman in 1776 and 1777, New York state senator from 1777 to 1790, delegate for New York to the Congress of the Confederation in 1787 and 1788, and mayor of Albany from 1790 to 1796. Like his nephew, jurist Robert Yates, he was an active revolutionary patriot and Anti-Federalist. As pamphleteers they shared the pen-name, The Rough Hewer. Collection, dated 1754-1825, consists of correspondence, writings, speeches, notes, estate papers, and printed matter pertaining to the activities of Abraham Yates as a political figure in New York State, his legal practice and private financial matters, and his family. Correspondence, dated 1754-1825, contains incoming and outgoing letters and drafts of letters. Writings, notes, and speeches contain essays he wrote on the United States Constitution, notes on proceedings in Congress, speeches to the delegates to Congress in 1786, The Rough Hewer manuscript, and notes for histories of New York and Albany. Also included are papers relating to the Manor of Rensselaerwyck and the Albany Committee of Correspondence, land and family records, photograph of a painting of Yates, and other items such as broadsides and a legal treatise by Thomas Wentworth printed in London in 1663.
less
Gibbs, George, 1815-1873
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 3368
.9 linear feet (1 box, 4 volumes)
Oliver Wolcott, Sr. (1726-1797) and Oliver Wolcott, Jr. (1760-1833) were American statesmen from Litchfield, Connecticut. George Gibbs (1815-1873), grandson of Oliver Wolcott, Jr., was a lawyer, historian, and ethnologist. The collection consists...
more
Oliver Wolcott, Sr. (1726-1797) and Oliver Wolcott, Jr. (1760-1833) were American statesmen from Litchfield, Connecticut. George Gibbs (1815-1873), grandson of Oliver Wolcott, Jr., was a lawyer, historian, and ethnologist. The collection consists of correspondence of Oliver Wolcott, Sr. and Oliver Wolcott, Jr. as collected by George Gibbs during the writing of his work
Memoirs of the Administrations of Washington and John Adams, edited from the papers of Oliver Wolcott, Secretary of the Treasury (New York, 1846), with letters about the work received by Gibbs after its publication. The documents, many written or signed by prominent Americans, comprise extra-illustrated items removed from Gibbs' personal copy of his two-volume work, bound in four parts. Most are unpublished. Wolcott correspondence, 1789-1803, concerns political as well as business and personal matters, largely reflecting the Treasury Department career of Oliver Wolcott, Jr. (1789-1800). Correspondence of George Gibbs, 1846 and 1848, consists of letters from prominent persons and friends thanking him for copies of his book, some adding further comments. An unrelated 1820 letter from General Andrew Jackson to Colonel Charles Gibson concerns Jackson’s retirement from the Army.
less
Isaacs, Stanley M. (Stanley Myer), 1882-1962
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 1526
52 linear feet (52 boxes)
Stanley Myer Isaacs (1882-1962) was a New York City politician and civic leader. After practicing law and being active in real estate, building and investments, Isaacs was elected president of the Borough of Manhattan in 1937. In 1941 he became a...
more
Stanley Myer Isaacs (1882-1962) was a New York City politician and civic leader. After practicing law and being active in real estate, building and investments, Isaacs was elected president of the Borough of Manhattan in 1937. In 1941 he became a member of the City Council and served in that position for twenty years. He also was involved with many civic and welfare organizations. Collection consists of correspondence, financial and organizational papers, scrapbooks, clippings, and memorabilia mainly covering Isaacs' tenure as Manhattan Borough President and New York City Councilman. Records include general correspondence and papers, 1901-1962; borough presidency papers, 1938-1941; City Council papers, 1941-1962; campaign for City Council papers, 1941-1961; scrapbooks of letters, clippings and memorabilia, 1899-1962; miscellaneous papers; and letters from prominent persons.
less
Deane, Silas, 1737-1789
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 4310
.1 linear feet (1 folder)
Silas Deane (1737-1789) was an American lawyer and merchant, member of the Continental Congress from Connecticut, 1774-1776, and Congressional agent and diplomat in France, 1776-1778. Recalled in 1778 under controversial circumstances, Deane...
more
Silas Deane (1737-1789) was an American lawyer and merchant, member of the Continental Congress from Connecticut, 1774-1776, and Congressional agent and diplomat in France, 1776-1778. Recalled in 1778 under controversial circumstances, Deane returned to Europe in 1780 as a private citizen and died in 1789 en route to America. Silas Deane letters, dated 1767-1785, are addressed to his stepchildren Sarah (Sally) Webb and Samuel Blachley Webb, and friends Thomas Mumford and Thomas Cushing, New England merchants and politicians. Letters to Sally in Boston, 1767-1769, mention her mother's illness and offer advice for Sally's education and self-improvement. His 1778 letter to Thomas Cushing in Boston asks him to assist Sally, now the widow of John Simpson, a Loyalist. Letters written at Philadelphia to Thomas Mumford in Connecticut, 1774-1775, tell of Congressional business and colonial disputes, his participation in the Secret Committee to obtain support from Europe, and the need to develop an American naval force. Deane's letter of July 16, 1785 at London to Samuel Blachley Webb gives a careful study of American commercial prospects and Great Britain's rising manufacturing economy. A letter dated March 7, 1779 addressing "my Dear Col[onel]," and referring to an exchange, may be addressed to Samuel Blachley Webb, at that time an American army colonel and prisoner of war.
less
Penn, Richard, approximately 1736-1811
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 22996
.21 linear feet (1 volume)
Collection of three letters signed collectively or individually by Richard Penn (approximately 1736-1811) and Arthur Lee (1740-1792) while representing American interests in England. In July 1775, Richard Penn was entrusted by the Second...
more
Collection of three letters signed collectively or individually by Richard Penn (approximately 1736-1811) and Arthur Lee (1740-1792) while representing American interests in England. In July 1775, Richard Penn was entrusted by the Second Continental Congress with the delivery of the "Olive Branch Petition" to King George III after contacting colonial agents there, including Arthur Lee. Two letters are addressed to "Hon[ora]ble Sir" (presumably John Hancock, President of Congress) and concern the delivery of the petition to the British government. An autograph letter (4 p.) signed by Arthur Lee at Middle Temple, London, 1775 August 28, describes the delay due to the absence from town of Lord Dartmouth (Secretary of State for the Colonies). Lee shares his views on foreign reaction to American affairs and condemns the character of Thomas Hutchinson and Andrew Oliver, Massachusetts loyalists. A letter (1 p.) signed by Penn and Lee dated London, 1775 September 2, reports on the delivery of the original petition to Lord Dartmouth the previous day. Dartmouth promised to deliver it to the King, but told them "as his Majesty did not receive it on the throne, no answer would be given." Also present is an undated autograph letter (1 p. with integral address leaf) signed by Richard Penn at London to a Mr. Chambers, in which he states "I had rather convince one Honest Man of the Justice of the American Cause than ten Thousand Macaronies," for which purpose he encloses a pamphlet
less
Van Rensselaer, Stephen, 1764-1839
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 4661
.1 linear feet (1 folder)
Stephen Van Rensselaer (1764-1839) was an American soldier, New York State lieutenant governor, U.S. congressman, and the last patroon of the manor of Rensselaerswyck, near Albany. Letters to Van Rensselaer (1786-1826) and from him (1790-1838)...
more
Stephen Van Rensselaer (1764-1839) was an American soldier, New York State lieutenant governor, U.S. congressman, and the last patroon of the manor of Rensselaerswyck, near Albany. Letters to Van Rensselaer (1786-1826) and from him (1790-1838) pertain to New York State and U.S. politics, business affairs concerning Rensselaerswyck, and personal and family matters. Family correspondents include Alexander Hamilton, Jr., thanking his uncle for supporting his education, 1806, and brother-in-law William B. Paterson, congratulating Van Rensselaer on the honorable termination of his military career, 1813. A letter from the proprietors of the Rensselaer glass works, 1792, seeks his aid in establishing a reputable tavern to replace numerous "dram shops." Also present are some invoices and checks, including two signed in Paris by Van Rensselaer's son Stephen, 1813.
less
Varick, Richard, 1753-1831
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 4664
.2 linear feet (2 folders)
Collection consists of signed documents and miscellaneous correspondence, 1770-1831, of Richard Varick (1753-1831), an American attorney, Revolutionary War soldier, politician, and Mayor of the City of New York from 1789-1801. Most items are...
more
Collection consists of signed documents and miscellaneous correspondence, 1770-1831, of Richard Varick (1753-1831), an American attorney, Revolutionary War soldier, politician, and Mayor of the City of New York from 1789-1801. Most items are documents signed by Varick as Recorder of the Mayor’s Court and later as New York City mayor, including land and debtor transactions, orders, and civil appointments. Miscellaneous letters to and from Varick are of a personal, military, legal, or official nature. Revolutionary War documents include letters and vouchers regarding commissary and pay accounts, some handled in his capacity as secretary for General Philip Schuyler and later for General George Washington. Letters to Varick as an attorney at Poughkeepsie, New York in 1783 concern legal matters. Other items pertain to a personal loan to Philip Van Rensselaer, and to land transactions in New Jersey and New York City, signed by Varick or relating to the Varick family. Notable documents include a letter from kinsman A.F. (Alexander Forrester) Cochrane at New York, captain of the British ship Thetis, assuring Varick that there are no impressed American seamen on board, and a letter from E. Bertrand, commander of the French ship Sémillante, seeking the release of a crew member jailed in New York, both dated 1795. An 1830 letter to Philip Hone signed by Varick regrets that he and his aged companions in the Society of the Cincinnati are unable to march in a parade. The collection also includes clipped signatures, an engraved portrait of Varick, a facsimile of a 1797 document, and typed transcriptions of some items. Material is in chronological order.
less
Césaire, Aimé
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division | Sc MG 947
0.33 linear feet (2 boxes)
Aimé Césaire (1913-2008) was a Black Martinican poet, politician, and social critic. As a student at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris, he was a key figure in the literary and political movement known as Négritude,...
more
Aimé Césaire (1913-2008) was a Black Martinican poet, politician, and social critic. As a student at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris, he was a key figure in the literary and political movement known as Négritude, along with Léopold Sédar Senghor of Senegal and Léon-Gontran Damas of French Guyana. While students, the three men also created the literary review
L'Étudiant noir (
The Black Student). Returning to Martinique in 1939, Césaire taught at Lycée Schoelcher where he tutored a young Frantz Fanon. Césaire was elected Mayor of Fort-de-France and Deputy to the French National Assembly in 1945; in 1958, he founded the Parti Progressiste Martiniquais (PPM). He continued his literary and critical work, founding the journals
Tropiques and
Présence Africaine (now a major publishing house). His literary output includes the book-length poem
Cahier d'un retour au pays natal; a historical essay on Toussaint Louverture, "Discours sur le colonialisme", which was published in
Présence Africaine in 1950; and the plays
Une tempête (a response to the racist depictions in Shakespeare's
The Tempest) and
Une saison au Congo, about the death of Patrice Lumumba. Césaire served as President of the Regional Council of Martinique from 1983 to 1988. He retired from politics in 2001. He died in April 2008, and proclaimed as a national hero in Martinique in 2011. This collection, donated by Martinican social geographer François Rosaz, contains commemorative materials about Aimé Césaire, mostly from 2008-2009. Materials consist of memorial programs and eulogies, including one given by Serge Letchimy, a member of the National Assembly of France; conference and theater programs, including a 2007 conference highlighting Césaire's relationship with the French Communist Party and his break from it in 1956; articles on Césaire (including a copy of a special issue of
Small Axe from October 2008, and three commemorative issues of
Le Progressiste, the PPM's weekly magazine); four issues of the newspaper
France-Antilles from the days immediately following Césaire's death; bibliographies; commemorative postcards and stamps; and posters.
less
Tilden, Samuel J. (Samuel Jones), 1814-1886
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 2993
42.78 linear feet (99 boxes, 13 volumes)
Samuel J. Tilden (1814-1886) served as Governor of New York, 1875-1876, and was the Democratic nominee for the Presidency in 1876. Tilden began his career as a corporate lawyer; he served as Corporate Counsel for the City of New York, as a member...
more
Samuel J. Tilden (1814-1886) served as Governor of New York, 1875-1876, and was the Democratic nominee for the Presidency in 1876. Tilden began his career as a corporate lawyer; he served as Corporate Counsel for the City of New York, as a member of the New York State Assembly, and as Chairman of the Democratic National Convention. Monies from his estate contributed to the founding of The New York Public Library. His papers document his political and legal career and are comprised primarily of correspondence, political and legal files, financial documents, writings, speeches, and personal papers dating from 1785 - 1929 (bulk 1832 - 1886).
less
Reade, Joseph, 1694-1771
Manuscripts and Archives Division | MssCol 2412
.2 linear feet (1 volume)
Adolph Philipse (1665-1750) was a wealthy New York City merchant and politician with extensive landholdings in the lower Hudson River Valley. Baptised Adolphus, he was the second son of New York City merchant Frederick Philipse, first Lord of the...
more
Adolph Philipse (1665-1750) was a wealthy New York City merchant and politician with extensive landholdings in the lower Hudson River Valley. Baptised Adolphus, he was the second son of New York City merchant Frederick Philipse, first Lord of the Manor of Philipsborough in Westchester County, known as Philipsburg Manor. Adolph Philipse held important positions in the provincial government, serving as a member of the Governor's Council and as Speaker of the General Assembly. He died intestate on January 20, 1749 (1750 New Style). Joseph Reade (1694-1771), the estate's administrator, was a merchant, a member of the Governor's Council, and the husband of Adolph Philipse's niece Anna French. The Adolph Philipse estate records, dated 1749 to 1767, consist of a bound notebook maintained by Joseph Reade as administrator of the estate of Adolph Philipse, from January 24, 1749 (1750 New Style) to August 19, 1763, comprising a detailed inventory of the estate at properties in Manhattan and at Philipsburg Manor, with related accounts. The inventory lists cash and other valuables, outstanding debts, household belongings, and other property. Individual slaves at both locations are identified. Reade attested the records in 1767.
less