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Creator
Tilden, Samuel J. (Samuel Jones), 1814-1886
Call number
MssCol 2993
Physical description
42.78 linear feet (99 boxes, 13 volumes)
Preferred Citation

Samuel J. Tilden papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library

Sponsor
Digitization was made possible by a generous gift from the Hermione Foundation.
Repository
Manuscripts and Archives Division
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Portions of this collection have been digitized and are available online.

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).

Biographical/historical information

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.

Born in New Lebanon, New York, in 1814, Tilden was the 5th son of Elam Tilden, a shopkeeper, pharmacist, and postmaster prominent in Democratic politics. Samuel showed a precocious interest in politics, and through his father, made the acquaintance of Martin Van Buren, who would later become a friend and supporter. Van Buren encouraged Tilden's burgeoning political aspirations, and he developed a reputation as a skilled writer and speechmaker by his early twenties.

Tilden first entered public office in 1843, at the age of 27, when he was appointed Corporation Counsel for the City of New York. His candidacy received support from the network of Democratic Party members he had cultivated since his earliest days in politics, and he won the nomination by 20 out of 26 votes. However, his tenure was short-lived; in 1844, Mayor James Harper took office and removed individuals he deemed hostile to his administration. Tilden ran unsuccessfully for the office of Attorney General in 1855.

Throughout the 1850s and 1860s, Tilden largely took leave of politics to focus on his legal career. His practice proved both popular and lucrative, although he took many cases pro bono. A shrewd businessman as well as a skilled lawyer, Tilden excelled particularly in the field of corporate law. Among his well-known cases are the defense of the Pennsylvania Coal Company against the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company; the complaint of the Cumberland Coal & Iron Company against its board of directors; the contested 1856 election for state comptroller between John S. Giles and Azariah C. Flagg; the Cunningham-Burdell murder case in 1857; and a subsequent related suit over Dr. Burdell's estate

In the years leading up to the Civil War, the Wilmot Proviso on the prohibition of slavery in newly-acquired territories proved a hot-button issue for the Democratic Party, ultimately leading to a schism between the conservative "Hunkers" and the radical "Barnburners." Tilden, along with Martin and John Van Buren, supported the Barnburners, and assisted in composing the Barnburner Address repudiating the nomination of Lewis Cass as the Democratic candidate for the presidency. The Barnburners allied themselves with Whigs and Abolitionists to form the Free-Soil Party, which ran Martin Van Buren as a third-party candidate and defeated Cass.

Tilden had been elected to the New York State Assembly in 1846, and returned to the legislature in 1872. He used his position to take on corruption in state government, most notably through the impeachment of New York State Supreme Court Justices George G. Barnard, Albert Cardozo, and John H. McCunn. This, coupled with his investigation into corruption within the U.S. Customs House, presaged Tilden's most notable political achievement: the exposure and prosecution of the Tweed Ring.

William M. "Boss" Tweed was a fixture in New York State and Tammany Hall politics from the 1850s until his death in 1878. His first recorded act of misconduct, the bribery of an election supervisor, took place in 1858, and by 1859 he had become Grand Sachem of the most powerful political machine in the nation. In 1870, he was appointed commissioner of public works, and the influence of his "Ring" began to spread. With the assistance of Parks Commissioner Peter B. Sweeney, Controller Richard B. Connelly, and Mayor A. Oakey Hall, Tweed was able to exert enormous control over city politics -- as well as taxpayer funds-- through bribery, embezzlement, and kickbacks. When Tweed introduced a new city charter which would further consolidate the Ring's power, Tilden, as chairman of the Democratic State Committee, denounced him and began a pitched battle to disable the Ring and end Tweed's corrupt practices. Canvassing the banks where Tweed and his cohorts passed checks and held accounts, Tilden analyzed the finances of the Ring, and obtained legal proof its malfeasance, bringing an end to one of the most corrupt political administrations in the history of the United States.

Tilden's successful prosecution of the Tweed Ring and service in the State Assembly paved the way for his nomination as the Democratic candidate for Governor in 1874 against respected Republican incumbent Gen. John A. Dix. Tilden won the popular vote by a margin of 50,000. His work in exposing fraud in the state canal system furthered his reputation as a reform-minded governor and an outspoken opponent of political corruption, and increased his popularity with the public at large. However, his reform efforts were often hampered by antagonism from the Republican majority in the State Legislature.

Tilden served as a delegate to the 1864 and 1868 Democratic National Conventions, and as New York Democratic State Chair from 1872-1882. Having demonstrated his skills as a reformer, he easily won the Democratic nomination for the presidency in 1876. He won the popular vote and collected 184 electoral votes to 165 for Republican candidate Rutherford B. Hayes. 20 electoral votes remained uncounted and in dispute. After these votes were awarded to Hayes -- thus giving him the election -- Tilden and the Democratic Party went to great lengths to uncover evidence of fraud in the Electoral College. Ultimately, Tilden conceded the election.

Tilden was proposed as a potential Democratic candidate in 1880 and again in 1884, but declined both times, citing poor health. He soon withdrew from public service, though he remained a confidant and advisor to many of his fellows.

He died at Graystone, his country house in Yonkers, on August 4, 1886. In the years following his death, a bitter struggle over his estate ensued between his trustees and his heirs-at-law over the provision of the will that the bulk of the estate be used for the creation of a free library and reading room in New York City. The free library was ultimately established, and later became The New York Public Library.

Scope and arrangement

The Samuel J. Tilden papers, dating from 1785 - 1929 (bulk 1832 - 1886), emphasizes Tilden's public life and works rather than his private life. Correspondence comprises a significant portion of the collection as a whole, reaching from his student days through his death in 1886, and following the arc of his career from student to veteran politician. Family correspondence focuses on his father, Elam, and on his nephew, Col. William Tilden Pelton. The General correspondence represents a full roster of political, social, and financial luminaries, and covers an extensive range of topics. The legal series contains case files and related material illustrating the highlights of Tilden's legal career, while his stint as Counsel for the Corporation is documented in a limited fashion through official documentation of violations of city ordnances.

Tilden's activities with the Democratic Republican Party and Free-Soil movement are given little coverage. His efforts to curb political corruption are presented in the New York State Assembly files, and the fall of the Tweed Ring is recorded through financial and legal documentation. Gubernatorial files relate to his executive and legislative activities, and contain reports, statistics, petitions, and drafts of assembly bills. The prosecution of the Canal Ring receives particular attention. The contested Presidential Election of 1876 does not receive significant coverage beyond Tilden's correspondence with his confederates, and in the records of voting returns from the Electoral College.

Tilden often maintained multiple iterations of his written works and speeches, although this collection is not a definitive record of his writings. Many manuscript drafts and revisions have been preserved, but some works are represented only by published reprints.

Tilden's personal papers contain little to illuminate his life or interests outside the political sphere. Material consists predominantly of financial and legal documents, and a small quantity of school work and juvenilia. Family papers contain early deeds and printed matter dating prior to Tilden's birth, but are mainly comprised of genealogical research.

The Samuel J. Tilden papers are arranged in eleven series:

  • Series I. Correspondence
    1810 - 1919, n.d.
    35 boxes 14.5 linear feet

    This series, the largest and most comprehensive in the collection, includes Family Correspondence, General Correspondence, and Subject Files generated throughout the course of Tilden's legal and political career. The vast majority of the correspondence relates to his professional life. The General Correspondence is strong in documentation of Tilden's political career, but contains few insights into his personal life. Representation of Tilden's term as Counsel of the Corporation is limited to one folder. Tweed Ring material covers Tilden's investigation into the corrupt political machine through communications with colleagues, bankers, and members of the Ring. New York State Assembly Correspondence is notable for its coverage of the impeachment of New York State Supreme Court judges. Gubernatorial Correspondence includes material relating to the dismantling of the Canal Ring, material relating to state legislation, and a significant quantity of letters from Tilden's constituents. Subject files refer to files of correspondence segregated by Tilden relating to specific topics, such as canals and coastal defense.

  • Series II. Counsel of the Corporation
    1839 - 1844, n.d.
    3 boxes 2 volumes 1.5 linear feet

    Documentation of the office of Corporation Counsel for the City of New York includes fines for violations of city ordinances; complaints lodged against individuals charged with weighing articles without a weighmaster's appointment; lists of summonses returnable to various judges; subpoenas; and registers of monies received by Tilden on behalf of the Corporation Counsel. Additional records relating to the Counsel of the Corporation may be found in Series I.

  • Series III. Legal Files
    1832 - 1891, n.d.
    20 boxes 3 volumes 8.6 linear feet

    The Legal series is comprised mainly of case files, transcripts of testimonies, drafts of Tilden's arguments, and other administrative documents relating to his cases. Material covering various corporate cases is also present, demonstrating not only Tilden's expertise in the area of corporate law, but his personal interest in the industries through which he made his personal fortune. Material is arranged chronologically by case.

  • Series IV. Democratic Republican party and Free-Soil movement
    1832 - 1853, n.d.
    1 folder

    Material representing Tilden's activities with the Democratic Republican Party and the Free-Soil Movement includes meeting minutes, by-laws, and drafts of a plan of organization of the Democratic Republican Party for the election of 1844.

  • Series V. Democratic National Committee
    1868 - 1872
    1 folder

    Very little material concerning the Democratic National Committee has been preserved in this collection. Extant material includes circulars and printed material relating to the Democratic party, and to the Democratic National Conventions of 1868 and 1872.

  • Series VI. Tweed Ring
    1868 - 1875
    5 boxes 2 linear feet

    Tilden's actions against the Tweed Ring are represented through Financial and Legal files. The Financial files represent forensic accounting of Tweed's shell companies performed by banks and by members of Tilden's office. Material includes deposit slips, cancelled checks, ledgers, and "Statements of Plunder." In addition to William M. Tweed, other notable figures subjected to Tilden's audits include James H. Ingersoll, Ingersoll & Co., New York Printing Company, Richard Connolly, A. J. Smith, and Peter B. and James M. Sweeney. Also includes an analysis of city expenditures to 1871, and registers of county liabilities.

    Legal files include a bill of complaint against James H. Ingersoll, and a copy of Judge Allen's opinion on the case against Ingersoll & Co., one of the Tweed Ring's largest shell companies. Also contained here are the opinions of Judge Folger regarding the People v. Thomas C. Field et. al; a transcript of Tilden's testimony in the Tweed trial; memoranda regarding Peter B. Sweeney's money transferring activities; subpoenas; and drafts of legislation aimed at "providing more effectual remedies in cases of the fraudulent acquisition, payment, disposition, or conversion of public money or property."

    Additional material related to the Tweed Ring may also be found in Series I.

  • Series VII. New York State Assembly
    1872 - 1873, n.d.
    1 box .5 linear feet

    Tilden's 1872 term in the New York State Assembly is represented by files documenting the impeachment of three New York State Supreme Court Justices; by one file of material relating to New York City charter reform; and by material relating to the exposure of corruption within the Customs House. Correspondence relating to the New York State Assembly may be found in Series I.

  • Series VIII. Gubernatorial files
    1864 - 1877, n.d.
    6 boxes 2.5 linear feet

    The Gubernatorial Papers consist of files maintained and material collected by Tilden during his term of office. His successful effort to break up the Canal Ring is reflected through financial reports, legal files, and printed matter. Executive files cover a range of topics such as canals, railroads, demographics and statistics, remarks on assembly bills, and vetoes. Legislation drafted or enacted during Tilden's tenure is represented in the legislative files, which include drafts, often in multiple iterations, of bills relating to annexation and incorporation of towns and villages, appropriations, political reform, and public health.

  • Series IX. Presidential election of 1876
    1876 - 1878
    3 boxes 1.25 linear feet

    This series focuses on the aftermath of the 1876 Presidential election, particularly the recount of the electoral ballots. Some campaign material is extent, but the series is predominantly comprised of official voting returns from the Electoral Colleges of various states. Files for some states, particularly Florida and Louisiana, contain reports, memoranda, and other supporting documentation of the Tilden camp's research into election fraud or elector misconduct in those states. Such material includes drafts of related legislation, research on legal precedents, affidavits, and minutes of the proceedings of the Florida Electoral College.

  • Series X. Writings and Speeches
    ca. 1820s - 1886, n.d.
    9 boxes 3.75 linear feet

    This series contains both manuscript drafts and published copies of Tilden's writings and speeches. Published copies are often annotated or corrected. One folder of interviews with Tilden is also included, as is an index of his published speeches. Some unidentified material cannot be definitively attributed to Tilden, and due to the prolific nature of his writing, this series is not necessarily a complete representation of his work.

  • Series XI. Personal papers
    1785 - 1929
    21 boxes 6 volumes 9.4 linear feet

    This series contains material relating to Tilden's personal financial and legal activities; his investments in real estate and railroad companies; family papers and genealogical research; and a collection of personal miscellany such as school work, ephemera, and photographs.

Administrative information

Custodial history

The bulk of the collection was recieved from the Tilden Estate and Trust between 1903 and 1930 at the direction of John Bigelow, Andrew H. Green, and George W. Smith, executors of the Tilden Estate. Tilden's trustees and executors were "empowered to burn and destroy any of [my] letters, papers, or other documents, whether printed or in manuscript, which in their judgment will answer no useful purpose to preserve." New York State historian and Tilden biographer Alexander C. Flick noted in 1939 that the papers had been "carefully sifted four times by the executors to exclude everything derogatory to Tilden." The collection was open for use for many decades before being formally accessioned by the Manuscripts Division in 1986 by Charles Kronick. The papers were fully processed in 2009 by Kit Messick

Source of acquisition

Received from the Tilden Estate and Trust with additional purchases.

Processing information

Compiled by Kit Messick.

The Samuel J. Tilden Papers were processed and made accessible through a generous gift from the Hermione Foundation. Accessioned in 1986 by Charles Kronick. Processed by Kit Messick in 2009.

Related Material

Elizabeth Ogilvy Benger note. Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library. Alexander Clarence Flick papers, ca. 1830-1938. Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library. Bryant-Godwin papers, 1804-1913, bulk. Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library. George Bancroft papers, 1823-1890.. Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library. John Bigelow papers, 1839-1912.. Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library. Tilden Trust records, 1878-1938.. Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library.

Using the collection

Location

Manuscripts and Archives Division
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788
Brooke Russell Astor Reading Room, Third Floor, Room 328