William S. Hunt collection of Henry Clay materials

ca. 1800-1930s

Henry Clay (1777-1852), an American statesman, served as Congressman from Kentucky and Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1811 to 1821 and 1823 to 1825. He was Secretary of State (1825-1829) and Whig Party senator (1831-1842, 1849-1852). Three times, he was the unsuccessful candidate for U.S. President (1824, 1832 and 1844). Collection consists of correspondence and reproductions of paintings and engravings of Clay. Correspondence includes transcriptions of Clay's correspondence, ca. 1800-1852; location of original portraits of Clay; and a few letters from the Clay family. Reproductions of portraits were collected by William S. Hunt for a planned work about Clay.