Letters Home From Congress
Collection Overview
This collection features letters home from Warren R. Austin (Senator, 1931-1946), Jacob Collamer (Representative, 1843-1848; Senator, 1855-1865), and Samuel C. Crafts (Representative, 1817-1824; Senator, 1842-1843). The letters document travel to...
Show moreThis collection features letters home from Warren R. Austin (Senator, 1931-1946), Jacob Collamer (Representative, 1843-1848; Senator, 1855-1865), and Samuel C. Crafts (Representative, 1817-1824; Senator, 1842-1843). The letters document travel to and from Washington by horse, boat, train, and airplane; lodging in boarding houses, hotels, and homes; social life in Washington; significant local and national events; and legislative issues under consideration in Congress. Austin's letters are particularly strong in their coverage of his frustration at being a Senator in the minority party during the era of Roosevelt and the New Deal; his activities on the Judiciary Committee; and foreign affairs questions such as the Neutrality Act. The letters of Crafts and Collamer both extensively cover the question of slavery, discussing Missouri statehood, John Brown, the annexation of Texas, and the Civil War. All three Congressmen frequently discuss questions regarding appropriations and the Federal budget. Biographical information is available from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, at: http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch.asp
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Related Archival Collections
(1 - 7 of 7)
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, April 26, 1938
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Topics include speech by Senator Borah on the Big Navy Bill; bankruptcy bill; railroad bill.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, April 27, 1938
- Description
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Topics include Big Navy Bill; Bankruptcy Bill.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, May 26, 1938
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Topics include Austin amendments to the Bankruptcy Bill; Norris amendment to the Constitution; Spending Bill.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, May 5, 1939
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Topics include railway legislation concerning bankruptcies and receiverships.
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- Letter to Nathan and Mary Hill, December 11, 1842
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Letter to daughter and son-in-law. Topics include adjournment of Congressional session; Senate and House repeal of Bankruptcy Law; act for reducing pay of members of Congress and other officers of government would fix the compensation of members at seven dollars per day, and seven dollars for...
Show moreLetter to daughter and son-in-law. Topics include adjournment of Congressional session; Senate and House repeal of Bankruptcy Law; act for reducing pay of members of Congress and other officers of government would fix the compensation of members at seven dollars per day, and seven dollars for every twenty miles of travel, and reduce the pay, by twelve and one half percent, of all of officers of government who receive more than twelve hundred dollars a year; vote to release General Jackson's fine.
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- Letter to Samuel P. Crafts, December 24, 1821
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Letter to son. Topics include slowness of mail; Bankruptcy bill.
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- Letter to William Collamer, January 19, 1859
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Letter to son. Topics include Tariff; Pacific Rail Road; African Slave Trade; Amistad; Vermont State House; mailing of government documents by Collamer; Joint Resolution introduced by Senator Solomon Foot (VT) on bounty land law; Bankruptcy Bill.