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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(1 - 20 of 21)
Pages
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- Letter to Mary Collamer, February 2, 1845
- Description
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Letter to daughter. Topics include speech by Collamer on Texas; case of Collamer's before the Supreme Court; health of Representative Willis Green (KY); annexation of Texas; tariff.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, April 22, 1937
- Description
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Topics include Court Bill, President Roosevelt, and potential votes against the bill in the Senate.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, April 23, 1937
- Description
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Topics include Court Bill hearings in the Judiciary Committee, and includes an excerpt.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, April 25, 1938
- Description
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Topics include message from President Roosevelt about Supreme Court judgment exempting State and Municipal bonds from tax action.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, April 29, 1937
- Description
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Topics include debate on the Conference Report on the Neutrality Bill; Senator McNarry and Austin's duties as Assistant Minority Leader; Court Bill in the Judiciary Committee.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, April 5, 1937
- Description
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Topics include sit-down strikes; Court Bill hearings in the Judiciary Committee.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, February 1, 1940
- Description
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Topics include address by Austin on the 150th anniversary of the Supreme Court's first meeting.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, February 10, 1936
- Description
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Topics include radio broadcasts of two Austin speeches: "The Supreme Court and Government by the People," and "Lincoln and Home Rule". Includes transcripts of speeches.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, February 19, 1935
- Description
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Topics include Gold Decision of the Supreme Court; lengthy commentary, with quotations from Court decisions, regarding a shift in favor of the Government and against citizen's property and rights.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, February 28, 1935
- Description
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Topics include breakfast with Justice McReynolds and Princess Julia Grant Kantakuzen, granddaughter of General Ulysses S. Grant; Gold Decision.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, February 8, 1937
- Description
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Topics include President Roosevelt and the Supreme Court.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, January 28, 1936
- Description
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Topics include radio broadcast of an Austin speech on "The Supreme Court and Government by the People," one of twelve speeches given by twelve senators (six Democrats and six Republicans).
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, July 16, 1937
- Description
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Topics include death and funeral of Senator Robinson; President Roosevelt and the Court Packing Bill.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, July 22, 1937
- Description
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Topics include overriding of a Presidential veto, 71 to 19; recommitting of the Court Bill to the Judiciary Committee.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, July 9, 1937
- Description
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Topics include Senate floor debate over Court Bill.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, June 24, 1937
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Topics include letters received about Judiciary Committee action on the Court Bill.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, June 5, 1939
- Description
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Topics include garden party at the British Embassy to honor the King and Queen of England; impending Supreme Court decision on milk cases.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, March 25, 1937
- Description
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Topics include Court Bill hearings in the Judiciary Committee.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, March 9, 1937
- Description
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Topics include Pure Food and Drug Bill; Court Bill hearings in the Judiciary Committee and opposition by Democrats; Guffey Coal Bill.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, May 19, 1936
- Description
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Topics include Supreme Court and Circuit Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia decisions, which "held invalid parts of the New Deal usurpation of legislative power of the sovereignty of several States."