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
Show less
Related Archival Collections
(1 - 20 of 436)
Pages
- Title
- Changing Embargoes for National Defense, October 16, 1939.
- Description
-
Radio address delivered by Senator Austin.
- Title
- Letter to Benjamin Clark, February 21, 1818
- Description
-
Topics include activities of a Congressman; constituent business; imports and export imbalance and its effect on currency and the national debt.
- Title
- Letter to Col. Joseph Scott, April 9, 1820
- Description
-
Topics include Spanish war; Florida and slavery; Representative Henry Clay's (KY) aspirations to become President after President James Monroe; Secretary of State John Quincy Adams; Representative Joel Crawford (GA).
- Title
- Letter to Col. Joseph Scott, March 23, 1820
- Description
-
Topics include soldiers pensions; Federal deficit; duel between Commodore Stephen Decatur and Commodore James Barron resulting in the death of Decatur.
- Title
- Letter to Eunice Crafts, December 1, 1823
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include traveling from New York to Washington, DC; lodgings in Washington, DC; start of Congress with organizational matters and election of a Speaker of the House.
- Title
- Letter to Eunice Crafts, February 13, 1825
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include the decision of House of Representatives to make John Quincy Adams the next President of the United States and General Andrew Jackson's response.
- Title
- Letter to Eunice Crafts, February 7, 1824
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include health of Eunice and Samuel P. Crafts; social life and parties in Washington, DC; Byron and Southey's Visions of Judgment.
- Title
- Letter to Eunice Crafts, January 2, 1825
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include visit of General Lafayette to Congress and the United States; Crafts' opinion that the House will select John Quincy Adams as President.
- Title
- Letter to Eunice Crafts, January 22, 1825
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include social life of Washington, DC; typical day for Crafts.
- Title
- Letter to Eunice Crafts, January 9, 1825
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include party for the anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans at General Brown's; Crafts' introduction to General Lafayette and presentation of a resolution inviting him to visit Vermont.
- Title
- Letter to Eunice Crafts, May 16, 1824
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include bill for encouragement of domestic manufactures.
- Title
- Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, April 15, 1820
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include proposed raising of import duties on Canada.
- Title
- Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, April 30, 1820
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include negotiations with Spain.
- Title
- Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, December 19, 1818
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include health of Crafts family; social life and visiting etiquette; boarding houses.
- Title
- Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, December 25, 1820
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include health of members of Congress; Christmas in Washington, DC.
- Title
- Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, December 31, 1820
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include health of son Samuel P. Crafts; health of members of Congress; two members of the House and one Senator have died from causes possibly related to an influenza outbreak that fall.
- Title
- Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, December 7, 1819
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include boarding houses; new House chambers and difficulty of hearing speakers.
- Title
- Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, February 19, 1821
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include health of Crafts family; coming inauguration of President Monroe; death of Representative William Burwell (VA).
- Title
- Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, February 6, 1819
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include duel between General Mason and Captain McCarty of Virginia over a political quarrel resulting in the death of General Mason; debate over censure of General Andrew Jackson over his engagement of the war in Florida.