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 - 8 of 8)
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- Letter to Eunice Crafts, December 1, 1823
- Description
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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.
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- Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, December 19, 1818
- Description
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Letter to wife. Topics include health of Crafts family; social life and visiting etiquette; boarding houses.
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- Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, December 7, 1819
- Description
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Letter to wife. Topics include boarding houses; new House chambers and difficulty of hearing speakers.
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- Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, January 22, 1821
- Description
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Letter to wife. Topics include health of son Samuel P. Crafts; health of residents of Crafts' boarding house in Washington, DC; health of members of Congress, with four dead.
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- Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, November 12, 1820
- Description
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Letter to wife. Topics include traveling to Washington; members of Congress arriving in Washington; boarding houses.
- Title
- Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, November 19, 1820
- Description
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Letter to wife. Topics include travel; boarding houses; Senator William Palmer (VT), Representative Charles Rich (VT), Judge Livermore (NH), Mr. Phelps & Mr. Stevens of Connecticut; election of Speaker of the House; constitution of Missouri & slavery.
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- Letter to Nathan and Mary Hill, December 11, 1842
- Description
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Letter to daughter and son-in-law. Topics include effect of severe weather on obtaining a quorum in the Senate; health of Senator Samuel Phelps (VT); church meeting preached by Dr. Nott, President of Union College, Schenectady, New York; boarding accommodations in Washington, DC.
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- Letter to Samuel P. Crafts, December 3, 1821
- Description
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Letter to son. Topics include traveling from Albany, NY to Washington, DC; beginning of Congressional session and search for a new Speaker of the House; lodgings in Washington, DC.