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 58)
Pages
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- Letter to Col. Joseph Scott, March 23, 1820
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Topics include soldiers pensions; Federal deficit; duel between Commodore Stephen Decatur and Commodore James Barron resulting in the death of Decatur.
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- Letter to Doctor Eli Todd, January 30, 1820
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Letter to brother-in-law. Topics include Federal deficit; debate over Missouri.
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- Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, December 10, 1820
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Letter to wife. Topics include question of Missouri's acceptance into the United States by Congress and split between Northern and Southern members; federal deficit and consideration of reduction of pay for government employees; social life; invitation to dine at President James Monroe's.
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- Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, March 12, 1820
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Letter to wife. Topics include Missouri and slavery; Federal deficit and Government spending; Representative Henry W. Edwards (CT) and the Connecticut delegation; Representative Timothy Pitkin (CT); Representative Samuel B. Sherwood (CT)
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- Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, November 19, 1820
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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 Mary Collamer, February 2, 1845
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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 08, 1933
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Topics include Emergency Farm Mortgage Act; Presidential power; Agricultural Colleges; Extension Service; Industrial Education.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, April 25, 1940
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Topics include centralization of power in the Federal government; President Roosevelt's Reorganization Bill.
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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 3, 1939
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Topics include Railroad legislation and the Interstate Commerce Commission law; Senator Bankhead's Cotton Subsidy Bill.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, April 4, 1940
- Description
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Topics include defeat of Senator O'Mahoney (WY) amendment on customs duties and import restrictions; Trade Treaty Bill.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, February 10, 1939
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Topics include Military Affairs Committee and Austin's motion to open hearings to the public; Special Finance Committee on Taxation of Public Securities.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, February 24, 1939
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Topics include Military Affairs Committee vote on the Stock Pile Bill; letters received by Austin in support of his stand on foreign policy and defense.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, February 9, 1938
- Description
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Topics include filibuster of Anti-Lynching Bill; sub-committee work on constitutional amendments, changes in the judiciary system, immigration, appointment of N.J. Senator, and equal rights of women.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, January 14, 1933
- Description
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Topics include; liquor question; birth control; appropriations.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, July 30, 1940
- Description
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Topics include bill to authorize the President to call the National Guard for Federal Service for a year; bill for compulsory military training and service; bill for railroad unemployment insurance.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, June 1, 1939
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Topics include debate over bill to increase the limit on the authority to issue bonds and borrow money.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, June 15, 1938
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Topics include flood control bill and Federal government power.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, June 15, 1939
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Topics include taxes and social security; training of civil aircraft pilots.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, June 20, 1939
- Description
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Topics include Austin's duties as assistant Minority Leader; power of the President to devalue the dollar and the stabilization fund.