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 39)
Pages
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- Letter to Harriet Johnson, April 7, 1844
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Letter to daughter. Topics include social life of wives of congressmen; steam ship Princeton accident; Representative John Quincy Adams (MA); Representative Solomon Foot (VT); social life
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- Letter to Harriet Johnson, June 20, 1848
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Letter to daughter. Topics include Committee on Public Lands; visit of Frederick Billings.
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- Letter to Mary Collamer, December 14, 1845
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Letter to daughter. Topics include visit to the White House with Representative Solomon Foot (VT); Sarah Polk, wife of the President; Congressional prayer meetings.
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- Letter to Mary Collamer, February 10, 1845
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Letter to daughter. Topics include Whig and Democrat members of Congress; President James Polk; annexation of Texas.
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- Letter to Mary Collamer, February 14, 1847
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Letter to daughter. Topics include city crowded with people seeking military appointments; Senator John Calhoun (SC) and the Calhoun branch of the Democratic party; President James Polk.
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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 Mary Collamer, February 4, 1844
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Letter to daughter. Topics include abolitionism; Representative Joshua Giddings (OH); Representative John Quincy Adams (MA); Democrats and Whigs; speech making in Congress.
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- Letter to Mary Collamer, January 14 1844
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Letter to wife. Topics include activities of a Congressman; constituent business at the General Post Office, the Treasury, the War or Navy Department, and the Patent Office; Congressional prayer meeting; social life.
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- Letter to Mary Collamer, January 2, 1859
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Letter to daughter. Topics include mailing of government documents and speeches by Collamer; new Senate chambers; social calls.
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- Letter to Mary Collamer, January 24, 1847
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Letter to daughter. Topics include Mexican-American War; President James Polk; General Zachary Taylor; General Winfield Scott.
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- Letter to Mary Collamer, January 8, 1846
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Letter to daughter. Topics include speeches about Oregon; Representative Solomon Foot (VT); constituent business, particularly in regard to pensions.
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- Letter to Mary N. Collamer, April 13, 1856
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Letter to wife. Topics include speech by Collamer in the Senate on Kansas; practice of visiting home by members of Congress while in session.
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- Letter to Mary N. Collamer, December 11, 1859
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Letter to wife. Topics include President James Buchanan; Senator James Dixon (CT); John Brown; speeches in the House of Representatives.
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- Letter to Mary N. Collamer, December 12, 1858
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Letter to wife. Topics include constituent business; invitation to dinner from President James Buchanan; new Senate chambers; Pension Office.
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- Letter to Mary N. Collamer, December 14, 1856
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Letter to wife. Topics include speech by Collamer in the Senate.
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- Letter to Mary N. Collamer, December 19, 1859
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Letter to wife. Topics include John Brown and proposed investigation of his supporters.
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- Letter to Mary N. Collamer, December 20, 1857
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Letter to wife. Topics include opposition of Senator Stephen Douglas (IL) to the position of President James Buchanan on Kansas; new hall for House of Representatives.
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- Letter to Mary N. Collamer, December 25, 1856
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Letter to wife. Topics include Agriculture Patent Office Reports to be mailed.
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- Letter to Mary N. Collamer, December 26, 1858
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Letter to wife. Topics include new Senate chambers; mailing of government documents and speeches by Collamer; social life.
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- Letter to Mary N. Collamer, December 3, 1848
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Letter to wife. Topics include traveling to Washington, DC; new session of Congress; lottery for seats in the House.