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 - 11 of 11)
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- Letter to Eunice Crafts, February 7, 1824
- Description
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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.
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- Letter to Eunice Crafts, January 22, 1825
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Letter to wife. Topics include social life of Washington, DC; typical day for Crafts.
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- Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, December 10, 1820
- Description
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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, December 19, 1818
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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, January 1, 1819
- Description
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Letter to wife. Topics include activities of a Congressman; constituent business; death of Representative George Mumford (NC); society events hosted by the President, and the British and French ministers.
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- Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, November 27, 1820
- Description
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Letter to wife. Topics include social life; parties hosted by Secretary of War John Calhoun and Secretary of State John Quincy Adams; President James Monroe.
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- Letter to Harriet Johnson, April 7, 1844
- Description
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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 Mary Collamer, January 14 1844
- Description
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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
- Description
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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 N. Collamer, December 26, 1858
- Description
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Letter to wife. Topics include new Senate chambers; mailing of government documents and speeches by Collamer; social life.
- Title
- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, March 12, 1940
- Description
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Topics include dinner hosted by the Austins for Robert Woods Bliss in honor of Archdukes Otto and Felix from Austria; Senator Gerry (RI).