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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(241 - 260 of 451)
Pages
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, July 7, 1939
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Topics include Austin's amendment for farm mortgage refinancing; Block Booking Bill.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, July 9, 1937
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Topics include Senate floor debate over Court Bill.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, July 9, 1940
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Topics include National Defense; campaign; nominations of Stimson and Knox; Military Affairs Committee and the Selective Service Bill; Wendell Wilkie.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, July 9, 1940
- Description
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Topics include National Defense; campaign; nominations of Stimson and Knox; Military Affairs Committee and the Selective Service Bill; Wendell Wilkie.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, June 03, 1935
- Description
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Topics include Supreme Court; speech by Senator Borah; President Roosevelt and the centralization of power in the Federal Government; enclosed speech by Austin to a Greek Society, Ahepa, on the Constitution, the Supreme Court, and the New Deal.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, June 1, 1939
- Description
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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 10, 1938
- Description
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Topics include Iowa Primary results, indications of declining popularity of President Roosevelt, and Roosevelt's continued hold over the Senate through the actions of Senator Norris (NE); Roosevelt and the upcoming elections.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, June 11, 1940
- Description
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Topics include legislation to speed up production of munitions; National Defense; Italy and Germany.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, June 13, 1936
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Topics include Republican National Convention.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, June 15, 1937
- Description
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Topics include Relief Appropriation Bill; centralization of power in the Federal government.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, June 15, 1938
- Description
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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
- Description
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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 17, 1940
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Topics include France's surrender.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, June 18, 1940
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Topics include France’s surrender; Republican National Convention; Drier Bill; request for Austin to second nomination of Senator Taft (OH) for President at Convention.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, June 19, 1940
- Description
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Topics include tax bill.
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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.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, June 20, 1940
- Description
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Topics include death of Senator Ernest Gibson (VT); eulogy of Gibson by Austin in the Senate.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, June 21, 1937
- Description
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Topics include burden of committee work for minority party.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, June 21, 1939
- Description
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Topics include speech by Senator Thomas (OH) on the power of the President to devalue the dollar.
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- Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, June 21, 1940
- Description
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Topics include Military Affairs Committee and the appointment of Stimson as Secretary of War.