Letters Home From Congress
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 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 detail his frustrations serving as a Senator in the minority party during the era of Roosevelt and the New Deal; his activities on the Judiciary Committee; and foreign affairs topics 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:
https://bioguide.congress.gov/
Showing 1 - 10 of 104 Records
Letter to Benjamin Clark, February 21, 1818
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- Creator: Crafts, Samuel Chandler, 1768-1853.
- Description: Topics include Memorial to Senator Greene; political speeches; inefficiency of the Senate.
- Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
Letter to Col. Joseph Scott, April 9, 1820
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- Creator: Crafts, Samuel Chandler, 1768-1853.
- Description: Topics include Agricultural Colleges; Extension Service; Vocational Education; Post Office and Treasury Appropriations Bill and the Economy Measure.
- Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
Letter to Col. Joseph Scott, March 23, 1820
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- Creator: Crafts, Samuel Chandler, 1768-1853.
- Description: Topics include vacation with President and Mrs. Herbert Hoover outside of Savannah, Georgia on the boat Sequoia; Georgia and Florida coast observations.
- Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
Letter to Doctor Eli Todd, January 30, 1820
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- Creator: Crafts, Samuel Chandler, 1768-1853.
- Description: Topics include Merger bill
- Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
Letter to Dr. Eli Todd, January 28, 1821
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- Creator: Crafts, Samuel Chandler, 1768-1853.
- Description: Topics include Austin radio broadcast on the air mail issue.
- Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
Letter to Eunice Crafts, December 1, 1823
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- Creator: Crafts, Samuel Chandler, 1768-1853.
- Description: Topics include minority report on the Thirty Hour Bill; Huey Long as a potential candidate for President; dinner hosted by Mildred Austin for the British Ambassador.
- Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
Letter to Eunice Crafts, February 13, 1825
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- Creator: Crafts, Samuel Chandler, 1768-1853.
- Description: Topics include a bill for the payment of the Adjusted Service Certificates of the veterans, and Austin's reasoning for why he might vote for this version of the bill; radio broadcast of an Austin speech over the Yankee Network in New England.
- Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
Letter to Eunice Crafts, February 7, 1824
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- Creator: Crafts, Samuel Chandler, 1768-1853.
- Description: Topics include a speech by Senator Wheeler; Austin assisting Senator McNary, Minority Leader, in the absence of a Minority Whip; Black Thirty Hour Bill.
- Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
Letter to Eunice Crafts, January 2, 1825
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- Creator: Crafts, Samuel Chandler, 1768-1853.
- Description: 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.
- Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
Letter to Eunice Crafts, January 22, 1825
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- Creator: Crafts, Samuel Chandler, 1768-1853.
- Description: Topics include Agricultural Adjustment Act; Vermont milk producers.
- Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress