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 251 - 260 of 443 Records

Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, October 9, 1939
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    • Creator: Austin, Warren Robinson, 1877-1962.
    • Description: Topics include confirmation of an appointment to the Court of Claims.
    • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress


    Changing Embargoes for National Defense, October 16, 1939.
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      • Creator: Austin, Warren Robinson, 1877-1962.
      • Description: Topics include Wendell Wilkie speech.
      • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress


      Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, January 7, 1940
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        • Creator: Austin, Warren Robinson, 1877-1962.
        • Description: Topics include appropriations bill and monopolies.
        • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress


        Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, January 8, 1940
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          • Creator: Austin, Warren Robinson, 1877-1962.
          • Description: 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.
          • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress


          Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, February 1, 1940
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            • Creator: Austin, Warren Robinson, 1877-1962.
            • Description: Letter to wife. Topics include securing a seat in the House chamber; traveling to Washington.
            • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress


            Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, February 26, 1940
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              • Creator: Austin, Warren Robinson, 1877-1962.
              • Description: Letter to wife. Topics include speech in House by Collamer; Hiram Powers statue of the Greek Slave.
              • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress


              Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, March 12, 1940
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                • Creator: Austin, Warren Robinson, 1877-1962.
                • Description: Letter to son. Topics include constituent business regarding William Billings and the East Barnard, Vermont post office.
                • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress


                Warren R. Austin letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, September 20, 1940
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                  • Creator: Austin, Warren Robinson, 1877-1962.
                  • Description: Letter to daughter and son-in-law. Topics include Tariff being considered in the House of Representatives; duties on imports; duty on foreign wool and response of wool manufacturers; distribution of the proceeds of the public lands; Apportionment Bill for Representatives to Congress debated in the Senate; fashions in Washington, DC; flowers and vegetables seen in DC.
                  • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress


                  Warren R. Austin letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, September 26, 1940
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                    • Creator: Austin, Warren Robinson, 1877-1962.
                    • Description: Letter to daughter and son-in-law. Topics include different rules and protocols in the House of Representatives and the Senate such as the one hour rule; President Tyler and the Whigs in Congress; Apportionment Bill; Locofoco (Democrat) opposition to districting of States; Tariff being considered in the House of Representatives; duty on wool; Distribution Act; rumor of a Cabinet break-up by President Tyler.
                    • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress


                    Warren R. Austin letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, November 7, 1940
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                      • Creator: Austin, Warren Robinson, 1877-1962.
                      • Description: Letter to daughter and son-in-law. Topics include Senate debate on the new Tariff Bill with a bare majority in favor; Crafts in favor of Tariff Bill as passed by the House; frauds practiced by manufacturers and importers; expected veto of Tariff Bill by President Tyler because of the continuation of the distribution of the proceeds of the public lands among the states; current state of the Treasury; Daniel Webster and Lord Ashburton's negotiation over the boundary between the United States and Canada, in particular the northeastern boundary.
                      • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress