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 31 - 40 of 104 Records
Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, May 8, 1820
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- Creator: Crafts, Samuel Chandler, 1768-1853.
- Description: Topics include Emergency Farm Mortgage Act; Presidential power; Agricultural Colleges; Extension Service; Industrial Education.
- Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
Letter to Nathan and Mary Hill, December 11, 1842
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- Creator: Crafts, Samuel Chandler, 1768-1853.
- Description: Topics include Pure Food and Drug Bill; Court Bill hearings in the Judiciary Committee and opposition by Democrats; Guffey Coal Bill.
- Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, April 30, 1820
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- Creator: Crafts, Samuel Chandler, 1768-1853.
- Description: Topics include President Roosevelt's bank bill; Economy bill.
- Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
Letter to Mary Collamer, February 2, 1845
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- Creator: Collamer, Jacob, 1791-1865.
- Description: Topics include burden of committee work for minority party.
- Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
Letter to Mary Collamer, January 2, 1859
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- Creator: Collamer, Jacob, 1791-1865.
- Description: Topics include filibuster of Anti-Lynching Bill; sub-committee work on constitutional amendments, changes in the judiciary system, immigration, appointment of N.J. Senator, and equal rights of women.
- Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
Letter to Nathan and Mary Hill, December 11, 1842
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- Creator: Crafts, Samuel Chandler, 1768-1853.
- Description: Topics include Neutrality Bill.
- Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
Letter to Samuel P. Crafts, December 3, 1821
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- Creator: Crafts, Samuel Chandler, 1768-1853.
- Description: Topics include filibuster by southern Senators to prevent consideration of the anti-lynching bill; Senator Glass; Senator Bankhead.
- Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
Letter to Mary Collamer, February 14, 1847
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- Creator: Collamer, Jacob, 1791-1865.
- Description: Topics include lunch with Herber Hoover; Austin's duties as Assistant Minority Leader.
- Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
Letter to Mary N. Collamer, February 14, 1849
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- Creator: Collamer, Jacob, 1791-1865.
- Description: Topics include visit to Washington of Alfred Landon and Col. Frank Knox; requests made of Austin to be a candidate for President; Governor Aiken; farm bill.
- Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
Letter to Mary N. Collamer, March 5, 1849
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- Creator: Collamer, Jacob, 1791-1865.
- Description: Topics include visit to Washington of Alfred Landon and Col. Frank Knox; dinner at Gridiron Club with President, Vice-President and others; remarks about Austin by Senator Pope.
- Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress