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/

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12 Roosevelt Franklin D. (Franklin Delano) 1882-1945. 9 Draft -- Law and legislation -- United States. 9 United States Army -- Recruiting, enlistment, etc. -- World War, 1939-1945. 7 United States -- Defenses. 6 Republican National Convention (1940 : Philadelphia, Pa.). 6 Willkie Wendell L. (Wendell Lewis) 1892-1944. 5 Commercial treaties -- United States. 5 Taft Robert A. (Robert Alphonso) 1889-1953. 5 Taxation -- Law and legislation -- United States. 5 United States -- Officials and employees -- Political activity. 5 United States Act to Prevent Pernicious Political Activities. 5 United States Congress Senate -- Minority leaders. 4 United States -- Appropriations and expenditures. 4 United States -- Foreign relations -- 1933-1945. 4 United States Congress Senate Committee on Military Affairs. 3 Borah William Edgar 1865-1940. 3 Burke Thomas A. (Thomas Aloysius) 1898-1971. 3 Executive departments -- United States -- Reorganization. 3 Judicial review of administrative acts. 3 Logan Marvel Mills 1875-1939. 3 McCarran Pat 1876-1954. 3 Military supplies -- United States. 3 Tobey Charls W. (Charles William) 1880-1953. 3 Walter Francis E. (Francis Eugene) 1894-1963. 3 World War, 1939-1945. 2 Aiken George D. (George David) 1892-1984. 2 Air travel. 2 Byrnes James F. (James Francis) 1882-1972. 2 Claims -- Drier vs. Germany. 2 Drier Katherine (McNider) Mrs. 2 Executive departments -- United States. 2 Gibson Ernest Willard 1872-1940. 2 Import quotas. 2 Jackson Andrew 1767-1845 -- Anniversaries. 2 Knox Frank 1874-1944. 2 Lee Joshua Bryan 1892-1967. 2 Military bases -- Law and legislation -- United States. 2 Navy-yards and naval stations -- United States. 2 Railroad travel. 2 Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ). 2 Stimson Henry Lewis 1867-1950. 2 Strikes and lockouts -- Railroads -- United States. 2 Tariff -- United States. 2 Taxation of bonds, securities, etc. -- United States. 2 Transportation -- Law and legislation -- United States. 2 United States Dept. of Agriculture -- Appropriations and expenditures. 2 United States National Guard. 2 United States Navy. 2 United States War Dept. -- Appropriations and expenditures. 2 United States. 2 Vandenberg Arthur H. (Arthur Hendrick) 1884-1951. 2 Veto -- United States. 2 Wool -- Labeling -- Law and legislation -- United States. 2 World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- France. 1 Aberdeen Proving Ground (Md.). 1 Aeronautics -- United States. 1 Aeronautics -- Vermont. 1 Aeronautics, Military -- United States. 1 Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- United States. 1 Ashurst Henry Fountain 1874-1962. 1 Bingham Hiram 1875-1956. 1 Black Hugo LaFayette 1886-1971. 1 Bliss Robert Woods 1875-1962. 1 Borah William Edgar 1865-1940 -- Death and burial. 1 Budget -- United States. 1 Burlington, Vermont. 1 China -- Foreign relations -- United States. 1 Christy Howard Chandler 1873-1952. 1 Citizenship -- United States. 1 Civil service -- United States. 1 Davis James J. (James John) 1873-1947. 1 Defense industries -- United States. 1 Democratic Party (U.S.). 1 Dewey Thomas E. (Thomas Edmund) 1902-1971. 1 Election -- United States -- 1940. 1 Executive power -- United States. 1 Export-Import Bank of the United States. 1 Federal government -- United States. 1 Filibusters. 1 Gerry Peter Goelet 1879-1957. 1 Guffey Joseph F 1870-1959. 1 Habsburg Otto 1912-. 1 Harrison Pat 1881-1941. 1 Hull Cordell 1871-1955. 1 Insurance, Unemployment -- United States. 1 Johnson Edwin Carl 1884-1970. 1 Judges -- Selection and appointment -- United States. 1 McNary Charles Linza 1874-1944. 1 Military weapons. 1 Murphy Frank 1890-1949. 1 Naturalization -- United States. 1 Neely Matthew Mansfield 1874-1958. 1 Neutrality -- United States. 1 Norris George W. (George William) 1861-1944. 1 O'Mahoney Joseph C. (Joseph Christopher) 1884-1962. 1 Pepper Claude 1900-1989. 1 Political corruption -- United States. 1 Presidents -- United States -- Election -- 1940. 1 Primaries -- Wisconsin -- 1940. 1 Railroad law -- United States. 1 Railroads -- Salaries, pensions, etc. -- United States. 1 Rayburn Sam 1882-1961. 1 Roosevelt Eleanor 1884-1962. 1 Securities, Tax-exempt -- Law and legislation -- United States. 1 Stassen Harold Edward 1907-. 1 Term limits (Public office) -- United States. 1 United States -- Foreign relations -- China. 1 United States Civil Aeronautics Authority Air Safety Board. 1 United States Congress Senate Committee on the Judiciary. 1 United States Court of Claims -- Officials and employees -- Selection and appointment. 1 United States Declaration of Independence. 1 United States Naval Academy. 1 United States Navy -- Appropriations and expenditures. 1 United States Supreme Court -- Officials and employees -- Selection and appointment. 1 United States Supreme Court. 1 United States War Dept. 1 United States. Congress (77th, 1st session : 1941-1942). 1 Washington (D.C.) -- Social life and customs. 1 Washington, D.C. 1 Wheeler Burton K. (Burton Kendall) 1882-1975. 1 World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Denmark. 1 World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- English Channel Region. 1 World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Netherlands. 1 World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Norway. 1 World War, 1939-1945 -- Claims. 1 World War, 1939-1945 -- Germany. 1 World War, 1939-1945 -- Italy.

90 text
Miniature of Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, August 21, 1940
Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, August 21, 1940
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    • Creator: Austin, Warren Robinson, 1877-1962.
    • Description: Letter to son. Topics include upcoming presidential election and potential candidates John Calhoun, Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams, and William Crawford; divide in electoral politics on question of slavery particularly in Pennsylvania and New York; question of a Congressional caucus on the election debated; health of members of Congress; Greek War of Independence.
    • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
    Miniature of Warren R. Austin letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, December 18, 1940
    Warren R. Austin letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, December 18, 1940
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      • Creator: Austin, Warren Robinson, 1877-1962.
      • Description: Letter to daughter and son-in-law. Topics include Tariff Bill passed by Senate and sent to the President; efforts by Locofocos (Democrats) to oppose the Tariff Bill; Senate split on Tariff bill with twenty-five Whigs for, twenty Locofocos (Democrats) against, and five southern Whigs against, but Senator John Henderson (MS) was absent and Senator John Berrien (GA) did not vote; discussions about whether President Tyler will sign the bill what will happen if it is vetoed; treaty between Great Britain and the United States; Government band which plays in front of the Capitol every Thursday and at the Presidents on Saturday evenings; theatre performances; public gardens; Locofocos (Democrats) in Vermont.
      • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
      Miniature of Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, March 19, 1940
      Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, March 19, 1940
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        • Creator: Austin, Warren Robinson, 1877-1962.
        • Description: Letter to wife. Topics include Kansas.
        • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
        Miniature of Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, April 10, 1940
        Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, April 10, 1940
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          • Creator: Austin, Warren Robinson, 1877-1962.
          • Description: Letter to wife. Topics include constituent business.
          • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
          Miniature of Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, April 25, 1940
          Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, April 25, 1940
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            • Creator: Austin, Warren Robinson, 1877-1962.
            • Description: Letter to wife. Topics include new Senate chambers; mailing of government documents and speeches by Collamer; social life.
            • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
            Miniature of Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, January 20, 1940
            Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, January 20, 1940
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              • Creator: Austin, Warren Robinson, 1877-1962.
              • Description: Letter to wife. Topics include war steam ship Princeton explosion, killing Secretary of State Abel Upshur, Secretary of the Navy Thomas Gilmer, Chief of the Bureau of Construction, Equipment and Repairs Captain Beverly Kennon and others.
              • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
              Miniature of Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, June 18, 1940
              Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, June 18, 1940
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                • Creator: Austin, Warren Robinson, 1877-1962.
                • Description: Letter to son. Topics include traveling to Washington; election of a Speaker of the House to replace Representative Henry Clay (KY) held up by split between northern and southern Representatives on slavery question; constitution of Missouri and slavery
                • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
                Miniature of Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, March 15, 1940
                Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, March 15, 1940
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                  • Creator: Austin, Warren Robinson, 1877-1962.
                  • Description: Letter to wife. Topics include inauguration of President Zachary Taylor; traveling to Vermont by rail.
                  • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
                  Miniature of Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, March 23, 1940
                  Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, March 23, 1940
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                    • Creator: Austin, Warren Robinson, 1877-1962.
                    • Description: Letter to wife. Topics include John Gregory Smith; receptions of cabinet Secretaries and President Franklin Pierce; Representative Nathaniel Banks (MA).
                    • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
                    Miniature of Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, March 29, 1940
                    Letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, March 29, 1940
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                      • Creator: Austin, Warren Robinson, 1877-1962.
                      • Description: Letter to wife. Topics include speech by Collamer in the Senate on Kansas; practice of visiting home by members of Congress while in session.
                      • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress