Continental, Confederation, and United States Congress collection, 1751-1902 (majority within 1761-1862)

Summary

Creator:

William L. Clements Library

Abstract:

This collection contains miscellaneous single items authored by, signed by, or relating to members of the Continental Congresses, the Confederation Congress, and the United States Congress. The bulk of the collection dates from 1761 to 1862, and while some content relates to political positions and actions, most of the items concern congressional representatives' financial and business affairs, legal practices, and various personal matters.

Extent:

0.5 linear feet

Language:

English

Authors:

Collection processed and finding aid created by Jayne Ptolemy, 2014

Background

Scope and Content:

This collection contains miscellaneous single items authored by, signed by, or relating to members of the Continental Congresses, the Confederation Congress, and the United States Congress. The bulk of the collection dates from 1761 to 1862, and while some content relates to political positions and actions, most of the items concern congressional representatives' financial and business affairs, legal practices, and various personal matters. Of particular note are items relating to the military during the American Revolution, including one item from January 27, 1778, that appears to have a separate message visible by backlight. The collection also contains materials relating to wampum and Native American relations, as well as Shay's Rebellion. See the Detailed Box and Folder Listing below for more information about each item.

Biographical / Historical:

During the American colonial period, the British colonies remained under the protection and command of the British crown, and colonial executive and legislative bodies answered to the King and the British Parliament. Colonial governors, usually appointed by the King, served as the chief executive power in each individual colony. Colonial governance also included Governor's Councils, consisting of appointed representatives that served as advisory boards to the governor, served judicial roles, and approved new laws subject to the final approbation of the British Privy Council. Individual colonies elected representatives to provincial Assemblies, whose members drafted laws and handled budgets, taxes, and the militia. There was, however, no centralized American-based government unifying the various colonial legislatures.

In response to the Intolerable Acts passed by British Parliament in 1774, the American colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia, first convening on September 5, 1774. This first Continental Congress included fifty-six delegates from all of the colonies, excepting Georgia. The Second Continental Congress gathered on May 10, 1775, and lasted through 1781. When all thirteen colonies ratified the Articles of Confederation in 1781, Congress gained constitutional authority and legalized their powers. The Congress that met from the passage of the Articles of Confederation until the ratification of the Constitution in 1789 is known as the Confederation Congress.

With the ratification of the Constitution in 1789, the U.S. Congress was formally established with general authority and structure that continue to the present. The United States Congress serves as the legislative branch of the United States government, with a bicameral body composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Each state is guaranteed two senators, who serve six-year terms, while representatives serve two-year terms and their numbers depend on state population. Congress's duties include budgetary matters, passing legislation, consenting to government personnel appointments, supervising the executive branch and determining impeachment proceedings, declaring war and raising armed forces, and levying and collecting taxes, among other responsibilities.

Acquisition Information:

1935-2019. M-260, M-305, M-692, M-832, M-920, M-1286, M-1545, M-1547, M-2253, M-2397, M-2491d, M-2540, M-2693, M-2957.3, M-3101, M-3334, M-3384, M-3445.3, M-4348.7, M-7097.11 .

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged chronologically, with undated materials located at the end.

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Related

Additional Descriptive Data:

Bibliography

"Congress of the United States, "Encylcopedia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopaedia Brittanica Inc, 2014. Accessed October 24, 2014.

"United States." Encylcopedia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopaedia Brittanica Inc, 2014. Accessed October 27, 2014.

U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian. "Milestones." Last modified November 1, 2013. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1784-1800. Accessed October 27, 2014.

Tom Ladenburg, "Government in England and the Colonies." http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/teachers/lesson_plans/pdfs/unit1_3.pdf Accessed October 27, 2014.

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:

Indians of North America--Government relations.
Law--United States--History.
Shay's Rebellion, 1786-1787.

Formats:

Deeds.
Legal documents.
Letters (correspondence)
Orders to pay.
Receipts (financial records)
Wills.

Names:

United States. Congress--History.
Arnold, Peleg, 1752-1820.
Ashe, John Baptista, 1748-1802.
Avery, John, 1739-1806.
Barnwell, Robert, 1761-1814.
Bingham, William, 1752-1804.
Cadwalader, Lambert, 1742-1823.
Carmichael, William, -1795.
Carroll, Daniel, 1730-1796.
Caswell, Richard, 1729-1789.
Chase, Jeremiah Townley, 1748-1828.
Chase, Samuel, 1741-1811.
Clarke, M. St. Clair (Matthew St. Clair)
Clay, Joseph, 1741-1804.
Clingan, William, approximately 1721-1790.
Condit, Silas, 1778-1861.
Cooke, Joseph Platt.
Cornell, Ezekiel, 1733-1800.
Cushing, Thomas, 1725-1788.
Dane, Nathan, 1752-1835.
De Hart, John.
Dewitt, Goshem.
Dickinson, John, 1732-1808.
Donnelly, Ignatius, 1831-1901.
Drayton, William Henry, 1742-1779.
Duane, James, 1733-1797.
Dyer, Eliphalet, 1721-1807.
Earle, Richard Tilghman.
Ellery, William, 1727-1820.
Edwards, Pierpont, 1750-1826.
Folsom, Nathaniel, 1726-1790.
Fox, Joseph.
Freeman, Nathaniel, 1741-1827.
Gadsden, Christopher, 1724-1805.
Galloway, Joseph, 1731-1803.
Gardner, John.
Gayle, John, 1792-1859.
Gelston, David, 1744-1828.
Gervais, John Lewis, 1741-1798.
Gilman, John Taylor, 1753-1828.
Gilman, Nicholas, 1755-1814.
Grey, Benjamin Edwards, -1875.
Habersham, Joseph, 1751-1815.
Hall, Lyman, 1724-1790.
Halsted, Matthias.
Hanson, John, 1715-1783.
Haring, John, 1739-1809.
Harper, Robert Goodloe, 1765-1825.
Harrison, Benjamin, 1726-1791.
Hawkins, Benjamin, 1754-1816.
Helme, Rouse J., 1744-1789.
Henderson, Alexander.
Higginson, Stephen, 1743-1828.
Hillhouse, James, 1754-1832.
Holten, Samuel, 1738-1816.
Hopkins, Stephen, 1707-1785.
Hopkinson, Francis, 1737-1791.
Hornblower, Josiah, 1729-1809.
Horsmanden, Daniel, 1694-1778.
Howell, David, 1747-1824.
Huntington, Samuel, 1731-1796.
Hughes, H.
Jackson, Jonathan, 1743-1810.
Johnson, Thomas, 1732-1819.
Kearney, Dyre, -1791.
Kerr, John Bozman, 1809-1878.
Kinsey, James, 1731-1803.
Lacock, Abner, 1770-1837.
Langdon, Woodbury, approximately 1738-1805.
Lee, Arthur, 1740-1792.
Lee, Francis Lightfoot, 1734-1797.
Lee, Richard Henry, 1732-1794.
L'Hommedieu, Ezra, 1734-1811.
Livermore, Samuel, 1732-1803.
Livingston, Robert R., 1746-1813.
Livingston, Walter, 1740-1797.
Low, Isaac, 1735-1791.
Mathews, Vincent, 1766-1846.
Matlack, Timothy, 1736-1829.
McHenry, James, 1753-1816.
McKean, Thomas, 1734-1817.
McLene, James, 1730-1806.
Middleton, Henry, 1717-1784.
Miller, Nathan, 1743-1790.
Montgomery, John, 1722-1808.
Montgomery, William, 1736-1816.
Morgan, David N.
Moseley, William.
Nicholson, Joseph Hopper, 1770-1817.
Orr, Hector, 1770-1855.
Osgood, Samuel, 1748-1813.
Otis, Samuel Allyne, 1740-1814.
Page, Mann, 1749-1781.
Partridge, George, 1740-1828.
Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803.
Penington, Edward, 1726-1796.
Pettit, Charles, 1736-1806.
Phillips, Peter.
Plater, George, 1735-1792.
Platt, Zephania, 1735-1807.
Quincy, Josiah, 1772-1864.
Read, George, 1733-1798.
Remsen, Peter.
Rhoads, Samuel, 1711-1784.
Rives, William Cabell, 1793-1868.
Rodney, Caesar, 1728-1784.
Root, Jesse, 1737-1822.
Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813.
Rutledge, Edward, 1749-1800.
Rutledge, Hugh.
Schuyler, Philip John, 1733-1804.
Searle, James, 1730-1797.
Sickels, Peter.
Slagle, Henry.
Smith, Melancton, 1744-1798.
Smith, James, 1713-1806.
Smith, Jonathan Bayard, 1742-1812.
Smith, Joseph.
Smith, Thomas, 1745-1809.
Southwick, George Newell, 1863-1912.
Stewart, Charles, 1729-1800.
Stickney, Thomas.
Stone, Thomas, 1743-1787.
Strong, Jedidiah, 1738-1802.
Sullivan, James, 1744-1808.
Telfair, Edward, approximately 1735-1807.
Thatcher, George, 1754-1824.
Thornton, Matthew, 1714?-1803.
Tilghman, Matthew, 1718-1790.
Tilton, James, 1745-1822.
Trumbull, Jonathan, 1740-1809.
Trumbull, Joseph, 1737-1778.
Van Haute, John, Jr.
Wadsworth, Fenn.
Walker, Timothy, 1705-1782.
Ward, Henry, 1732-1797.
Weare, Meshech, 1713-1786.
White, James, 1749-1809.
Wingate, Paine, 1739-1838.
Wisner, Henry, approximately 1720-1790.
Wood, Joseph, 1741-1804.
Wright, Asa.
Yates, Peter W. (Peter Waldron), 1747-1826.

Places:

United States--Commerce--History.
United States--Foreign relations.
United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783.
United States--Politics and government.