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The Niagara Falls travel diary contains entries written while the diarist (anonymous) was on a trip from Albany, New York, to Niagara Falls, in the summer of 1815. The volume includes descriptions of the terrain around the falls and of the people the traveler met during the journey.

The Niagara Falls travel diary (18 pages) contains entries written while the diarist was on a trip from Albany, New York, to Niagara Falls, in the summer of 1815. The volume includes descriptions of the terrain around the falls and of the people the traveler met during the journey.

In the first entry, dated July 24, 1815, the author described a tour to Niagara Falls, starting at Albany and traveling past Utica along the Mohawk River. The diarist noted that the terrain was "unmistakable for its beauty" and compared it favorably to Harper’s Ferry. The second entry, August 4, describes the trip by ferry from Buffalo, New York, to Fort Erie, and eventually to Niagara. At Fort Erie, which was "a heap of ruin," the traveler encountered a military officer who had witnessed the fort’s siege by the British in 1814. Next, the author described the town of Chippewa, which suffered a damaging battle one year earlier. Passing Fort Niagara, the travelers enjoyed an easy approach to Niagara Falls; the writer described its physical features as well as the inhabitants of the area, including the Forsyth family, who hosted them. The diarist was disappointed that this natural wonder was so easy to reach, and lamented that the falls were "so completely at our command[,] so entirely abased at our feet." Multiple paths stretched along the falls, including trails on both the Canadian and New York sides.

The Peet family papers contain correspondence and documents relating to everyday life in New England, politics, and the War of 1812.

The Peet family papers contain 27 letters, 3 legal documents, and 3 financial records, dating from 1789-1831, though the correspondence covers only 1807-1813. Don Carlos ("Carle") Peet, Luna Peet Sperry, and Anson J. Sperry wrote the bulk of the correspondence from Manchester, Vermont, to their father, Samuel Peet, and brother, Roily Peet, in New Milford, Connecticut. The letters primarily concern family news, including accounts of Luna's declining health prior to her death in 1810, purchase of land, and the birth of children. In a letter of February 12, 1812, Carle Peet noted Anson Sperry's remarriage and described his new wife. In other letters, he described everyday activities, such as farming and clothes-making.

Two of the letters concern politics and the War of 1812. In the first, August 16, 1812, Carle noted the organization of a volunteer company in Manchester, and criticized it as "nothing more than an out side show of pretended patriotism," and its captain as elderly and overweight. In the second letter, he described elections for Congress and expressed disillusionment with the outcomes (December 20, 1812). Anson Sperry wrote the final letter in the collection (September 20, 1813), in which he pleaded to Samuel W. Peet to assist his sick son, Carle.

The Documents and Financial Records series contains six items. The first two documents, dated December 10, 1789, and June 26, 1791, assured payment by Joseph Peet to Samuel W. and Elnathan Peet for support of their widowed mother, Sarah, and allowed her use of specific areas of Joseph Peet's home. Also included are receipts for the sale of a parcel of land in 1799 and for state taxes paid by Samuel W. Peet in 1809, as well as a record of the distribution of Sarah Averill's estate. The link between the latter item and the Peet family is unclear.

This collection is made up of 3 letters that Lieutenant Peter Pelham received from a woman in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, while serving in the United States Army during the War of 1812. Pelham's correspondent expressed her anger and feelings of abandonment; her distress upon hearing of poor conditions at Burlington, Vermont; and her daily activities.

This collection is made up of 3 letters that Lieutenant Peter Pelham received from "M. B. S.," a woman in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, while he served in the United States Army during the War of 1812. The first letter ([November 6, 1812]) concerns the author's emotional distress after Pelham's departure for the army; she wrote at length about the perceived injustice and his broken promise. In her second letter (December 26, 1812), M. B. S. expressed her great alarm after hearing of unsanitary conditions at Burlington, Vermont, where Pelham was stationed at the time. She urged Pelham to send her a detailed report about the number of casualties and the state of affairs, offering to circulate his letter should it contain good news. The third letter (May 7, 1814) reflects on Pelham's most recent visit; though she initially remained in bed, distraught, she later socialized with her mother and other acquaintances.

The donor has collected, arranged, transcribed, and annotated each document and has written a well-researched collection description.

The Richard Rush papers contain the incoming and outgoing correspondence of Richard Rush, on topics such as the War of 1812, family news, and political views.

The Richard Rush papers consist of 31 letters, spanning 1812-1856. Rush wrote 19 of the letters; his wife Catherine wrote 4; his brothers, Samuel and William, also wrote a total of 4, and miscellaneous writers contributed a few additional items.

Most of the correspondence in the collection is political in nature. Several letters from the War of 1812 period refer to battles, pirates, and the burning of Washington. On September 7, 1813, Rush wrote to John Binns, agreeing that it had been an error to attack York instead of Kingston and also to leave "the fate of Sacketts harbour [sic] suspended by a hair." In another letter, he stated that he did not believe that the United States should treat light cruisers from "Carthegena" (Cartagena) as pirates (December 26, 1814). A series of four letters written to Rush from his wife, Catherine, gives updates and family news from Piney Grove, Virginia, where she and the children resided in the summer of 1814, in order to avoid the dangers of Washington, D.C. The correspondence mentions the burning of "poor Washington," and reports rumors of the looting of Georgetown (September 3, 1814).

Letters from the post-war period include one from Rush to his partner in the Rush-Bagot Agreement, Charles Bagot, lending him books of speeches by Richard Brinsley Sheridan (January 22, 1817); one to Nicholas Biddle concerning problems with Alabama banknotes (January 21, 1829); and a letter of May 16, 1853, in which he called Harriet Beecher Stowe "the authoress of that systematic and carefully-wrought 'log-cabin' libel against the South," and fretted that she would influence English nobles and possibly "feed a war." Also present are letters from William and Samuel Rush, younger brothers of Richard, to their mother, Julia. These contain family news, references to Richard, and political opinions. In his letters of July 7 and July 27, 1831, Samuel Rush expressed his wish that Richard would support Henry Clay, and wondered in the latter if Richard had been turned against Clay by antimasonry.

The latest items in the collection are a series of eight letters between Rush and Major John S. Williams, who wrote a book on the invasion of Washington by the British. They document Rush's suggestions and corrections to Williams' work, as well as Williams' presentation of the book to George B. McClellan in 1864.

The Samuel Huntington papers contain letters and documents of a prominent Ohio settler and political leader. Included are items on his business, political, and military activities.

The Samuel Huntington papers (60 items) contain letters and documents of a prominent Ohio settler and political leader. The Correspondence and Documents series contains 23 letters and 27 documents and financial records. Many of the early items are records and receipts for sales of land and legal services. Other documents include an agreement for Elija Gunn to build a fence around Huntington's home (November 10, 1804), a transfer of land in Cleveland Township from Huntington to Augustus Gilbert (May 4, 1808), Huntington's payment receipt for his services to the Ohio Militia (May 24, 1813), and numerous other land transactions.

• A letter from fellow Ohio settler David Bryant asking for investments to buy a still for whiskey making (August 28, 1801)
• A letter from Turhand Kirtland, Connecticut Land Company agent, inquiring about the companies' interests in settling new towns (March 27, 1802)
• A second letter from Kirtland discussing politics and congratulating Huntington on his election as Trumbull County delegate to the constitutional convention (March 3, 1803)
• A congratulatory letter from William Law on Huntington's election as state governor accompanied by a number of state policy requests (December 18, 1808)
• A personal letter from Samuel Huntington to his eldest son, Francis, that describes his travels through Cincinnati, including an Indian attack, and provides instructions to his son for handling the tax collector (July 3, 1813)

Items related to the military include four Quartermaster documents from Detroit and Washington (August 11, 1813-July 16, 1814), and Samuel Huntington's letter to Simon Huntington of Grand River, Ohio, in which he discussed his opinions on the War of 1812 (December 14, 1814). The collection concludes with a farewell letter and religious diatribe from the dying 86-year-old Moses Lyman, a prominent citizen of Goshen, Connecticut.

The Account Book series consists of a 23-page booklet of "Copies of Notes and other Obligations due to me with their Indorsments" (1795-1814). These notes record large transactions (most between $70 and $1,000 with one as high as $4,716.96), and provide details on reasons for the deals and the parties involved.

The Photographs and Newspaper Clippings series holds one of each item. The clipping is undated and likely from a local Cleveland newspaper. The clipped article is "Colonel Samuel Huntington Surveys his Property" by S.J. Kelly, about Huntington's early property holding in Cleveland. The photograph is unlabeled but is possibly a painted portrait of Huntington.

Rhobe Knight and Dorcas Arnold, two daughters of the Sarle family of Cranston, Rhode Island, moved to northern New York State after marriage, ca. 1805-1810. Their letters home to their family discuss their lives and concerns, including farming, childbirth, marital relations, the War of 1812, and the religious conversion of one sister during a Methodist revival.

The Sarle letters were written by poor, minimally-educated young women and document the hardships and concerns of their lives. Therein lies their value, for society's humbler citizens, particularly females, generally leave little for the historical record. Dorcas and Rhobe did not write detailed, descriptive letters, but they were frank about their problems and their feelings, and the result is a sense of how very difficult life was, and how subject to the uncontrollable forces of weather, war, health, the larger economy, and just plain luck. One readily understands the comfort and appeal of religious faith in the face of such harsh realities. Both women also valued education and saw to it that their children attended school.

The letters in this collection were written from 1807-1826; most between 1810 and 1819. They are addressed to Joseph Sarle but were intended for the entire family and usually include notes to specific family members. Dorcas and Rhobe each wrote nine letters, with other family members often sharing in the writing. There is one letter written solely by Anna Arnold Cole, one by a Thomas Sarle, Jr., who appears to have been a nephew of Joseph Sarle. The handwriting and language of this letter suggest that Thomas may have received a better education than others in the family.

A recurring subject of the correspondence is the possibility of the senior Sarles moving to New York State. All of the writers strongly encourage Joseph Sarle to sell his property in Rhode Island and move the family north, where there is land to be had cheaply. He evidently seriously considered doing so but never made the move. Other than this, topics generally relate to family and farming -- weather, childbirth, health, marital and inter-family relations, crop prospects and prices, religion. Two letters (one each by Dorcas and Rhobe) discuss British military action in the area during the War of 1812. Rhobe writes on February 28, 1813, that "the Brittish come a crost and take our village and Did a Good Deil of Dammage and take about 63 Prisners and how many thay killed I Donot no..." The Knights' horse was stolen, but Mr. Arnold, who was taken prisoner and immediately paroled, had gone to retrieve it or to be paid by the state for it.

Beginning in 1814, when the area was swept by a Methodist-fuelled revival, Dorcas comments on religious matters. Her letter of January 26, 1814 thanks her father "for Learning me to read So that I Can read the scriptures." Rhobe was more skeptical, and warned her parents not to "think [it] Strangs if Dorcas Don't Send you no Letters for tha have so much Churching to Do in that Clas that She cant git time." Her sister's conversion proved genuine, however, for the last letter, written in 1826, shows that her faith was still strong.

The Knights' marital problems are discussed at length by both sisters. In August, 1819 Dorcas wrote to her parents that when George Knight returned home he had "...Laid on the floor with his head on his pack and rhobe did not ofer him t[he] bed and he says rhobe has not slept with him in three years..." Rhobe denies this, and bitterly criticizes her husband for leaving her and the five children "not a mouthful of met nor a morsel of Bread or milk only what we was beholden to Strangers for..." She calls Dorcas "the old Devil" for talking "so mean" to her and making upsetting accusations. [1819 Sept. 26] Their letters also discuss the debt dispute between George Knight and Ichabod Arnold.

The last letter, written by Dorcas in 1826, is an (unintended) epilogue to this collection, and bears the news that George Knight has died, permitting Rhobe to remarry to Parvis Round. She also writes about the Knight and Arnold children and grandchildren, and of her own continuing religious convictions and hopes.

This collection holds the official correspondence of Seth Drew, a Massachusetts native was the superintendent of fortifications for the Army Corps of Engineers between 1808 and 1812. He managed the construction and fortification of the harbor in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in anticipation of war with Great Britain.

The Seth Drew papers (23 items) hold the official correspondence of Seth Drew, the superintendent of fortifications for the Army Corps of Engineers between 1808 and 1812. These letters contain detailed instructions from Joseph Gardner Swift, major of engineers, on the construction and workings of the fort at Plymouth. They also include a rough architectural sketch of a barrack. Jacob Eustis, agent at Boston, wrote about supplying Plymouth with cannon and military stores. Other letters are from Army administrators, particularly from the Accountants Office of the Department of War; these letter-writers include William Eustis, Peter Hagner, William Simmons, and Henry Whiting. In one letter, Henry Whiting described the course of events during the first year of the War of 1812, and commented on the "destitute and miserable conditions" of soldiers returning from prisons in Canada.

The Seth Eastman watercolors consist of 12 sketches produced by U.S. Army officer Seth Eastman.

The Seth Eastman watercolors consist of 12 sketches produced by U.S. Army officer Seth Eastman. Most of these works were likely created by Eastman between approximately 1849 and 1858, including many that were executed in relation to his work as illustrator for Henry Rowe Schoolcraft’s six-volume ethnographic survey Information respecting the history, condition and prospects of the Indian tribes of the United States, published between 1851 and 1857. Individual items measure up to 18 by 25 cm.

The following list includes titles (supplied titles appearing in brackets), content descriptions, and citations for engraved versions that appear in Schoolcraft’s survey:

• Watercolor scene showing a naked Native American girl being tortured in front of a large group of Skiri Pawnee men, women, and children. This depiction is thought to have been based on accounts cited by Schoolcraft of the last known instance of the Skiri Pawnee Morning Star sacrificial ritual, ca. 1837/1838.
• Information respecting the history, condition and prospects of the Indian tribes of the United States, Vol. 6, Plate 6 (across from pg. 78)

• Watercolor scene showing several Comanche warriors on horseback attacking a wagon train circle defended by men with rifles.
• Information respecting the history, condition and prospects of the Indian tribes of the United States, Vol. 2, Plate 33 (across from pg. 132)

• Watercolor scene showing several Native American warriors (likely meant to be Comanche) on horseback outside of San José Mission Church.
• Based on 1849 sketch by Eastman held by the Peabody Museum, Harvard University.

• Watercolor view showing a Native American man smoking a pipe seated on the Oneida Stone overlooking terrain with Oneida Lake in the distance.
• Information respecting the history, condition and prospects of the Indian tribes of the United States, Vol. 5, Plate 23 (after pg. 152)

• Sepia ink wash view showing two Native Americans on rocks in foreground looking out over the Hudson River.
• Information respecting the history, condition and prospects of the Indian tribes of the United States, Vol. 3, Plate 19 (after pg. 74)

• Sepia ink wash view of Humboldt, California, ca. 1851 showing several buildings viewed from across a harbor. Copied by Eastman from original drawing by George Gibbs.
• Information respecting the history, condition and prospects of the Indian tribes of the United States, Vol. 3, Plate 43 (across from pg. 130)

• Ink wash view of structures at Fort Pitt, Pennsylvania, ca. 1790. Copied by Eastman in 1851 from original drawing by Lewis Brantz, then in the possession of Brantz Mayer.
• Information respecting the history, condition and prospects of the Indian tribes of the United States, Vol. 3, Plate 32 (across from pg. 336)

• Sepia ink wash depiction of seven indigenous Mexican cultural artifacts. Drawn after engravings based on drawings by Brantz Mayer.
• Information respecting the history, condition and prospects of the Indian tribes of the United States, Vol. 6, Plate 40 (after pg. 590)

• Sepia ink wash depiction of ten indigenous Mexican cultural artifacts. Eastman drew these objects direct from observation of materials held in the collection of Brantz Mayer.
• Information respecting the history, condition and prospects of the Indian tribes of the United States, Vol. 6, Plate 39 (after pg. 590)

• Pen and ink drawing showing written names and totems of sixteen Ojibwa individuals including “Kimi-Ki-Chawgan,” “Kitche-pus-quegegan,” “Siginac,” “Apeche-caw-boway or Grand Blanc,” “Maw-manche-Cawtence,” Skaw-O-mut or Black Chief,” “Mieray or Walk in the Waters,” “Ray-y-Aron,” “Ane-me-quinee,” “Puck-e-Nence,” “Que-baw-que-gun,” “Puck-qua-Cawboway,” “Seken-ge-win,” “Many-to-quajick or Little Cedar,” “So-wa-quet,” “Macconce or Little Bear.” These signatures were claimed by Schoolcraft to have been copied from an invoice of Indian goods disbursed by General William Hull at Fort Detroit in 1809.
• Information respecting the history, condition and prospects of the Indian tribes of the United States, Vol. 2, Plate 56 (across from pg. 226)

• Watercolor view depicting American troops at Fort Shelby, Wisconsin, surrendering to the British on July 20th, 1814, during the War of 1812; likely executed by Eastman ca. 1846-1848.
• Eastman was stationed at Fort Crawford (successor to Fort Shelby, which was destroyed by the British in May of 1815) after graduating from West Point in 1829 and possibly interacted with individuals who witnessed the surrender first-hand.

• Watercolor view of Fort Pembina, Dakota Territory, during winter showing buildings, tipis, and a dog sled.
• Work is unsigned but bears clear similarities to other landscape scenes by Eastman.

The Sylvester Day collection (1813-1920) is made up of 17 letters and documents written by or related to Sylvester Day, a surgeon for the United States military during the War of 1812.

The Sylvester Day collection (1813-1920) is made up of 17 letters and documents written by or related to Sylvester Day, a surgeon for the United States military during the War of 1812, respecting Day's work, his son's education, and additional topics.

Day wrote to his son, Hannibal, praising his academic successes and urging him to continue working hard. Day wrote, "it affords me much pleasure to hear from you, and learn that you are assiduous in the prosecution of your studies … I have no doubt of your being qualified to enter college by next commencement" (October 17, 1817). In a second letter to Hannibal, Day wrote, "It affords me much satisfaction to hear of your good conduct and progress in your studies. I wish you to perfect yourself in the rudiments of arithmetic" (March 27, 1818).

Items pertaining to Day's claims against the United States for reparations reveal the surgeon's professional work ethic. The testimony of David Beard, a purveyor and resident of Detroit, provides insight into Day's dedication to his patients. Beard recalled that Day volunteered to stay in Detroit, even after its surrender to British troops, in order to "attend upon the sick and wounded American prisoners who were unable to be removed. These services were specially important at that time, as no other medical man of either army remained there" (January 6, 1835). The official memorial of Sylvester Day contains an account of Day's departure after the surrender of Detroit and his subsequent detainment and loss of property at the hands of his own countrymen. Day's attorney claimed, "the petitioner ordered on shore, but forbidden to take his baggage & effects which remained in the vessel, and was destroyed when she was burnt by order of Col. Schuyler" (undated).

Three manuscripts from the United States War Department outline milestone dates of Day's military career, along with the locations of specific postings and different positions he held over his lifetime. Also of note is an illustrated, partially printed document certifying Day's contribution of five dollars towards the building of the Washington Monument. This contribution entitled Day to "all the privileges of Membership in the Washington National Monument Society," and bears printed signatures of Zachary Taylor, Elisha Whittlesey, and George Watterston (July 12, 1850). The collection also contains a dinner invitation from Michigan's Governor Lewis Cass, as well as a request for medical aid or referral from General Alexander Macomb in regard to his wife.

This collection consists of volumes II, III, and IV of The History of the Reign of George III, King of Great Britain, which anonymous author "K. H." composed in Gloucestershire, England, between 1820 and 1823. The treatise covers Great Britain's domestic and international political affairs in depth, including conflicts in North America during the Revolutionary War era and the War of 1812.

This collection consists of volumes II, III, and IV of The History of the Reign of George III, King of Great Britain, which anonymous author "K. H." composed in Gloucestershire, England, between 1820 and 1823. The treatise covers Great Britain's domestic and international political affairs in depth, including conflicts in North America during the American Revolutionary era and the War of 1812. The location of volume I is unknown.

The three volumes, formally titled "The History of the Reign of George III, King of Great Britain (Designed as a Continuation of Mr. Smollet's History)," have 1,323 pages that cover the period between 1770 and the King's death in 1820. Volume IV also contains a 214-page appendix that provides supplemental information for the years 1763-1820. Each chapter is preceded by a detailed list of contents.

The densely-written account chronicles the country's internal and external political affairs, as well as events occurring throughout Europe and, to a lesser extent, North America and North Africa. Topics addressed concern parliamentary leadership, wars, shifting alliances among major European powers, the French Revolution, and Britain's relationship with Ireland. The final chapter contains the author's reflections on King George III, written shortly after the King's death.

The appendix at the conclusion of Volume IV contains annual lists of appointments, births, marriages, and deaths between 1763 and 1820, as well as other information about domestic and European political affairs. The appointments include British political, religious, and military figures, and reflect some changes in peerage. Also recorded are births and deaths of European royal families.