April302012
Letter, To: “My gentle unknown friend” From: Henry O. Nightingale, April 30, 1865. In this letter to an unnamed friend, Henry O. Nightingale, a soldier in the Union Army, reflects on the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in April 1865. We know not the virtues of a friend, or do not prize them as we should until that friend is gone. I agree with you entirely. I had learned to love him, for he was eminently the Soldiers friend. So just, forgiving, unsuspecting. When the sad news of his Assassination reached us, we had all retired. It seemed like an the sudden opening of a musket battery, we could not believe it. But morning came, bells sounded forth the solemn toll for his departed spirit, + sadness, grief, frenzy, seized us all. Men who had stood before the enemy, their comrads falling around them without shedding a tear wept. Great tears coursed down the cheeks of all. Then for the first time did I understand my comrads. Then I knew who were true. Then I discovered the great affection for “good Old Abe” concealed in the hearts of my fellow Soldiers. Nightingale was actually one of the last people to see President Lincoln alive. He obtained Lincoln’s autograph on the afternoon of April 14: I, the afternoon of the fatal day, had the pleasure of seeing the departed one, my object in going to see him was to get his Autograph in my Album. He, the President took it and wrote with his own hand several lines. I looked in admiration upon the man whose energy, had preserved us, little thinking that before morning he would be a bleeding corpse. One week ago Thursday last I looked upon all that remained of him, as he lay in State in the Capitol. I will not attempt to describe my feelings. You can imagine what they were. I felt as though my best friend had gone, and turned away to weep. Click through to view the full letter. For easier reading, you can access a transcription of the letter under the “Docs” tab to the left of the images.

Letter, To: “My gentle unknown friend” From: Henry O. Nightingale, April 30, 1865.

In this letter to an unnamed friend, Henry O. Nightingale, a soldier in the Union Army, reflects on the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in April 1865.

We know not the virtues of a friend, or do not prize them as we should until that friend is gone. I agree with you entirely. I had learned to love him, for he was eminently the Soldiers friend. So just, forgiving, unsuspecting. When the sad news of his Assassination reached us, we had all retired. It seemed like an the sudden opening of a musket battery, we could not believe it. But morning came, bells sounded forth the solemn toll for his departed spirit, + sadness, grief, frenzy, seized us all. Men who had stood before the enemy, their comrads falling around them without shedding a tear wept. Great tears coursed down the cheeks of all. Then for the first time did I understand my comrads. Then I knew who were true. Then I discovered the great affection for “good Old Abe” concealed in the hearts of my fellow Soldiers.

Nightingale was actually one of the last people to see President Lincoln alive. He obtained Lincoln’s autograph on the afternoon of April 14:

I, the afternoon of the fatal day, had the pleasure of seeing the departed one, my object in going to see him was to get his Autograph in my Album. He, the President took it and wrote with his own hand several lines. I looked in admiration upon the man whose energy, had preserved us, little thinking that before morning he would be a bleeding corpse. One week ago Thursday last I looked upon all that remained of him, as he lay in State in the Capitol. I will not attempt to describe my feelings. You can imagine what they were. I felt as though my best friend had gone, and turned away to weep.

Click through to view the full letter. For easier reading, you can access a transcription of the letter under the “Docs” tab to the left of the images.

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April182012

congressarchives:

The April 18, 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, estimated at 7.9 magnitude, was one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history, claiming more than 3,000 lives. Congress responded to the disaster in several ways. The House and the Senate Appropriations Committees enacted emergency appropriations. Other congressional action included the House Claims Committee handling claims from owners seeking reimbursement for destroyed property. The Senate also passed a resolution asking the Secretary of War to furnish the Senate with a copy of a report on the earthquake and fire. The report on the relief efforts and accompanying captioned photographs, prepared by the U.S. Army, are now housed with the records of the Senate Committee on Printing and include the above photos.

Visit our featured document article for more information on this tragic event and the congressional response.

Photograph of Union Street Car Line After the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 2127302)

Photograph of the Effect of Earthquake on Houses Built on Loose or Made Ground After the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 2127357)

Photograph of Souvenir Hunters After the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 2127316)

Photograph of St. Francis Hotel Showing the Clean Sweep of Fire in the Business Section of All Except Class A Steel Frame Buildings After the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 2127289)

Photograph of a Military Camp on the Fourth Day After the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC  2127305)

Photograph of a Typical Bread Line in the Early Stages of Relief Distribution After the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 306190)

(via todaysdocument)

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March142012
This image is an example of a crossed letter. A crossed letter is one in which the writer first writes across the page in one direction, then rotates the page (usually 90 degrees) to continue the letter. This was done to save on postage and conserve paper, both of which were relatively expensive back in the day. We haven’t transcribed this document yet — we’ve been saving these more difficult items for later! —-Letter, To: “Mama” (Ellen Ewing Sherman) From: Ellie, March 14, 1878.

This image is an example of a crossed letter. A crossed letter is one in which the writer first writes across the page in one direction, then rotates the page (usually 90 degrees) to continue the letter. This was done to save on postage and conserve paper, both of which were relatively expensive back in the day.

We haven’t transcribed this document yet — we’ve been saving these more difficult items for later!

—-
Letter, To: “Mama” (Ellen Ewing Sherman) From: Ellie, March 14, 1878.

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March92012
Letter, To: [Philadelphia], From: Eamon De Valera, March 9, 1920.“May Philadelphia ever remain worthy of its title as the Cradle of Liberty and the Home of Brotherly Love.”

Letter, To: [Philadelphia], From: Eamon De Valera, March 9, 1920.

“May Philadelphia ever remain worthy of its title as the Cradle of Liberty and the Home of Brotherly Love.”

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December62011
Editorial about the creation of the Irish Free State on December 6, 1921. Source: The Villanovan, Vol. 6. No. 2, December 1921, p. 19.

Editorial about the creation of the Irish Free State on December 6, 1921.

Source: The Villanovan, Vol. 6. No. 2, December 1921, p. 19.

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November182011
Letter of introduction for Patrick Hayes, addressed to James & William Perot from Elliston & John Perot, dated November 18, 1814. (From the Independence Seaport Museum’s Barry-Hayes Collection.)

Letter of introduction for Patrick Hayes, addressed to James & William Perot from Elliston & John Perot, dated November 18, 1814.

(From the Independence Seaport Museum’s Barry-Hayes Collection.)

Barry-Hayes Collection Independence Seaport Museum letters today in history letter of introduction 

September142011
Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821) was the first native-born U.S. citizen to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church on September 14, 1975. Read a small collection of her letters in our Digital Library. These letters are owned by the American Catholic Historical Society and maintained at the Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center. The snippet of writing above is from a letter to Joseph M. O’Conway dated July 9, 1814.

Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821) was the first native-born U.S. citizen to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church on September 14, 1975.

Read a small collection of her letters in our Digital Library. These letters are owned by the American Catholic Historical Society and maintained at the Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center.

The snippet of writing above is from a letter to Joseph M. O’Conway dated July 9, 1814.

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June72011
“

My dear Papa,

We have received three letters and the beautiful lava sets since I last wrote. Lizzie and Minnie think they will take the lava sets and leave us those that are to come from Rome. Mama and Minnie have been to New York and while they were there May McCoy made us a visit.

There has been a festival down at Gonzaga Hall for the benefit of our church, and last night there was a theatrical proformance given by Herb Bartley and his company, for the same purpose. Mr O’Hare, the artist, has furnished Grand Pa’s bust and has brought it from Cincinnati. He has come himself to see about its being placed in a good position and a good light. The city is in a dreadful condition; the streets are dug up; the watter has been turned off for two or three days. Tom and two of his classmates are going out rowing twice a week until school is over. Aunt Sue has been starting to Lancaster every day for two weeks but has not gone yet. I must leave some thing for Rachel to tell as she is writing. But I must not close without telling you that Cumpy is well and goes out riding every day in front of Pat and he enjoys it so much

Goodbye, Write soon to your

loving child, Ellie

” Letter, To: “My dear Papa” (William T. Sherman) From: “Ellie Sherman” (Ellie), June 7, 1872.

today in history letters Sherman-Thackara 19th-century life 

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