Today's DAR
Much has been written in this blog over the years regarding the DAR Americana Collection. We’ve learned, for example, that it contains more than 4,100 accessions, the collecting focus is on life in the United States pre-1830, and it houses some very special and rare materials. Today, we thought we’d highlight a “Top 10” list of sorts from among the manuscripts. Because the entire collection is amazing, any attempt at identifying a Top 10 list is highly subjective; however, we managed to narrow the choices to ten remarkable treasures. Here they are, in no particular order.
Tales From the Archives: Treasures of the Americana Collection
The Signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Signers of the Constitution Collections
DAR is fortunate to own complete collections of the signatures of the signers of these two founding documents. The example here from the Declaration of Independence is this letter from Thomas Jefferson to Gideon Granger asking Granger to serve as Jefferson’s Postmaster General. (acc. 1050) The Constitution signers are represented by this beautiful letter from George Washington to Jedidiah Huntington on the occasion of Huntington’s retirement from the army. (acc. 3361)
It is believed that many Signers of the Declaration of Independence collections around the world would be complete but for the rare Button Gwinnett signature. Gwinnett was killed in a duel not long after the Declaration was signed and few examples of his signature remain extant. DAR is most fortunate to possess an excellent example of Gwinnett’s signature on this September 3, 1761, document as a Subscriber of the Charity School of Wolverhampton, concerning the apprenticeship of his ward, Charles Povey, to a buckle maker (acc. 4046) (see header image).
Abraham Lincoln Autograph Book
We love this autograph book featuring the signatures of Abraham Lincoln and members of his cabinet, but its provenance remains a mystery to us. The book is undated, but the names of some of the cabinet members combined with the autographs of some members of Congress and other politicians on following pages make it likely the autograph book dates to circa 1864. (acc. 3213)
The Captain Elisha Hinman Papers
The Captain Elisha Hinman papers are a treasure trove detailing Hinman’s life at sea. In August 1776, he was appointed along with John Paul Jones and 22 others as one of the first Captains in the U.S. Navy. He successfully commanded a series of larger and larger ships until he was captured and imprisoned in England. Upon his escape and return to America, Hinman was honorably acquitted for the loss of his ship. President John Adams offered him command of the USS Constitution in 1794, but Hinman’s advanced age compelled him to decline. (acc. 2539)
The Bound Foreign Dignitaries Collection
The bound Foreign Dignitaries Collection, given to DAR by Flora A. Walker in 1921, includes signatures and manuscripts representing every global power during the American Revolution including Louis XVI of France, George III of England, and Christian VII of Denmark. The example shown here includes a portrait and signature of Catherine the Great of Russia. (acc. 1750x-04)
British Loyalist Letters
A collection of six letters related to British Loyalist activities in and around present-day Hoboken, NY, was acquired by DAR at auction several years ago. The letters reveal intrigues of people being ordered from their homes and seeking either legal or practical assistance and shed light on the “other side” of the conflict between the Americans and the British Crown. This May 14, 1783, letter from Thomas Knox to William Bayard asks if any “outrage has been committed” against Loyalists in the area. (acc. 4133a)
General Henry Knox Collection
Thirty-two manuscript items pertaining to Revolutionary War General Henry Knox and his family were acquired at auction for the Americana Collection in 2007. The items consist of 30 letters, one Henry Knox signature clipping, and a multiple-page autobiographical manuscript written by Knox’s daughter Lucy Knox Thatcher. The correspondence includes letters between Knox and his wife Lucy, sister Hannah, brother William, and daughters Lucy and Caroline. Pictured is the front page of Lucy Knox Thatcher’s autobiography titled “Reminiscences.” (acc. 4098q)
James Anderson’s Account Book
Pictured here is a page from James Anderson’s account book. Anderson was a blacksmith who supplied material for the Virginia Navy Board. The volume mentions details regarding a number of ships. The area under consideration covers the Chickahominy River and shipyard in Virginia during 1772 and 1778-1780. (acc. 3327)
The Smith Family Papers
The Smith Family papers contain dozens of pages of correspondence consisting primarily of letters from Stanley Gaines, Orderly Sergeant, Company K, 7th Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, and other Union soldiers to Richard Smith of Morris County, New Jersey. In this April 14, 1863, letter to Smith, Gaines wrote: “I suppose you know President Lincoln and wife have been down here and reviewed us. I knew Old Abe was homely, but he took down all my former impressions this time. He was very thin and careworn. …Mrs. Lincoln was a very pleasant looking lady, we are not competent to judge of a lady’s beauty down here, as everything that wears crinoline looks splendid in our eyes.” (acc. 3788u)
George Walton Manuscript Copybook
This manuscript copybook was kept as a journal between 1773 and 1777 by George Walton, a sea captain and active Quaker. The volume includes copies of letters, prayers, poetry, accounts of dreams, references to the Quaker religion and Quaker meetings held in Virginia, and Walton's anti-slavery attitudes, as well as mention of occasional Revolutionary War activities, especially in Massachusetts. (acc. 3988)
This list, of course, is just the tip of the iceberg. We thank you for your interest in the Americana Collection and invite you to learn more about the collection and its history at www.dar.org/archives. Please see also our online exhibits at www.dar.org/archives/online-exhibitions.
