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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38 Roosevelt Franklin D. (Franklin Delano) 1882-1945. 21 United States Supreme Court. 19 United States -- Appropriations and expenditures. 18 Executive departments -- United States -- Reorganization. 17 Tariff -- United States. 17 United States Congress Senate Committee on the Judiciary. 15 Neutrality -- United States. 15 United States Dept. of Agriculture -- Appropriations and expenditures. 14 Taylor Zachary 1784-1850. 13 Slavery -- United States. 13 United States Supreme Court -- Officials and employees -- Selection and appointment. 12 Executive power -- United States. 12 Washington (D.C.) -- Social life and customs. 11 Democratic Party (U.S.). 11 United States Congress Senate Committee on Military Affairs. 10 Missouri compromise. 10 Taxation -- Law and legislation -- United States. 10 United States Congress -- Constituent communication. 9 Air mail service -- United States. 9 Draft -- Law and legislation -- United States. 9 Lynching -- Law and legislation -- United States. 9 United States -- Defenses -- Law and legislation. 9 United States -- Defenses. 9 United States Army -- Recruiting, enlistment, etc. -- World War, 1939-1945. 9 United States Congress Senate -- Minority leaders. 8 Boardinghouses -- Washington (D.C.). 8 Borah William Edgar 1865-1940. 8 Whig Party (U.S.). 7 Adams John Quincy 1767-1848. 7 Bankruptcy -- Law and legislation -- United States. 7 Federal government -- United States. 7 Railroad law -- United States. 7 United States -- Foreign relations -- 1933-1945. 7 Willkie Wendell L. (Wendell Lewis) 1892-1944. 6 Great Britain -- Treaties, etc. -- United States -- 1842 Aug. 9. 6 Hours of labor -- Law and legislation -- United States. 6 Jackson Robert Houghwout 1892-1954. 6 Republican National Convention (1940 : Philadelphia, Pa.). 6 United States Congress -- Powers and duties. 6 United States Solicitor General. 5 Aiken George D. (George David) 1892-1984. 5 Clay Henry 1777-1852. 5 Commercial treaties -- United States. 5 Debts, Public -- United States. 5 Dueling. 5 Foot Solomon 1802-1866. 5 Hoover Herbert 1874-1964. 5 Jackson Andrew 1767-1845. 5 Kansas -- Politics and government -- 1854-1861. 5 McCarran Pat 1876-1954. 5 Public lands -- United States. 5 Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ). 5 Taft Robert A. (Robert Alphonso) 1889-1953. 5 Tennessee Valley Authority. 5 United States -- Officials and employees -- Political activity. 5 United States Act to Prevent Pernicious Political Activities. 5 United States War Dept. -- Appropriations and expenditures. 4 Agricultural colleges. 4 Block booking. 4 Embargo. 4 Government lending -- United States. 4 Knox Frank 1874-1944. 4 Monetary policy -- United States. 4 Monroe James 1758-1831. 4 Murphy Frank 1890-1949. 4 Norris George W. (George William) 1861-1944. 4 O'Mahoney Joseph C. (Joseph Christopher) 1884-1962. 4 Polk James K. (James Knox) 1795-1849. 4 Seminole War, 1st, 1817-1818. 4 Transportation -- Law and legislation -- United States. 4 United States Congress Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. 4 United States Dept. of Commerce Office of the Secretary. 4 United States Extension Service. 4 United States Navy -- Appropriations and expenditures. 4 United States. 4 Vocational education -- United States. 4 Wheeler Burton K. (Burton Kendall) 1882-1975. 3 Adams Alva Blanchard b. 1875. 3 Agricultural credit -- Law and legislation -- United States. 3 Agricultural laws and legislation -- United States. 3 Barron James 1769-1851. 3 Bridges Styles 1898-1961. 3 Buchanan James 1791-1868. 3 Burke Thomas A. (Thomas Aloysius) 1898-1971. 3 Byrnes James F. (James Francis) 1882-1972. 3 Cabinet officers -- United States. 3 Calhoun John C. (John Caldwell) 1782-1850. 3 Crawford William Harris 1772-1834. 3 Decatur Stephen 1779-1820. 3 Devaluation of currency -- United States. 3 Equal rights amendments -- United States. 3 Executive departments -- United States. 3 Filibusters. 3 Foreign exchange -- United States. 3 Hatch Carl Atwood 1889-1963. 3 Hopkins Harry Lloyd 1890-1946. 3 Hull Cordell 1871-1955. 3 Jackson Andrew 1767-1845 -- Anniversaries. 3 Judicial review of administrative acts. 3 Landon Alfred M. (Alfred Mossman) 1887-1987. 3 Lewis James Hamilton 1863-1939. 3 Library of Congress. 3 Logan Marvel Mills 1875-1939. 3 MacLeish Archibald 1892-. 3 Marsh George Perkins 1801-1882. 3 McNary Charles Linza 1874-1944. 3 Military supplies -- United States. 3 Monopolies -- United States. 3 Railroad travel. 3 Republican National Convention (21st : 1936 : Cleveland, Ohio). 3 Tariff -- United States -- Speeches in Congress. 3 Taxation of bonds, securities, etc. -- United States. 3 Texas -- Annexation to the United States. 3 Tobey Charls W. (Charles William) 1880-1953. 3 United States -- History -- War of 1812 -- Finance. 3 United States Congress House -- Election Districts. 3 United States Congress Senate. 3 United States President (1929-1933 : Hoover). 3 United States Work Projects Administration -- Appropriations and expenditures. 3 Vermont -- Claims vs. United States. 3 Veto -- United States. 3 Walter Francis E. (Francis Eugene) 1894-1963. 3 Washington, D.C. 3 World War, 1939-1945. 2 Agricultural subsidies -- United States. 2 Air travel. 2 Allen Ethan 1738-1789. 2 Ashburton Alexander Baring Baron 1774-1848. 2 Bankhead John Hollis 1872-1946. 2 Brown John 1800-1859. 2 Burlington, Vermont. 2 California. 2 China -- Foreign relations -- United States. 2 Claims -- Drier vs. Germany. 2 Corporation law -- United States. 2 Cotton trade -- United States. 2 Courts -- United States. 2 Davis James J. (James John) 1873-1947. 2 Drier Katherine (McNider) Mrs. 2 Election law -- United States. 2 Elections -- United States -- 1824. 2 Executive-legislative relations. 2 Flood control -- Law and legislation -- United States. 2 Fourth of July celebrations. 2 Frazier Lynn J. (Lynn Joseph) 1874-1947. 2 Gibson Ernest Willard 1872-1940. 2 Gold clause -- United States. 2 Harrison Pat 1881-1941. 2 Holt Rush Dew 1905-1955. 2 Housing -- Law and legislation -- United States. 2 Import quotas. 2 Japan -- Commerce -- United States. 2 Lafayette Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier marquis de 1757-1834. 2 Lee Joshua Bryan 1892-1967. 2 Long Huey Pierce 1893-1935. 2 Military bases -- Law and legislation -- United States. 2 Morrill Justin S. (Justin Smith) 1810-1898. 2 Navy-yards and naval stations -- United States. 2 Neely Matthew Mansfield 1874-1958. 2 Panama Canal (Panama). 2 Phelps Samuel Shethar 1793-1855. 2 Pierce Franklin 1804-1869. 2 Presidential yachts -- United States. 2 Princeton (Steamship). 2 Puerto Rico. 2 Randolph John 1773-1833. 2 Raw materials -- Law and legislation -- United States. 2 Sequoia (Yacht). 2 Silver question. 2 Speeches, addresses, etc., -- American. 2 Stimson Henry Lewis 1867-1950. 2 Strikes and lockouts -- Railroads -- United States. 2 Tariff on wool. 2 Tydings Millard E. (Millard Evelyn) 1890-1961. 2 United States -- Commerce -- Japan. 2 United States -- Commercial treaties -- Japan. 2 United States -- Foreign relations -- China. 2 United States -- Foreign relations. 2 United States -- Trafiff Act of 1930. 2 United States Agricultural Adjustment Administration. 2 United States Attorney-General. 2 United States Congress -- Rules and practice. 2 United States Congress -- Salaries, etc. 2 United States Congress Conference Committees. 2 United States Interstate Commerce Commission. 2 United States National Guard. 2 United States Navy. 2 United States Patent and Trademark Office. 2 United States Post Office Dept. -- Appropriations and expenditures. 2 United States War Dept. 2 United States. Congress (77th, 1st session : 1941-1942). 2 Vandenberg Arthur H. (Arthur Hendrick) 1884-1951. 2 Webster Daniel 1782-1852. 2 Wool -- Labeling -- Law and legislation -- United States. 2 World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- France. 1 Aberdeen Proving Ground (Md.). 1 Administrative courts -- United States. 1 Aeronautics -- Law and legislation -- United States. 1 Aeronautics -- United States. 1 Aeronautics -- Vermont. 1 Aeronautics, Military -- United States. 1 Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- United States. 1 Air pilots -- United States. 1 Alcohol -- Law and legislation -- United States. 1 Amistad (Schooner). 1 Angary, Right of. 1 Antislavery movements -- United States. 1 Ashurst Henry Fountain 1874-1962. 1 Austin Warren Robinson 1877-1962. 1 Bankruptcy -- United States. 1 Banks Nathaniel Prentiss 1816-1894. 1 Barkley Alben William 1877-1956. 1 Berrien John MacPherson 1781-1856. 1 Bilbo Theodore Gilmore 1877-1947. 1 Billings Frederick 1823-1890. 1 Bingham Hiram 1875-1956. 1 Birth control -- Law and legislation -- United States. 1 Black Hugo LaFayette 1886-1971. 1 Blaine John J. (John James) 1875-1934. 1 Bliss Robert Woods 1875-1962. 1 Bonds -- Law and legislation -- United States. 1 Borah William Edgar 1865-1940 -- Death and burial. 1 Borrowing and lending -- Law and legislation -- United States. 1 Bounties, Military -- United States. 1 Brown Jacob 1775-1828. 1 Budget -- United States. 1 Burwell William A. (William Armisted) 1780-1821. 1 Byron George Gordon Byron Baron 1788-1824. 1 Chipman John Smith 1800-1869. 1 Christy Howard Chandler 1873-1952. 1 Citizenship -- United States. 1 Civil service -- United States. 1 Civil service. 1 Clark Bennett Champ 1890-1954. 1 Clark Charles Edward 1889-1963. 1 Clark Clarence D. (Clarence Don). 1 Cleveland (Ohio). 1 Coast defenses -- United States. 1 Connally Tom 1877-1963. 1 Cookman George G. (George Grimston) 1800-1841. 1 Cuban question -- To 1895. 1 Defense contracts -- United States. 1 Defense industries -- United States. 1 Dewey Thomas E. (Thomas Edmund) 1902-1971. 1 Dixon James 1814-1873. 1 Douglas Stephen Arnold 1813-1861. 1 Douglas William O. (William Orville) 1898-1980. 1 Downey Sheridan 1884-1961. 1 Economic sanctions, American. 1 Edwards Henry W. (Henry Waggaman) 1779-1847. 1 Election -- United States -- 1940. 1 Elections -- Florida -- 1938. 1 Elections -- United States -- 1936. 1 Ellender Allen Joseph 1890-1972. 1 Employers' liability -- United States. 1 Europe. 1 Evans Josiah J. (Josiah James) 1786-1858. 1 Export-Import Bank of the United States. 1 Farm mortgages -- United States. 1 Fort Adams (R.I. : Fort). 1 Frankfurter Felix 1882-1965. 1 Gallatin A. E. (Albert Eugene) 1881-1952. 1 Garner John Nance 1868-1967. 1 Germany -- Foreign relations -- United States. 1 Gerry Peter Goelet 1879-1957. 1 Giddings Joshua R. (Joshua Reed) 1795-1864. 1 Gilmer Thomas W. (Thomas Walker) 1802-1844. 1 Glass Carter 1858-1946. 1 Gold -- Law and legislation -- United States. 1 Government travel -- Washington (D.C.). 1 Government travel. 1 Great Britain Embassy (U.S.). 1 Greece -- History -- War of Independence, 1821-1829. 1 Green Willis. 1 Greene Frank L. (Frank Lester) 1870-1930. 1 Guffey Joseph F 1870-1959. 1 Habsburg Otto 1912-. 1 Henderson John 1795-1857. 1 Hitler Adolf 1889-1945. 1 Holmes Edwin Ruthven 1878-. 1 Hopkins, Harry Lloyd, 1890-1946. 1 Housing -- United States. 1 Hughes Charles Evans 1862-1948. 1 Influenza. 1 Insurance, Unemployment -- United States. 1 Johnson Edwin Carl 1884-1970. 1 Johnson Hiram 1866-1945. 1 Judges -- Selection and appointment -- United States. 1 Kantakuzen Julia Grant kniagini︠a︡. 1 Kennon Beverley 1793-1844. 1 La Follette Robert M. (Robert Marion) 1895-1953. 1 Livermore Arthur 1766-1853. 1 Lynching -- Speeches in Congress. 1 Maple sugar. 1 Marble -- Vermont. 1 Mason Armistead Thompson 1787-1819. 1 McCarty John M. (John Mason) d. 1852. 1 McDuffie George 1790-1851. 1 McReynolds James Clark 1862-1946. 1 Meacham James 1810-1856. 1 Media -- Political aspects -- United States. 1 Merchant ships -- United States. 1 Metcalf Jesse Houghton 1860-1942. 1 Mexican War, 1846-1848. 1 Military pensions -- United States -- World War, 1914-1918. 1 Military pensions -- United States. 1 Military weapons. 1 Milk trade. 1 Mumford George d. 1818. 1 Naturalization -- United States. 1 New Deal, 1933-1939. 1 New Orleans -- Battle of, New Orleans, La., 1815. 1 Nye Gerald Prentice 1892-1971. 1 Old Senate Chamber (United States Capitol, Washington, D.C.). 1 Oregon question. 1 Paine Charles 1799-1853. 1 Palmer William Adams 1781-1860. 1 Panama -- Foreign relations -- United States. 1 Panay (Gunboat : PR-5). 1 Partridge Alden 1785-1854. 1 Peace. 1 Pepper Claude 1900-1989. 1 Phelps Elisha 1779-1847. 1 Philippines -- Politics and government -- 1898-1935. 1 Pitkin Timothy 1766-1847. 1 Pittman Key 1872-1940. 1 Plumley Charles Albert 1875-1964. 1 Political corruption -- United States. 1 Polk Sarah Childress 1803-1891. 1 Pope James Pinckney 1884-1966. 1 Post office buildings -- Vermont -- Barnard. 1 Postmasters general. 1 Powers, Hiram, 1805-1873. Greek slave. 1 Presidents -- United States -- Election -- 1932. 1 Presidents -- United States -- Election -- 1940. 1 Presidents -- United States -- Nomination. 1 Primaries -- Iowa -- 1938. 1 Primaries -- Wisconsin -- 1940. 1 Proctor Redfield 1879-. 1 Public buildings -- Washington (D.C.). 1 Railroads -- Salaries, pensions, etc. -- United States. 1 Railroads -- United States -- Economic conditions. 1 Rayburn Sam 1882-1961. 1 Receivership. 1 Reed Stanley Forman 1884-1980. 1 Revenue -- United States. 1 Rich Charles 1771-1824. 1 Ritter Halsted L. (Halsted Lockwood) b. 1868. 1 Robinson Joseph Taylor 1872-1937. 1 Roosevelt Eleanor 1884-1962. 1 Roosevelt Franklin D. (Franklin Delano) 1882-1945 -- Inauguration. 1 Sargent John G. (John Garibaldi) 1860-1939. 1 Scott Winfield 1786-1866. 1 Securities, Tax-exempt -- Law and legislation -- United States. 1 Sequoia Yacht. 1 Sheppard Morris 1875-1941. 1 Sherwood Samuel Burr. 1 Slave trade -- Africa. 1 Slavery -- Florida. 1 Smith John Gregory 1818-1891. 1 Social security -- Law and legislation. 1 Soldiers -- Vermont. 1 Somoza Anastasio 1925-1980. 1 Southard Samuel L. (Samuel Lewis) 1787-1842. 1 Southey Robert 1774-1843 -- Vision of judgement. 1 Spain -- Foreign relations -- United States. 1 Speeches, addresses, etc., American. 1 Stassen Harold Edward 1907-. 1 Stevens James 1768-1835. 1 Strategic materials -- Law and legislation -- United States. 1 Taylor William 1788-1846. 1 Term limits (Public office) -- United States. 1 Thomas Jefferson Memorial (Washington D.C.). 1 Thomas William Aubrey 1866-1951. 1 Thompson Jacob 1810-1885. 1 Townsend John G 1871-1964. 1 United States -- Economic conditions -- 1918-1945. 1 United States -- Economic policy -- 1933-1945. 1 United States -- Foreign relations -- Germany. 1 United States -- Foreign relations -- Panama. 1 United States -- Foreign relations -- Spain. 1 United States -- History -- Civil War -- 1861-1865. 1 United States Armed Forces. 1 United States Civil Aeronautics Authority Air Safety Board. 1 United States Congress -- Elections. 1 United States Congress -- House Buildings. 1 United States Congress Committee on the Public Lands. 1 United States Congress House -- Election districts. 1 United States Congress House -- Speakers. 1 United States Congress House Committee on Military Affairs. 1 United States Congress House Committee on the Territories. 1 United States Congress Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry. 1 United States Court of Appeals (District of Columbia Circuit). 1 United States Court of Claims -- Officials and employees -- Selection and appointment. 1 United States Declaration of Independence. 1 United States Department of the Treasury. 1 United States Dept. of the Treasury -- Appropriations and expenditures. 1 United States Dept. of the Treasury Office of the Secretary. 1 United States Dept. of the Treasury. 1 United States Food and Drug Administration. 1 United States General Accounting Office. 1 United States National Labor Relations Board. 1 United States Naval Academy. 1 United States Navy Department. 1 United States Office of Indian Affairs -- Appropriations and expenditures. 1 United States Pension Bureau. 1 United States Post Office Department. 1 United States War Department. 1 United States Works Progress Administration. 1 Upshur A. P. (Abel Parker) 1790-1844. 1 Vermont State House (Montpelier, Vt.). 1 Wages -- Law and legislation -- United States. 1 Wagner Robert F. (Robert Ferdinand) 1877-1953. 1 Wallace Henry Agard 1888-1965. 1 Walsh David I. (David Ignatius) 1872-1947. 1 Washington George 1732-1799. 1 Water -- Pollution -- United States. 1 West Virginia. 1 White House (Washington, D.C.). 1 Wickliffe C. A. (Charles Anderson) 1788-1869. 1 Woodring Harry Hines 1887-1967. 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. 1 World War, 1939-1945 -- Pacific Area. 1 Yosemite.
Miniature of Letter to Mary N. Collamer, December 20, 1857
Letter to Mary N. Collamer, December 20, 1857
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    • Creator: Collamer, Jacob, 1791-1865.
    • Description: Topics include Judiciary Committee business; National Labor Relations Board; Anti-Lynching Bill; Conference Report on Farm Bill.
    • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
    Miniature of Letter to William Collamer, January 24, 1848
    Letter to William Collamer, January 24, 1848
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      • Creator: Collamer, Jacob, 1791-1865.
      • Description: Topics include Senator Byrnes (SC) speech on the Reorganization Bill; Anti-Lynching Bill debate and Senator Tom Connally (TX).
      • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
      Miniature of Letter to Mary N. Collamer, June 26, 1856
      Letter to Mary N. Collamer, June 26, 1856
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        • Creator: Collamer, Jacob, 1791-1865.
        • Description: Topics include farm bill and the absence of New England Senators on the Agricultural Committee.
        • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
        Miniature of Letter to Mary N. Collamer, December 3, 1848
        Letter to Mary N. Collamer, December 3, 1848
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          • Creator: Collamer, Jacob, 1791-1865.
          • Description: Topics include farm bill.
          • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
          Miniature of Letter to Mary Collamer, January 14 1844
          Letter to Mary Collamer, January 14 1844
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            • Creator: Collamer, Jacob, 1791-1865.
            • Description: Topics include Court Bill hearings in the Judiciary Committee.
            • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
            Miniature of Letter to Samuel P. Crafts, November 19, 1820
            Letter to Samuel P. Crafts, November 19, 1820
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              • Creator: Crafts, Samuel Chandler, 1768-1853.
              • Description: Topics include Roosevelt in the boat Seqouia on the Potomac; Senator Metcalf's boat Felicia on the Potomac; Fort Washington; impeachment trial of Judge Lauderbach.
              • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
              Miniature of Letter to Benjamin Clark, February 21, 1818
              Letter to Benjamin Clark, February 21, 1818
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                • Creator: Crafts, Samuel Chandler, 1768-1853.
                • Description: Topics include Memorial to Senator Greene; political speeches; inefficiency of the Senate.
                • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
                Miniature of Letter to Mary N. Collamer, December 26, 1858
                Letter to Mary N. Collamer, December 26, 1858
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                  • Creator: Collamer, Jacob, 1791-1865.
                  • Description: Topics include debate on the Bill to Reorganize the Government and a speech on the Bill by Senator Wheeler (MT).
                  • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
                  Miniature of Letter to Mary N. Collamer, December 12, 1858
                  Letter to Mary N. Collamer, December 12, 1858
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                    • Creator: Collamer, Jacob, 1791-1865.
                    • Description: Topics include Austin's changing of his seat in the Senate, with a diagram; lack of Republicans in the Senate; filibuster of Anti-Lynching Bill.
                    • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress
                    Miniature of Warren R. Austin letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, December 12, 1931
                    Warren R. Austin letter to Mrs. C.G. (Ann) Austin, December 12, 1931
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                      • Creator: Austin, Warren Robinson, 1877-1962.
                      • Description: Topics include debate over vacant West Virginia seat in the Senate.
                      • Parent Collections: Letters Home From Congress