Schuyler Colfax
A Register of His Correspondence and Speeches in the Library
of Congress
Prepared by Anita Nolen
Revised by Tracey Barton and
Margaret McAleer
Manuscript Division,
Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
2007
Contact information:
http://lcweb.loc.gov/rr/mss/address.html
Finding aid encoded by Library of Congress Manuscript Division,
2007
Finding aid URL: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/eadmss.ms007073
Title: Schuyler Colfax
Correspondence and Speeches
Span Dates: 1837-1882
ID No.: MSS16394
Creator:
Colfax, Schuyler,
1823-1885
Extent: 160 items;
1 container;
0.4 linear feet;
1 microfilm reel
Language: Collection material in
English
Repository:
Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress,
Washington, D.C.
Abstract: Vice president of the
United States, congressman, and newspaper editor. Correspondence and speeches
documenting Colfax's activities as a newspaper editor, his involvement in the
Whig and Republican parties, and his tenure as United States representative
from Indiana and vice president under Ulysses S. Grant.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this
collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped by name of person
or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed
alphabetically therein.
Personal Names
Anthony,
Henry B. (Henry Bowen), 1815-1884--Correspondence.
Colfax,
Schuyler, 1823-1885.
Conkling,
Roscoe, 1829-1888--Correspondence.
Cooke,
Jay, 1821-1905--Correspondence.
Dawes,
Henry L. (Henry Laurens), 1816-1903--Correspondence.
Sherman,
John, 1823-1900--Correspondence.
Sherman,
William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891.
Wheeler,
Alfred--Correspondence.
Organizations
Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )
Whig
Party (U.S.)
Subjects
American
newspapers--Indiana--South Bend.
St. Joseph
Valley register.
Locations
Indiana--Politics and government--19th century.
United
States--Politics and government--19th century.
Washington,
D.C.--History.
Occupations
Newspaper
editors.
Representatives, U.S.
Congress--Indiana.
Vice-Presidents--United States.
Provenance:The correspondence and speeches of Schuyler Colfax, vice president of
the United States, congressman from Indiana, and newspaper editor, were
purchased by the Library of Congress between 1918 and 1936. Additional items
were given by Emanuel Hertz in 1932, Thomas Groom in 1956, and Paul A. Willis
in 1982.
Processing History:The collection was arranged and described in 1968. The finding aid was
revised in 2007.
Copyright Status:The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Schuyler Colfax
is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Microfilm:A microfilm edition of part of this collection is available on one
reel. Consult a reference librarian in the Manuscript Division concerning
availability for purchase or interlibrary loan.
Preferred Citation:Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the
following information: Container or reel number, Schuyler Colfax Correspondence
and Speeches, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
| Date |
Event |
| 1823, Mar. 23 |
Born, New York, N.Y. |
| 1836 |
Moved with family to Indiana |
| 1844 |
Married Evelyn Clark (died 1863)
Purchased an interest in the South Bend, Ind.,
Free Press, changed its name to the
St. Joseph Valley Register, and made it the Whig
organ of northern Indiana
|
| 1855-1869 |
Member, House of Representatives |
| 1868 |
Married Ellen W. Wade |
| 1869-1873 |
Vice president of the United States |
| 1873 |
Implicated in the Credit Mobilier of American scandal |
| 1873-1885 |
Public lecturer |
| 1855, Jan. 13 |
Died, Mankato, Minn. |
The correspondence and speeches of Schuyler Colfax (1823-1885) span
the years 1837-1882. The collection documents Colfax’s ownership and editorship
of the
St. Joseph Valley Register, a Whig newspaper in South
Bend, Indiana; his involvement in Whig and Republican party politics; and his
tenure as United States representative from Indiana and vice president under
Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885).
The correspondence file dates from 1837 to 1882 and includes letters
to and from Colfax. A large part of the correspondence consists of letters
written by Colfax to Alfred Wheeler who assumed editorship of the
St. Joseph Valley Register when Colfax was elected to
Congress in 1855. Colfax’s letters discuss the running of his newspaper, events
in Washington, D.C., and national and state politics. Other correspondents
include Henry B. Anthony, Jay Cooke (1821-1905), Roscoe Conkling (1829-1888),
and Henry L. Dawes. The correspondence is arranged chronologically.
The speech file contains drafts of speeches and lectures given by
Colfax, largely from 1873 to 1882, when he had retired from politics and was
touring the country giving public lectures. The speeches and lectures are
arranged alphabetically by title or topic. Several folders contain compilations
of partial drafts, reflecting Colfax’s practice of reusing portions of earlier
speeches. A facsimile letter from Colfax to John Sherman (1823-1900) concerning
Sherman’s brother William T. Sherman was added as an addition to the collection
in 1982.
This collection is arranged by type of material as correspondence and
speeches.
Available on microfilm. Shelf no. 14,083
| Container |
Contents |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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BOX 1
REEL 1
|
Correspondence,
1837-1882, n.d.
|
|
BOX 1
REEL 1
|
Speeches |
|
BOX 1
REEL 1
|
"Across the Continent,"
n.d.
|
|
BOX 1
REEL 1
|
Commencement address,
n.d.
|
|
BOX 1
REEL 1
|
Fourth of July addresses,
1871, n.d.
|
|
BOX 1
REEL 1
|
"Friendship, Love, and Truth,"
1843
|
|
BOX 1
REEL 1
|
"Green Castle,"
n.d.
|
|
BOX 1
REEL 1
|
"Hard Times, Their Causes and
Cure,"
n.d.
|
|
BOX 1
REEL 1
|
Independent Order of Odd
Fellows
|
|
BOX 1
REEL 1
|
Extract from a speech,
n.d.
|
|
BOX 1
REEL 1
|
Fifty-second anniversary,
n.d.
|
|
BOX 1
REEL 1
|
"On the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows,"
n.d.
See same container, same heading |
|
BOX 1
REEL 1
|
"Landmarks of Life,"
n.d.
|
|
BOX 1
REEL 1
|
Mormons, taken from "Across the
Continent,"
n.d.
|
|
BOX 1
REEL 1
|
Oliver Chilled Plow Co.,
n.d.
|
|
BOX 1
REEL 1
|
"On the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows,"
n.d.
|
|
BOX 1
REEL 1
|
Temperance, two speeches,
n.d.
|
|
BOX 1
REEL 1
|
To the farmers of Pennsylvania,
n.d.
|
|
BOX 1
REEL 1
|
Various drafts,
n.d.
|
|
BOX 1
not filmed
|
Addition, letter from Colfax to
John Sherman (1823-1900),
1868
|
|
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