MVB Papers (DLC)
"The Martin Van Buren Papers, one of twenty-three presidential collections in the Library of Congress Manuscript Division, contains more than 6,000 items dating from 1787 to circa 1910. The bulk of the material dates from the 1820s, when Van Buren (1782-1862) was a U.S. senator from New York, through his service as secretary of state and vice president in the Andrew Jackson administrations (1829-1837), to his own presidency (1837-1841) and through the decade thereafter when he made unsuccessful bids to return to the presidency with the Democratic and Free Soil parties. Included are correspondence, autobiographical materials, notes and other writings, drafts of messages to Congress in 1837 and 1838, and other speeches, legal and estate records, miscellany, and family items.
The collection primarily consists of letters received by Van Buren from other individuals, as well as copies, drafts, transcripts, and photocopies of letters written by him. Correspondents include George Bancroft, Thomas Hart Benton, Francis P. Blair, James Buchanan, law partner Benjamin F. Butler (1795-1858), Churchill C. Cambreleng, John A. Dix, John Fairfield, Azariah Cutting Flagg, Henry D. Gilpin, James Hamilton, Jr., Jesse Hoyt, Charles Jared Ingersoll, Andrew Jackson, Amos Kendall, William L. Marcy, Louis McClane, Richard Elliot Parker, James Kirke Paulding, Joel R. Poinsett, James K. Polk, Thomas Ritchie, William Cabell Rives, Andrew Stevenson, Levi Woodbury, and Silas Wright.
The Calendar of the Papers of Martin Van Buren created by Elizabeth Howard West for the Manuscript Division in 1910 provides a list and index for the general correspondence contained in the original collection up to that date. Some 150 letters received by the Library of Congress after 1910 are not represented in the calendar. These items have been interfiled within Series 2 of the collection. Typescripts of letters can also be found in Series 7, Miscellany. A finding aid to the current Van Buren Papers collection is available online.
Note that this site is limited to the Martin Van Buren Papers collection and does not include all documents by, about, or related to Van Buren in the Library of Congress. The Library’s Manuscript Division holds additional Van Buren-related documents pertaining to his family and his long and varied political career in New York and Washington, as well as his role in evolving party politics in his era. These documents are located in the collections of other individuals, including Andrew Jackson, Andrew Jackson Donelson, James K. Polk, William L. Marcy, William C. Rives, Charlotte Cushman, Duff Green, Reverdy Johnson, Andrew Stevenson, and Nicholas P. Trist, and in the family papers of the Blair, Bancroft-Bliss, Henry Clay, Samuel Smith, and Singleton families."
"This collection of Martin Van Buren Papers is arranged into eight series and oversize. Series 8 of the collection contains the newer additions. These are grouped by the year the addition was received or processed as part of the collection. The bulk of the collection was captured on 35 reels of microfilm, the scans of which comprise the bulk of this online collection. A list of the series follows.
- Series 1, Autobiography, 1854-1862 (Reels 1-3)
- Series 2, General Correspondence, 1787-1868 (Reels 4-34)
- Series 3, Additional Correspondence, 1811-1853 (Reel 34)
- Series 4, Messages, 1837-1838 (Reel 35)
- Series 5, Legal Record Book, 1807-1813 (Reel 35)
- Series 6, Estate Record Book, 1862-1863 (Reel 35)
- Series 7, Miscellany, 1814-1910 (not microfilmed; scanned from originals)
- Series 8, Addenda, 1799-1862 (Reel 36 and not filmed; some scanned from originals)
- Oversize, 1837-1839 (not microfilmed; scanned from originals)"
https://www.loc.gov/collections/martin-van-buren-papers/about-this-colle...
Print DocumentDocuments in this Collection:
I have been solicited to lend my aid in procuring Mr. S. Southwick the appointment of postmaster here. Not knowing a person at Washington. to whom I could write. I suggested the expediency of obtaining your influence, upon which I was desired to write you a line. For what particular purpose I cant say. As I understood you was favorable to the [appoin]tment. I believe Mr. S. would make a very good... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
I should have written you at an earlier day had any thing essentially interesting occurred, since you left Washington. We have never till within a few days been able to ascertain what course would eventually be taken by those in the abstract opposed to Virginia’s giving us another President. You know we entertained strong hopes of bringing them to the support of our Candidate, and no means within... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
I duly received your letter of the 10th Instant.
I called twice at your lodgings before you left Washington but was so unfortunate as not to find you in. One object which rendered me desirous to converse with you was to have obtained your advice on the subject of selecting a Candidate for the next Presidency, another was to have submitted some of my ideas to you respecting the merits of an... Continue Reading
Sender: Jabez Delano Hammond
Recipient: MVB
I received yours of Tuesday last, and should have waited for the arrival of the one you intimated you should soon write, if I did not deem it of importance to call the attention of our friends at Albany to the question of Presidency, without delay.
Our Delegation are likely to fall into an irreconcilable opposition of sentiment, and the probability is that Monroe must from that obtain his... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
You will accept my acknowledgments for your very to me flattering letter of the 13th instant. I hope you have so recovered your health as to be able to resume your seat at Albany, where your presence seems much wanted.
There was last evening a meeting of our Delegation to consider the Resolutions forwarded us from Albany. Much discussion was had, but no question taken. However the main subject of... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
The Presidential question, so far as it may depend on the members of Congress, is undoubtedly, approaching its crisis. A caucus was convened on Tuesday evening last, by an anonymous notice, which was issued very unexpectedly. Nothing was done, but to authorise another caucus. Fifty seven Republican members, were present. Mr. Monroe’s friends are in great consternation. Those, who pretend to... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
The decision was made last evening 65 for Monroe 54 for Crawford, 85 for Tompkins Vice Prest 30 for Snyder.
On Friday evening Monroe’s friends held a meeting & resolved to attend the caucus & prevent a nomination. Accordingly as soon as the meeting was organized Mr. Clay moved a resolution that it was inexpedient at this time to make any nomination. After long discussion the resolution... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
Extract from Dallas report of 19th March 1816
"Although the success of these measures is not in any degree doubted, it may be proper to add that, if it ever shall become necessary to increase their force, provision might be made, under the constitutional power of Congress, to subject all banks and bankers failing to pay their notes according to the terms of the contract, to a seizure of their... Continue Reading
In answer to your letter of yesterday I can only give you rather general information. Our prospects are favorable from every quarter. Increased majorities compared with the last Governor election. In Albany K. has 602 majority. You have 26 less than the other Republican candidates. This shameful under handed attack upon you, you will see has had but very little effect. It is a little difficult at... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
I do not remember why the cause ^of Wheeler^ was put off. They must know that. Wigram is the Witness to the lease & as such is certainly necessary if they will not admit the execution which I presume they will. There has always been great uncertainty as to what the Ptff. claims & I do not suppose that Wms. knows exactly. He has heretofore recovered all the over plus lands & for the... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
The Letter signed by the Chief Justice Mr Cantine & yourself, requesting me to meet Mr T. at Philadelphia on the 12th Inst. was handed to me, by Judge VanNess, on saturday evening.
The situation of my business absolutely forbids my leaving Washington before the 13th on the morning of which day I had made my arrangements to set out for N.York. Today or tomorrow the question of indemnifying the... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
On the 10th. Inst. I addressed a line to Mr Van Buren, acknowledging the favour receipt of your letter of the 3rd, and engaging to meet Mr Tillotson at Philadelphia on the 14th foreseeing, at that time, nothing in the state of my business, which would prevent my leaving Washington this morning. My engagement was not, however, intended to be dependent on any contingency of that sort, for I had... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
Permit me to rejoice for myself & the State, that your indisposition is so far removed as to <permit> suffer you to resume your seat in the Senate, & your attentions to your friends. That I am so flatteringly estimated in that number is peculiarly gratifying to me, as I can see in it evidence of personal respect only, as in my humble sphere to which a few days will now return me,... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
After a frank & friendly communication with our friend General Peter B. Porter relative to a successor to Govr. Tompkins, I am happy to inform you that altho’ he still feels the full force of the objections stated in his letter to you of the 14th int. Yet if such should be the State of things that a majority of the republicans really deem the use of his name in any way essential to the... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
I received this afternoon your favor of the 4th inst. You will have perceived by the public papers, that the information of General Porters consenting to stand as a candidate for the office of Governor, had been already received in this City. I attended the public dinner, given on the 4th in honor of the inauguration of the President and Vice President of the U States. The assemblage consisted of... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
On my return & since I have seen many of my friends both in this County & Onendago, who feel great solicitude on the question of Governor nomination, and I am perfectly satisfied that public opinion in this quarter has undergone a great change since the time I left home. Instead of the hostility to Mr Clinton with which I left them I find rather a desire that he should be nominated. This... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
Genl P. B. Porter arrived here last evening—will be with you on thursday or friday at farthest
He is as firm as the Hills and openly says he will serve if nominated & elected, he scouts the Idea of withdrawing his name, you may quote me for the truth of this. We are uncommonly united in this quarter.
Recipient: MVB
This goodly City is in uproar on the subject of a branch of the U. States bank. I have endeavoured to keep out of the solicitude which the contemplated measure has excited but the suggestion that you would probably consent to accept the situation of Cashier has induced me to take an Interest in the subject. There are two distinct Interests the one headed by your quondam friend Mr. Jenkins the... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Gorham Akin Worth
The undersigned Republican members of the Senate and assembly from the middle district having Witnessed with regret three Republican nominations for the Senate from that district viz Charles E Dudley from the County of Albany, yourself from the County of Otsego & John T. More from the County of Delaware, (while only two Senators are to be chosen) take the liberty of addressing you on the... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
It was not in my power to meet you when in Albany in a way that gave me an opportunity of conversing with you on a subject which, you will readily believe, has some importance with me. I mean my restoration to office, which derives its consequence from the admitted fact that it is in the power of those friends with whom I have acted, to produce this event. The very beleif is suffic^i^ent, to... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
A more ceremonious but less honest friend would detain you by a string of laboured excuses for not writing you before of which probably one half would be founded in fiction. I will do no such thing, you know what a winter is to me & your good sense if accompanyed with good feeling will long since have suggested my Apology & if you have been destitute of the latter which you know is... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Gorham Akin Worth
In forwarding the within, I think it my duty to add, whatever information I can give in relation to the enclosed letter. The writer is the present Attorney General of this state & intimately acquainted with its politicks & its wishes. He has stated truly, that it was accident that first invited the discussion of a change in the office of Collector, that even the chief justice himself was... Continue Reading
I received by the last mail your letter of the 5th. Inst. & join with you in some little degree of surprise at the extraordinary reserve of the President. Tho I have not yet received an answer to my letter still I believed that others had been more fortunate & that some moderation of his Views had escaped him, but from his silence I am compelled to believe that particular reasons have... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
The crisis in my destination has arrived I last evening received a letter from President offering me the place of Secretary of the Navy I have slept one night upon it. Thought upon it during the day. Resolved—doubted—Reresolved and doubted again. Am much in want, of grave, and prudent advisers. The very flattering manner in which the offer is made is very imposing. The only real difficulty in... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
You have received a letter from my friend the C J.; which informes you what is about to happen. This opens to you, in the most inviting manner, the place of Judge if you will accept it. And, will you accept it? It seems to me, in the best view, which I can take of the subject, and estimating as well as I am able, all the circumstances and considerations, which ought to have influence in the... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
That I have been remiss in not writing to you oftener is most true but that you should from thence infer the least change in my affection for you would be most unjust, for if there ever was any subject on which there has been with me neither change nor shadow of turning it has is that of a steady and inflexible friendship & esteem for you & yours. When I found by Mr Olcotts intimation... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Gorham Akin Worth