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:
The republican members of the legislature, at the close of the last session, announced to their constituents their firm conviction that ^you their conviction that the prosperity of the republican pary and so^ the welfare of the state required a change of the Chief Magistrate. Subsequent events have proved the correctness of this opinion and enforced the expediency of this measure. While a doubt... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: New York Assembly
The undersigned inhabitants of the Village of Little Falls & its vicinity in the County of Herkimer Republicans attached from principle to the administration of the general Government, beg leave to represent that it is an opinion we have entertained, that the offices of the general government, should be distributed amongst its friends and we would farther represent in relation to the Post... Continue Reading
To the Honabe. Return J Meigs Esquire Postmaster General of the United States the undersigned Inhabitants of the county of Herkimer in the state of Newyork, Respectfully represent that David Holt Esquire Postmaster in the Village of Herkimer in said County has for a long time past, but more particularly previous to and during the late political contest in which we have been engaged, distinguished... Continue Reading
At a county convention composed of five Republican delegates elected and chosen by and from each of the fifteen Towns in the county of Herkimer and State of Newyork held at the public Inn of Benjamin Kelsey in the village and town of Herkimer on the 30th day of October 1820, of which the Honabl. John Herkimer was chairman and Abijah Mann Junior Secretary
It was unanimously Resolved that a due... Continue Reading
Leonidas on the subject of the Chief note from "Chief Justice" Spencer.
It gives Leonidas no pleasure to bring ^connect^ the name of the chief justice before the public and on subject his conduct to animadversion ^connected with the party politics of the day.^ Whatever may be thought by those who are incapable of separating political opposition from personal hostility, it would give him more... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Mr Martin V. B. being overwhelmed in business and up to his neck and ears, in politics as the saying is, this afternoon directed me to write to you in his name, and allege as his reason for the substitution, the pressure of his multifarious affairs, and at the same time give you all the news—real, personal & mixed—civil, criminal and political. As I mean to be true to an old rule, stick to... Continue Reading
The friends of the Vice President deem the publication of the correspondence I have refered to important but feel a delicacy about publishing it ^to permit its publication without yo^ without your consent. To meet the event circumstance of your not having the letters in your possession I take the liberty of enclosing copies which have ben taken from the V.P. letter book. I am fully aware Sir of... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: James Madison
"1st. A memoir dated 6th March 1812 from Genl Hull to Secretary of Warr
"2. a Letter dated Feby 12th 1814 from D Parker to Genl Hull
"3. Capt Charles Stewarts Deposition
"4 X 5. Letters from Genl Hall to Genl Hull august 4th 1812
"6. Letter from P B Porter to Genl Hull same date
"7. Dr Sylvester Days afft.
"8. David Stones afft.
"9. James Witherills Interrogatories & answers
"10 Inte[... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
You will have seen the result of our labours before this reaches you. Although not as well as could be wished, we have perhaps done as well as could have been expected under existing circumstances. The Divorce Bill will pass at the next session that is if I am right in believing that the people desire it; & of that I have no doubt. I think I see my way quite clear through the difficulties... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Andrew Jackson
I cheerfully fulfil the promise I made to you in our last conversation to to state frankly and unreservedly what I beleive to be the state of public opinion in regard to the administration of Mr Van Buren among the Democracy of Pennsylvania. I have recently as you are aware visited various quarters of the State and seen and conversed with leading democrats from at least two thirds of the counties... Continue Reading
Sender: Unknown
I wrote you lately by Mr. Jacob Vanness upon the very subject which I afterwards did, ^receive^ & before had, received a communication from you upon. I hope you have received this letter [. . .]as you are doubtless as we supposed now at N. York. I will not for a single moment suppose that you doubt my attachment to you: but I declare most solemnly to you that with all my warmth of feelings... Continue Reading
Sender: John Peter Van Ness
Recipient: MVB
Van Alen & Van Buren
Debts Due from Abrm J. Van Alstyne Junr.—
$188..19
Philo Mallet on Penal Bill—
55..0
Henry Head
9.0
Van <Vlecks>—
37.0
Vn Dyck—
10.50
Olaw—
27.00
<Pugsly>—
3.00
Heads—
12.50
<Sitzer>—
2.50
Staats—
56.00
<Lippet>—
59.13
Ingersol—
37.77
Wyngant—
775.14
Cooper—
140.0... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Subscribers names
Bond note or otherwise
To whom payable
Date
principal
Indorsement
Interest till 1st Jany 1809
Total amount
John Van Alen
Note
Martin Van Buren
Dect. 2: 1808
$252.50
none.
$1.38
253,, 88
Elisha Williams
"
ditto
Octr. 27. 1807
25.80
do
2.12
27 92
DGardenier & Jno Vosburgh
"
do & Jas. Van Alen
Decr 5. 1805
30.00
do
6.25
36.25
Martin Gardner
"
ditto
Novr. 18... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
The Proprietors of the Great Possession
To MVBuren Dr.
1804
Septr—
To <trying> the cause agt. Berger
<Hauyet> at Hugh Bain ^William De <Kois>^—
$06..00
To going to Hudson to consult Williams—
4.00
1805
To attending to the Resum of cause—
1..50
To Cash for postage—
1.06
To 1 Day attendance on premises—
2..00... Continue Reading
Sender: Unknown
Recipient: MVB
Statement of Demands arising from the Great possession causes
M.V.Buren Account—
$186..78
Cost in the Suit agt. Margaret
<Seissam>—
149.42
Do. Pulver adm Jackson an
<der> V Slyck—
50.84
Van Alen & VBuren
Costs agt. Reuben Bulson
147.16
The Same v Elijah <Stan>—
78.39
The Same v. Joel Bukwith
138.61
The Same... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
I have to acknowledge the reciept of your note of this morning
The original publication to which you allude made on the eve of the last election issued without my knowledge & during my absence from Town. The agency that I have had in the affair was not only subsequent to the first publication against you but subsequent to your reply
As to the conduct of your Deputies it is unnecessary & (... Continue Reading
Recipient: John C. Hogeboom
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your note of this morning and hasten to give you the ^some^ explanation in my power, the original publications made on the eve of the last election issued without my knowledge and during my absence from Town, <Those> Agency that I have had in the affair was not only subject ^subsequent^ to the first publication against you but subsequent to... Continue Reading
Recipient: John C. Hogeboom
You recollect p must perfectly recollect two publications which were made in the northern Wig & hand Bills impeaching my official conduct in the Charging of Fees on Writs & Executions, against the Immediate authors publishers of those the charges I have instituted Suits and of course explanations with them made are superfluous, but this not being the case with you, Sir, I feel it who if... Continue Reading
Sender: John C. Hogeboom
Return of Ordance Military Stores and Laboratory Tools &c. &c. Disposition at Fort Detroit Under the Command of Captain John Whistler from the 31st. of March 1812. to the 30th June 1812.
Iron Ordnance
On hand
24 pounders Mounted
3
24 Do. Dismounted
6
12 Do. Mounted
4
12 Do. Dismounted
4
9 Do. Mounted
4
9 Do. Dismounted
1
6 Do. Mounted
3
6 Do. Dismounted
"
Brass... Continue Reading
Notice
Wit The Witnesses subpoenaed summoned to attend the trial of Brigadier Genl. William Hull are informed that the Court will meet at the Capital in this city on on Wednesday the 12th. Instant at ten oClock A. M. and those who are summoned on the part of the U. States are requested to report themselves to Major Philip S Parker No. [intentionally blank] Lyon Street.
Sender: MVB
Colonel Miller
Will testify to the transaction of the campaign generally.
Captn Brown
Was a member of several councils, he also particularly observed the personal conduct of the General on the morning of the 16th. Augt.
Capt Burton
Will testify to the fact of the troops being crowded into the fort before the capitulation was agreed upon
Capt Fuller— Ditto & that the British were in column on ... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Having ben very recently appointed special Judge advocate for the trial of Genl. Hull and no officer of any very considerable rank or Information in the North Western army having as yet arrived in this City, I am considerably embarrased in making the arrangements preparatory to the trial.
For the purpose of With a view to the p arrival of the Witnesses & for the purpose of enabling me to make... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Order of Testimony
I. Charge Treason
Ist. Witnesses to from the previous connection of Genl. Hull with the Inhabitants of Canada, his passage from Detroit to fort George in the queen Charlotte & his communication on Board & any other part shewing an illicit intercourse & intimacy with the enemy.
B. 2nd. To prove the hiring of the vessel at the Rapids & putting the trunk of... Continue Reading
I Treason.
A. 1. Witnesses to prove the previous connection of Genl Hull with the inhabitants of Canada; his passage from Detroit to Fort-George in the Queen Charlotte, & his conversations on board; with any other facts, shewing an illicit intercourse and intimacy with the Enemy.
B. 2. Witnesses to prove the hiring of the vessel at the Rapids &, putting the Trunk of papers on board; the... Continue Reading
The United States}
vs.}
William Hull}
Abbreviation of Charges
& Specifications
Ist. Charge
Treason agt. the U. States between the 9th. of April & 17th. of August 1812
First Specification
1. The sending the Boat & papers 1st. July 1812 from Rapid to Detroit.
Second Specification
I. The abandonment of Sandwich a post necessary to the reduction of Malden.
2d. A... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
I Received a Letter from you sometime ago upon the subject of the ensuing election, but have been prevented by absence from home from answering it.
The Sentiments of liberality and magnanimity which it contains are such as from a knowledge of your Character and ^the^ qualities of your heart I had a right to expect and did expect. Feeling Possessed of strong personal prejudices for Mr. Burr and... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB