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:
Your letter with that of Mr Ulshoeffer was recd. by due course of mail. I had previously received the same account of the getting up of the Patriot, and a copy of the conditions, or articles to which he had verbally agreed, before his endorsement. His course might break him down, if there is as much intelligence and virtue among the people as I presume there is.
Well! Mr. Thompson is at last... Continue Reading
Sender: William Harris Crawford
Recipient: MVB
Considerations of duty to myself, as well as a desire to be perfectly frank with you, lead me to write this letter; and I hope that you will, on your part be equally frank towards me.
Since the period of my removal from the State of Newyork, I have supposed that there existed not only a good understanding, but a mutual friendship between us. That we have constantly been, my feelings I can... Continue Reading
Sender: Cornelius Peter Van Ness
Recipient: MVB
On my return from the springs on a visit of two weeks I found your letter of the 1st. & hasten to reply to it. The efforts which have been made for the last six months to create ^to^ excitement on you part ^agt me^ have doubtless been made with ^proceeded from^ sinister views ^motives^ & ^been made^ with an eye to the Presidential election. In I think ^think I^ could name the man in your... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Cornelius Peter Van Ness
Your letter of the 15th in answer to mine of the 1st instant, was received last evening.
The first intimation I had of your being unfriendly to me came to a friend of mine from a person who is unfriendly to me, and was predicated upon a conversation said to have taken place in the Senate Chamber last winter. To this I paid no attention. The next information was communicated to a friend of mine... Continue Reading
Sender: Cornelius Peter Van Ness
Recipient: MVB
Little did I dream when I left Albany, latter end of July, that I should have been here, Where I am, latter end of Septem! but dreaming or waking so it is! the first near three weeks, I was quite sick at Tappan, Balls. of the time I have passed at the New Jersey Watering places, at Baltimore & in Philadelpgia, much of it in the company of Ladies, One I have been particularly Attentive to,... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
Your [kin]d letter of the 13th [in]st. was duly recvd. And I assure you it afforded me a deal of pleasure, inasmuch as it served to shew that your friendship for me, which I highly prize was in no way diminished on account of the difference of opinion we entertained respecting the presidential question. This difference of opinion is not however so great as you may imagine, and which may have... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
Yours of the 3d was not recd. until the 10th inst. and aiding to the bad regulation of the mails to this place, my letter will probably not reach you until the 18th or 20th: and you will be in possession of all the returns before that time.
A federalist of the ald school is elected in Franklin. Mr. Winslow, a rep. is elected in St. Lawrence, unpledged. Maj. Linch, a rep. is elected without... Continue Reading
Sender: Azariah Cutting Flagg
Recipient: MVB
Two measures seem now to engross the attention of all political men in this state at this time viz. The nomination at Washington and the election of the presidential electors by the people. About the latter I think there is no difference of opinion among the enlightend republicans. If they could have it as they wish they would not change the existing mode but some timid men who wish well to the... Continue Reading
Sender: William Learned Marcy
Recipient: MVB
I recd. your favr. of the 22 Inst. enclosing the copy of the letter from Harrisburgh, with the necessary grains of allowance for the zeal of the author. It proves sufficient to satisfy every one of the soundness of Pennsylvania. Keyes arrived here on Saturday last & Flagg yesterday. Goodell is in town but I have not yet seen him. Keyes & Flagg are perfectly <orthodox> on all points... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
Things are coming to points. Calhoun is on the eve of retiring in favour of Genl. Jackson. From a great variety of circusmtances I am well satisfied myself that if Nyork does not repeal the electoral law & supports the caucus which has been held by her recommendation Mr Clay will retire & his friends will support Mr Crawford. Calhoun retires because his friends know he cannot &... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Benjamin Franklin Butler
I have red. your letter—for which I thank you & will notice its contents hereafter. For the present I wish to state to you a matter in which you may perhaps be of service to me. Letters from Albany this day received announce to me a desertion as unexpected as disgusting. When I first treated with Mr. Buel for the purchase of the Argus establishment I was induced to make it a point that Mr... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Gorham Akin Worth
I am so much pleased with your Legislative address that I send you the enclosed that you may see how it took in a foreign print. The Intelligencer is so crowded that it is not [pos]sible to get any thing in it but Speeches. You will see that Edwds has again attacked Mr Crawford. Our friends need not fear that he will suffer by any thing that his enemies can do agt. him. If ever there was a... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Benjamin Franklin Butler
I have assertained that “Tom” a black man who you purchaised of <Fesburgh> & who quit you some 10 years since is now in the neighbourhood of Worcester Ms. There is yet some time before he is free as he is of that class which will be free July 4th 1827. He was when young a slave of my father and I think I can induce him to be of some service to me if own him. I therefore take the liberty... Continue Reading
Sender: Alonzo G. Hammond
Recipient: MVB
I owe you many apologies for seeming in attention to your constant kindness. The truth is I have had nothing agreeable or interesting to write. I did not apply to the Chancellor (Kent) as you desired, because I ascertained the day I recd. your letter that he had positively determined to take the course he has. He will see the day when he will regret it. Mr Crawford is substantially well. You... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Benjamin Franklin Butler
Now, as heretofore, I will not suffer the warm current of my friendship for you to be checked by the character & kind of your associate#. If I can be of any service in the affair you allude to It will give me pleasure to be so; though I thereby necessarily serve the bitterest enemy I, probably, have in the world. The course is a petition to congress, setting forth the case with documents.... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Gorham Akin Worth
Make use of the information of contained in this letter if useful (to yourself it will be a guide) but do not mention names. Varplanck yesterday in presence of my wife said Well Adams is a Clintonian I have received a letter from Washington informing me that Adams was in favor of Spencer. That In this state the Contest was between Mr Clinton & Mr Van Buren & his friends from the latter he... Continue Reading
Sender: James Alexander Hamilton
Recipient: MVB
I do not know why I should not (following the example of one of our Ga newspapers in which it is always done) derange the letters of your name & make you neighbor to the great Bean, since you, (misled by such examples) take the liberty to stick an e to the end of my name. I have no e, to my name as I beg ^you^ to understand & remember, if you do not wish me to mangle your patronymic most... Continue Reading
Sender: John Forsyth Sr.
Recipient: MVB
Your letter found me in my bed, from which, I assure you, I have risen with some difficulty. My exposure in the trial of a canal cause, in the lower part of the county, brought on a violent cold, accompanied with chills & fevers, and for the first time in six years, I had a violent bilious attack. I have happily survived it however, and hope now to live to fight an other day.
We all regretted... Continue Reading
Sender: Louis McLane
Recipient: MVB
I have not been able sooner to make the communication, nor is the measure absolutely settled, that the mission to G. Britain has been offered to me, and that it is probable I may accept it. At present I mention the same to you without wishing to be quoted
Sender: Rufus King
Recipient: MVB
I [rec]d. your letter at the moment of my departure for the Country where I have since been confined by indisposition from which I am ^have^ however entirely recovered. I had been previously advised of the offer of the mission to you though from a satisfactory though not an official source & am happy to hear that ^you have found^ no obstacle objection to its acceptance. When will you go. If... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Rufus King
I will be ready to go to Oswego on Saturday. You and Finkle therefore better come up on Saturday morning & we will start from here in the afternoon & go as far as Schenectady in the evening. Write me by mail when I may expect you & I will be ready. If any other day will suit better fix upon it but not longer than Monday.
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Peter I. Hoes
Let me by this scrawl introduce to you my friend President Cooper of Cola. College. S.C.
His name is enough. He has requested of me this favor on board the boat, and I have no implements of writing but these.
Sender: Thomas Addis Emmet
Recipient: MVB
My friend Judge W. Smith to whom Col. Hayne succeeded in the Senate at Washington from South Carolina, & Dr. Brown of Kentucky, left New York yesterday, and promised to wait for me at Albany. I have sent to every house but Crittenden’s, without learning of them. As I know Judge Smith meant to call on you, I beg you wd. have the kindness to inform my Son the bearer of this, whether you know of... Continue Reading
Sender: Thomas Cooper
Recipient: MVB
I enclose you two papers, one respecting the interference of the Clergy with the duties of the legislature, which I mentd. to you, & the other, to paralyse the report of Mr Jefferson being a Tariff-politician & in favour of protecting duties.
In theory, and in justice, all duties for protection, are in my mind utterly indefensible: for they are taxes on the consumers without any <... Continue Reading
Sender: Thomas Cooper
Recipient: MVB
I have concluded to make no arrangement on the Subject of Quarters until I arrive in Washington. I have had conversations with Forsyth & McLane on the Subject & must see them before I determine. Those two Gentlemen, (or the former only if the latter takes his wife down) VerPlank yourself & myself would make an excellent mess. Write to the <Frenchman>. Take care of the Election... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Churchill Caldom Cambreleng
Enclosed you will find a letter addressed to yourself about my brother William, for whom I am anxious to obtain orders for Entering into the service. It is such a letter as I supposed you might with propriety transmit (as you suggested) to the Secretary of the Navy. I regret that I was out of town when you called at my house, but was pleased to learn that there would be no difficulty about my... Continue Reading
Sender: Edward Livingston
Recipient: MVB