John Frederick Kensett
Papers, 1830-1872
SC19480
(Boxes 1-3 also available on two reels of microfilm: MB/FM,759.147,K369,200-5747. The accompanying finding aid does not completely replicate the order in which items were microfilmed.)
| Quantity: | 4 Boxes (1 cubic foot) |
|---|---|
| Access: | Open to Research |
| Acquisition: | Acquired with the Edwin D. Morgan Papers from the estate of Edward Knapp, March 1942 |
| Processed By: | Fred Bassett, Senior Librarian, Manuscripts and Special Collections November 1990 |
Printable Version (PDF, 242 KB)
Scope and Content Note:
The papers of John Frederick Kensett consist mostly of correspondence, 1832-1872, that depicts vividly his colorful career as an engraver and painter. They cover all phases of his career from his early years as a successful but discontented engraver, through the years of study in Europe, to fulfillment as an acclaimed member of the Hudson River School of Landscape Painters. Kensett corresponded with many well-known artists, writers, scholars, and publishers, whose letters provide a valuable perspective on the cultural and intellectual climate in the United States during the mid-nineteenth century. The letters are arranged alphabetically by correspondent. A list of correspondents is included at the end of this finding aid. The collection also includes three sketchbooks that provide insight into the thought process behind Kensett's finished works, a visual passport that records Kensett's movements throughout Europe from 1840 to1847, and papers relating to the art exhibit at the Metropolitan Fair in 1864.
Biographical Sketch:
John Frederick Kensett, painter and engraver, was born March 22, 1816 in Cheshire, Connecticut, the second son of Thomas and Elizabeth Daggett Kensett. His training as an engraver began probably around 1828, with a job in the New Haven engraving shop of his father and uncle, Alfred Daggett. At some point, possibly 1829, Kensett went to New York to work as an apprentice in the shop of Peter Maverick, a well-known engraver in America. Here he met John Casilaer, who also became a leading engraver and painter, and Kensett's life long friend. Later that same year, Kensett's father passed away, making it necessary to return to New Haven, where he rejoined his uncle's new engraving firm, Daggett, Himan and Company. In 1835, after a falling out with his uncle, he moved to New York, taking a job with the American Bank Note Company. He worked there for two years, during which time he formed a close friendship with Thomas P. Rossiter and Asher B. Durand. Kensett moved again in 1838 to Albany, New York, taking a job with the engraving firm of Hall, Packard, and Cushman. He left Albany in 1840, staying briefly in New York, then sailed to Europe, where he spent the next seven years in art studies.
Kensett became highly successful as an engraver during the years prior to his departure for Europe, yet he was not content with the work as it tended to be very tedious and too mundane. This is made very clear in his correspondence, which speaks of his desire for social gatherings, singing, talking, pretty women, cigars, and punch to ease the pains of frustration with his situation. He would also speak of his desire, on many occasions, to learn more about art, especially painting, a knowledge which could best be attained at that time by study in Europe.
When Kensett first arrived in England he immediately set off to meet his grandmother and Uncle John at Hampton Court. He also had taken time to visit the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square and other collections, where he compiled many notes. Moreover, he resumed the business of engraving for his American employer, work that was to support him for many years to come. Despite the pleasure and temptation of family and artistic attractions of London, Hampton Court, and Windsor, Kensett continued on to Paris. Here along with Casilaer and Rossiter, Kensett entered into an intense period of study and discovery.
Life in Paris had become less than ideal with the passage of time, as Kensett and his artist friends, Casilaer and Rossiter, along with two new companions, Benjamin Champney and Thomas Hicks, were constantly afflicted by financial problems. They would mutually lend money to each other when they had it, and borrow it when they had none. The letters composed by Kensett to his Uncle John at Hampton Court, during his first few months in Paris, concerned his difficulties and discomfort of poverty in addition to descriptions of his artistic endeavors. Sometime in 1842 Kensett's financial situation improved greatly through a friendship he had with William Francis Edmunds, a banker and amateur painter. It proved to be a vital link in his career as Edmunds was well connected with art sales and distribution organizations in the United States. Edmunds was a founder and officer of the American Art Union which purchased 48 of Kensett's pictures between 1841 and 1852. Without the financial boost provided by the sale of these pictures, Kensett probably would have been forced to return to New York without enjoying his extended stay in Italy.
In June 1843 Kensett went to Hampton Court to settle his grandmother's estate, an undertaking that developed into a two-year legal snarl. The extended stay in England proved to be quite beneficial in advancing his career. It was here he did his landscape of Windsor Castle, which was highly esteemed by art critics. In June 1845 Kensett departed London for Paris, where he remained briefly with Champney making a few sketching excursions. In July they traveled along the Rhine and across the Alps through Germany, Switzerland and Italy, arriving in Rome in October. Kensett took rooms with Thomas Hicks near the Piazza di Spagna. The following summer, 1846, he commenced a summer-long sketching journey through the hills and mountains surrounding Rome. He returned to Rome in October for the winter of 1846-1847, during which time he became a close friend to George William Curtis. This friendship opened a great door for Kensett, both intellectually and socially, as Curtis was well connected with some of the greatest American thinkers and writers of the time, including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Charles A. Dana, Thomas Gold Appleton, James Russell Lowell and Charles Elliot Norton. Many of them became Kensett's friends and correspondents.
Kensett's last months in Italy were spent traveling south of Rome with Curtis, visiting Naples, Pompeii, and Sorrento. After returning to Rome, they went on a month-long Italian tour via Florence and Venice, where for another month they took rooms. These days of work and discovery came to an end in September 1847, when Kensett left Curtis in Verona and returned, through Switzerland, to Paris, and then to London. Finally in November he went to New York after seven years' absence. Back in New York Kensett's life revolved wholly around his art and social activities. Devoted to his work, he produced a great number of landscape paintings. His social activities included memberships in several prestigious art clubs and organizations, such as the Century Association and the Sketch Club. More importantly, he was made a full academian in the National Academy of Design in May 1849.
In 1859, Kensett found himself thrust into the national political stage with an appointment by President James Buchanan, along with James Lambdin and Henry Kirke Brown, to a special commission on interior art and design of the United States Capitol Building. They made several recommendations that were submitted in a report to Congress that was ultimately rejected for political reasons. Kensett's last major lifetime endeavor was planning and organizing the art exhibit for the Metropolitan Fair, an event sponsored by the Union League Club to raise funds on behalf of the United States Sanitary Commission. Kensett passed away on December 14, 1872.
| Box | Folder | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | Finding Aid |
| Correspondence, 1830-1872 | ||
| 1 | 1 | A |
| 2 | Appleton, Thomas Gould | |
| 3 | Ba | |
| 4 | Br | |
| 5 | Ca | |
| 6-7 | Casilear, John | |
| 8 | Ch | |
| 9 | Champney, Benjamin | |
| 10 | Co | |
| 11 | Cr-Curtis, J.B. | |
| 12 | Curtis, George William | |
| 13 | D | |
| 14 | E | |
| 2 | 1 | Fa |
| 2 | Fi | |
| 3 | G | |
| 4 | Ha | |
| 5 | Ho | |
| 6 | I-J | |
| 7 | K | |
| 8-8a | Kellogg, Sarah Kensett | |
| 9 | Kensett, Frederick | |
| 10 | Kensett, John R. | |
| 11 | Kensett, Thomas Jr. | |
| 12 | La | |
| 13 | Le | |
| 14 | Ma | |
| 15 | Mi | |
| 3 | 1 | N |
| 2 | O | |
| 3 | P | |
| 4 | R | |
| 5 | Rossiter, Thomas P. | |
| 6 | Sa | |
| 7 | Sp | |
| 8 | T | |
| 9 | U-V | |
| 10 | Wa | |
| 11 | We | |
| 12 | Letters - Unidentified | |
| 13 | Drafts of Letters and Assorted Notes | |
| 14 | Letters to Noah Kellogg | |
| 15 | Kensett Family Correspondence (Not addressed to John F. Kensett) | |
| 4 | 1-3 | Sketchbooks (3 items) |
| 4 | Passport to Europe, 1840 | |
| 5 | Metropolitan Fair, 1864 | |
| 6 | Invitations | |
| 7 | Family History | |
| 8 | Prints | |
| 9 | Miscellaneous and Letter Fragments | |
| 10 | Eulogies of John F. Kensett |
Letters to John F. Kensett
MB/FM 759.147 K369 200-5747
(SC19480, Boxes 1-3)
Detailed List of Correspondents
Provenance Note:
These letters were microfilmed when the Kensett material was part of the Edwin D. Morgan Papers. The microfilm was made of the letters in boxes 31 and 32. (These numbers were the box numbers before Morgan was rehoused and Kensett removed).
| Name | Year | Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Alexander, C.S. | 1851 | March 26 |
| Alexander, Charles | 1843 1848 |
October 16 September 18 |
| Alexander, E. | 1845 | May 29 |
| Anderson, James H. | 1864 1864 |
March 12, 26 May 24 |
| Anderson, Frank | 1864 | February 11 |
| Appleton, Thomas Gold | 4 undated letters, 16 partially dated: December 25, March 20, September 9, March 31, July 25, February 5, February 27, July 15, January 14, January 7, March 10, February 18, December 22, December 5, November 6, September 23 |
|
| Atwood, Mrs. Anna M. | 1864 | March 8, 30 |
| Audubon, Lucy (Mrs. John J.) | 1864 | March 23 |
| Augero, A. | 1864 | March 23 |
| Augero, Francesco | 1864 | February 23 |
| Avery, Samuel Putnam | 3 undated letters, 4 partially dated: May 17, June 28, August 11, November 25 | |
| Bailey and Co. | 1864 | June 14 |
| Bancroft, George | 1864 | May 4 |
| Banvard, John | 1864 | March 15 |
| Barrow, John D. | 1864 | February 9 |
| Bartholomew, E.S. | 1847 | March 15 |
| Bartlett, Wm. E. Jr. | 1858 | June 18 |
| Bartlett, W. Leawell | 1864 | April 4 |
| Bassie, Adele | 1864 | March 1 |
| Beecher, N.D. | 1864 | February 3 |
| Bellows, Henry W. | 1854 | May 6 |
| Benest, F. Marianne | [?] | October 17 |
| Benson, Eugene | 1863 1865 1866 1867 |
November 22 May [?] February 15, October 10, 12, 16 November 23 |
| Biersadt, A. | 1 undated letter | |
| Blodgett, Abbie B. | [?] | May 21 |
| Blodgett, William T. | [?] 1864 1865 |
April 28 February 26, March 1 April 24 |
| Boughton, George H. | 1869 | December 4 |
| Boutelle, DeWitt Clinton | 1864 | February 8 |
| Bradley, J.H. | 1896 | February 25 |
| Bradley, Silas A. | 1869 | July 23 |
| Bridgman, W.A. | 1864 | December 20 |
| Brandt, Carl L. | 1862 | April 8 |
| Brick, R.A. | 1864 | March 11 |
| Bricker, A.T. | 1864 | March 22 |
| Brimmer, John | 1858 | December 23 |
| Bristed, C.A. | 1 undated letter | |
| Bristol, J.B. | 1869 | November 8 |
| Brooks, Clarice | 1840 | July 28 |
| Brown, George H. | 1858 | December 6 |
| Brown, Henry Kirke | 1860 1862 1864 |
April 27, June 23 January 21, April 16 January 11, March 11, May 1 |
| Brownell, Charles D.W. | 1864 | April 11 |
| Butler, Richard | 1869 | September 6, 9 |
| Butler, Susan Sedgwick | 1 undated letter | |
| Caldwell, Samuel B. | 1862 1864 |
December 12 March 23 |
| Campbell, J.C. | 1859 1860 |
November 16 January 12 |
| Campbell, J.H. | 1861 1862 1863 |
April 10 October 6, December 28 December 19 |
| Campbell, Juliet H.L. | 1863 | November 19 |
| Cannon, [?] | 1868 | September 12 |
| Carlin, J. | 1864 | March 1, 31 |
| Casilear, John William | 1832
1830 |
July 8, August 20, September 1, October 9, November 18 June 27 January 3, 20, April 16, June 24, July 13 January 27, May 15, September 7 November 10, 26 February 2, 21 January 29, July [?] January 20 |
| Champney, Benjamin | [?] 1843 1844 1845 1846 1853 1854 1857 1858 1864 1867 |
June 29 June 25, 18, October 21, November 25 February 4, April 1 January 8, 12 May 30 January 8 September 3 April 20, 28 March 16 February 10, March 7, 26 August 16 |
| Chapin, John R. | 1864 | March 17 |
| Cheney, T. Apoleon | 1868 | March 19 |
| Chilton, R.S. | 1861 1862 1863 1864 |
February 5, May 12 July 27 May 6, November 2 April 6 |
| Choate, C.S. | 1864 | March 23 |
| Choate, Joseph H. | [?] | April 14 |
| Church, Frederick Edwin | 1852 1855 1863 |
December 27 June 23 July 13 |
| Clark, George H. | 1864 | March 16 |
| Clay, Henry | 1846 | February 5 |
| Coale, George B. | 1862 | June 28 |
| Cobbett, Edward | 1844 | July 11, 16 |
| Coffee, Thomas H. Jr. | 1864 | March 21 |
| Cole, Thomas | 1842 | March 7 |
| Collins, B. | 1864 | March 28 |
| Colman, Samuel | [?] 1862 |
June [?] March 21, July [?] |
| Colyer, Vincent | 1861 1862 1870 1871 |
November 14 March 11 January 25 March 18 |
| Conrad, J.G. | 1864 | May 7 |
| Carbould, Henry | 1840 | August 9 |
| Cozzens, A.M. | 1854 | November 23 |
| Cozzens, Frederick Swartwout | 1854 1855 1858 1859 |
September 20, November 21 September 14 January 11 (two undated letters) March 27, December 14 |
| Crawford, Louisa Cutler (Mrs. Thomas) | 1859 | July 9 |
| Cropsey, Jasper Francis | 1844 1864 1866 1869 |
April 9 March 22 October 10 November 1, 22 |
| Cunard, E. | 1864 | March 28 |
| Curtiss, E.M. | 1888 | July 6 |
| Curtis, George William | 1847 1848 1849 1852 1854 1857 1861 1863 1867 1869 |
3 undated letters August 24, September 26 June 22 January 1, May 29 August 11 August 21 August 24 March 3 December 20 March 17, April 15, May 16, 17 June 11 |
| Curtis, J.B. | 1849 | August 23 |
| Dana, Charles A. | 1857 1860 1864 |
October 23 March 20 June 2 |
| Dana, William P.W. | 1864 | January 23 |
| Darling, F.O.C. | 1867 | August 18 |
| Davis, Ezra P. | 1864 | March 22 |
| Day and Son | 1864 | March 5 |
| Deas, Charles | 1847 | February 1 |
| Delano, Edward | 1 undated letter | |
| DePeyster, Frederic | 1864 | October 11 |
| Detmond, C.E. | 1864 | March 24 |
| DeVries, J.C. | 1864 | March 11 |
| Dexter, E. | 1864 | April 1 |
| Dodge, W.E. Jr. | 1862 1867 |
January 22 April 1 |
| Dorsheimer, William | 1864 1865 |
December 17 January 6, 14 |
| DuBois, Mary A. | 1862 | October 9 |
| Dudley, Thomas H. | 1864 | March 23 |
| Dwight, Theodore W. | 1864 | February 2 |
| Earle, James S. and Son | [?] | March 23 |
| Edmonds, F.W. | 1841 1860 |
February 10, June 6 December 10 |
| Elder, D.S. | 1864 | February 24 |
| Fairbanks, Chas. | 1864 | March 4 |
| Fairchild, Oliver | 1826 | March 11 |
| Falconer, John M. | 1861 1866 1869(?) |
July 7 June 7 December 2 |
| Fanes, T.C. | 1 undated letter | |
| Fay, Harriet E. | 1 undated letter | |
| Fazarini, Y. | 1864 | February 13 |
| Ferris, O.W.H. | 1859 | December 12 |
| Field, Cyrus | 1859 | December 15 |
| Field, J.W. | 1855 1856 |
January 25 October 7 |
| Field, Stephen J. | 1840 | February 4, May 11, July 20 |
| Fink, Eugene | [?] 1864 |
February 22 March 9 |
| Fink, Frederick | 1840 1841 1843 |
February 2, May 28 January 21 May 4 |
| Fish, Hamilton | 1859 | December 19 |
| Fish, Julia K. | [?] 1865 |
October 11 February 17, 29 |
| Fitch, John L. | 1865 | February 12, March 2, April 28 |
| Forbes, Edwin | 1864 | March 24 |
| Ford, Katharine Gordon | 1 undated letter | |
| Gerry, Samuel L. | 1859 | November 10 |
| Gibbs, L.W. | [?] | February 22 |
| Gifford, S.R. | 1866 1867 |
July 1 February 11 |
| Gifford, R. Swain | 1864 | February 12 |
| Godkin, Edwin L. | [?] | March 30 |
| Goupil's Gallery | [circular] | |
| Gourlie, John H. | 1849 1861 1868 |
May 14 May 1 March 11 |
| Graham, William H. | 1860 | February 13 |
| Grannis, T.C. | 1869 | December 2 |
| Gray, George Griswold | 1864 | March 8 |
| Gray, John A.C. | 1864 | March 31 |
| Greatorex, Elise | 1864 | February 12 |
| Greene and Co. | 1845 | July 10 |
| Gridley, Rev. A.D. | 1861? 1865 1866 |
September [?] October 18, December 14, 18 January 3, February 16, October 22 |
| Griscom, John H. | 1864 | February 19 |
| Griswold, O.M. | 1864 | February 17 |
| Guion, William H. | 1838 | June 27 |
| Gund, T.H. | 1860 | December 28 |
| Haight, H.J. | 1864 | March 8 |
| Haight, M.E. | [?] | June 22, December 11 |
| Hamilton, Mary M. | 1857 | November 3 |
| Hassler, T.R. | 1828 | July 25 |
| Haseltine, Helen L. | 1 undated letter | |
| Heine, H. | 1859 | June 17 |
| Helmick, Howard | 1 undated letter | |
| Hennessy, William J. | [?] | October 30 |
| Hewitt, Abraham S. | 1861 | April 16 |
| Hicks, Tom | 1849 | January 4, April 16 |
| Hillyer, Henry L. | 1864 | February 10 |
| Hilton, Archibald | ca.1830s 1837 |
1 undated letter August 2 |
| Himm, D.C. | 1840 | May 19 |
| Hobbs, Hannah | 1864 | March 28 |
| Hodges, C.H. | 1859 | September 25 |
| Hoe, Robert | 1865 1867 |
June 30, September 20 March 5 |
| Hoffman, James P. | 1864 | February 18 |
| Horn, John, Jr. | 1864 | February 26 |
| Hubbard, Rev. | 1868 | January 7 |
| Hubner, Carl | 1864 | May 1 |
| Huntington, Daniel | [?] |
2 undated letters November 20 April 17 April 7 July 9 January 18, August 2 |
| Hyde, August O. | 1839 | June 15 |
| Insley, Albert B. | 1864 | February 12 |
| Ireland, Joseph | 1864 | March 10 |
| Irving, Washington | 1852 | December 27 |
| Jarvis, Miss | [?] | June 4 |
| Jay, Eleanor | [?] | September 20, October 12 |
| Jay, John | 1862 | December 24 |
| Jenkins, Charles W. | 1864 | March 4, 10 |
| Jerome, E.G. | 1864 | March 24 |
| Jewell, George H. | 1864 | March 8 |
| Jochlyn, Simeon | 1 undated letter | |
| Johnson, Eastman | 1859 | 1 undated letter April 14 |
| Johnson, James B. | 1864 | May 23 |
| Johnson, John Taylor | 1866 | February 7 |
| Judd, N.B. | 1864 | April 2 |
| Kellogg Family (Noan and Sarah) |
1837 1839 1840 1842 1843 1844 1846 1847? 1848 1851 1852 1853 1855 1858 1860 1862 1871 |
1 undated letter November 19, December 11 November 26 January 21, March 13, May 24 June 15 June 19 December 21 March 7, June 16, November 12, December 25 March 8, 22 March 27, May 13 April 13, May 19 October 28 December 22 March 25 July 10 June 18 May 15 February [?] |
| Kellogg, Joseph | 1858 | July 10 |
| Kensett, Elizabeth (Elizabeth K. Vail) | [?] 1831 1832 1849 1850 |
1 undated letter September 17 August 5 [?] 10 September 18 June 27 |
| Kensett, Frederick | 1807(?) | March 1, 29, June 1, August 1 |
| Kensett, Frederick N. | 1836 1837 1838 1839 1841 1842 1847 1849 1851 1853 |
December 22 August 10 October 6, 31, December 31 May 15 May 11 February 25 January 4, July 5 March 5, 18 May 9, August 19 December 20 |
| Kensett, John R. | 1822 1835 1840 1841 1848 1850 |
June 18 April 8 December 30 March 10 November 21 October 16 |
| Kensett, Thomas | 1851 1857 1864 |
February 21, May 23 July 30 March 28 |
| King, Edward | [?] | March 30 |
| Knapp, Charles M. | 1854 | June 19 |
| Kuntze, Edward T. | 1864 | March 27 |
| Lafarge, John | 1863 1868 |
December 3 [?] |
| Lambdin, George | 1859 1861 1863 1864 1869 |
1 undated letter September 9, December 13 April 4 November 2 January 24 November 6, 20 |
| Lambdin, J.R. | 1859 1862 |
November 2, 15, December 15 June 13, December 11 |
| Lang, [?] | 1852 | December 24 |
| Lang, Louis | 1859 | August 17 |
| Latrobe, John H.B. | 1869 | February 27 |
| Lazarus, J.H. | 1864 | March 16 |
| Leeds, Henry H. & Co. | 1864 | March 21 |
| Lentze, E. | 1857 1864 |
February 15 August 23 |
| Lewis, Joseph J. | 1864 | March 17 |
| Loop, Henry A. | 1864 | February 19 |
| Lord, J. Couper | 1863 | April 8 |
| Loring, George C. | 1837 1838 |
July 19, August 3, 21 January 22 |
| Low, Josiah O. | 1867 | May 13 |
| McDonald, James R. | 1864 | March 9, 19 |
| Macdonough, [?] | 1824 | July 9 |
| McEntee, Jenis | 1869 | January 24 |
| McFarlan, John | 1864 | [?] 20, August [?] |
| McMurdy, E.B. | 1864 | March [?] |
| Major, Maria T. | [?] | January 29 |
| Mapes, Louise | [?] | April 17 |
| Marquand, Henry G. | [?] 1863 |
June 27, November 3 August 22 |
| Marshall, Sam | 1823 | July 6 |
| Martin, H.D. | 1 undated letter | |
| May, Edward | 1864 | February 12 |
| Mayer, F.B. | 1858 | June 30 |
| Maynard, H.E. | 1862 | December 13 |
| Meyer, James, Jr. | 1864 | February 26, March 2 |
| Miles, John | 1849 1850 |
May 8, 9 June 12 |
| Miller, William R. | 1864 | March 7 |
| Mills, E.S. | 1864 | March 14 |
| Mooney, Edward | 1864 | March 21 |
| Moore, Charles H. | 1862 1864 1865 1866 |
February 3, March 12, April 14, 24, May 27, June 12 November 17 May 15 January 15, 19 |
| Moore, N.A. | 1864 | February 15 |
| Moore, W.H.H. | 1864 | April 22 |
| Murray, Anna T. | [?] | December 26 |
| Murray, Caroline | 1864 | January 28, February 2 |
| Murray, John R. | 1863 | February 17 |
| Nash, Catherine | 1864 | March 8, 17, April 28 |
| Nast, Thomas | 1864 | February 1, March 2 |
| Nichols, E.W. | 1864 | 2 undated letters February 13 |
| Norton, C. Jane | 1 undated letter | |
| Norton, Charles E. (New England Intellectual) | 1855 1858 |
January 26 November 8 |
| Norton, Grace | 1 undated letter | |
| Newbury, Sarah | 1806 1807 1809 |
October 25 March 1, May 2 April 30 |
| Newbury, Thomas | 1841 | March 27 |
| O'Brien, Fitz James | [?] | April 16 |
| O'Brien, Robert | 1864 | February 15 |
| Ogilvie, Clinton | 1864 | February 15 |
| Olyphant, Robert M. | 1856 1857 1859 1864 1867 |
September 26 August 5, 22, September 5 April 12, October 3 March 23, November 16 March 6 |
| Ordway, Alfred | 1858 1859 |
July 3, September 22 October 23 |
| Owen, George | 1864 | February 11 |
| Palmer, Erastus D. | 1866 | April 20 |
| Parrott, George L. | 1845 | February 18 |
| Parrott, W. | 1 undated letter | |
| Parsons, C. | 1869 | December 1 |
| Patton, Thomas | 1864 | March 19 |
| Peale, John T. | 1 undated letter | |
| Perkins, Charles C. | 1856 | May 24 |
| Perkins, Granville | 1864 | February 13, March 25 |
| Porter, D. | 1823 | November 13 |
| Porter, P.A. | 1857 | February 26 |
| Putnam, G.P. | 1860 | February 16 |
| Pyne, R.L. | 1864 | February [?] |
| Rice, John S. | 1855 1856 1863 |
August 26 May 25 December 25 |
| Riggs, George W. | 1863 | May 28 |
| Ritchie, Cornelia W. | 1 undated letter | |
| Ritchie, Monty | 1858 | June 26 |
| Robinson, Thomas H. | 1864 | February 10 |
| Rogers, John | 1864 | March 14 |
| Rondel, F. | 1864 | February 10 |
| Rossiter, Thomas Pritchard | 1837 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1852 1853 1861 1864 |
July 25 October 10, 30 April 28, May 4 August 4, October 26, November 21, December 26 February 2, April 17, June 12, November 13 January 8, April 23 August 11, 24, September 26 June 26, September 26 February 9 September 2 |
| Rothermel, P.F. | 1847 | June 24 |
| Rutherford, Louis M. | [?] | May 17 |
| Schell, Augustus | 1852 1860 |
August 23 November 2 |
| Sellstadt, L.G. | 1864 | October 29 |
| Shankland, W.H. | 1854 | February 15 |
| Shaughnessy, Stephen J. | 1 undated letter | |
| Shaw, Joshua | 1844 | April 2 |
| Shepard, A.D. | 1864 | March 1 |
| Shepard, Elliot F. | 1864 | March 26 |
| Shepard-Vanderbilt | [?] | February 18 |
| Sherman, C.A. | 1864 | May 18 |
| Sherwood, M.E.W. | [?] | 1 undated letter June 16 |
| Silliman, B., Jr. | 1858 | July 3 |
| Sintzenick, Edward | 1864 | January 23, 28, March 12 |
| Slosson, Edward | 1849 1860 |
September 17 June 25 |
| Smillie, James D. | 1864 | February 16 |
| Smith, Adam R. | [?] | February 9, 11, March 4, 14, 15, April 3, December 8, 21 |
| Smith, Thomas Lochlan | 1864 | February 8 |
| Spafford, Eureka | [?] 1857 |
December 24 December 25 |
| Staigg, Richard M. | [?] 1864 |
October 13 February 18 |
| Stebbins, Alfred | 1869 1870 |
August 3 February 16 |
| Stephenson, Gen. S. | 1864 | January [?] |
| Stowell, James W. | 1835 | September 22 |
| Sturges, Frederick | 1857 | November 3 |
| Sturges, Mrs. J. | 1 undated letter | |
| Suydan, James A. | 1858 1860 1861 1862 |
September 29 July 25, August 21 May 10 August 12, December 17 |
| Swift, John H. | 1864 | September 30 |
| Tait, Arthur Fitzwilliam | 1864 | February 9 |
| Tait, John R. | 1864 | April 2, 25, May 2, 19, September 20 |
| Taylor, Bayard | 1866 | November 9 |
| Tibbits, H.B. | 1864 | March 24 |
| Tiffany, George | 1844 | March 7 |
| Tuckerman, H.T. | 1862 | March 5 |
| Van Allen, J.H. | 1 undated letter | |
| Van Dulip, George M. | 1862 | February 17 |
| Vanderlyn, John | 1843 | May 11, August [?] |
| Vernert, L. Job | 1864 | March 22 |
| Voight, Lewis F. | 1864 | March 7, 12, May 8 |
| Wadsworth, James J. | 1852 | June 11 |
| Wallace, Thomas D. | 1864 | March 3 |
| Walters, William T. | 1858 1859 1860 1866 |
June 14, December 24, 31 June 12, November 28 January 19, April 23, May 9 June 19, July 23, February 23 |
| Warren, A.W. | 1 undated letter | |
| Ward, Charles H. | 1859 | December 2 |
| Ward, J.Q.A. | 1860 1861 |
June 28 January 16 |
| Waring, W.B. | 1864 | February 25 |
| Warren, George B., Jr. | 1859 1860 1861 1862 |
December 10 February 10 January 14, 24 January 16 |
| Weir, John F. | 1866 1867 1869 |
September 20 April 20 November 2 |
| Wells, Frank | 1864 | March 25 |
| Weyman, C.S. | 1 undated letter | |
| White, Alexander | 1857 | November 7 |
| White, Edwin | 1864 | February 12 |
| White, Richard Grant | 1864 | 1 undated letter April 14 |
| Whitley, T.D. | 1 undated letter | |
| Whittredge, W. | 1868 | November 2 |
| Williams, T. William | 1835 | June 6 |
| Winthrop, Theodore | 1857 | June 1 |
| Wister, Sarah Butler | 1864 | March 23 |
| Wolcott, J. Huntington | 1863 | March 23 |
| Wollsey, Mrs. Charles | [?] | March 29 |
| Work, L. Gaylord | 1864 | March 3 |
| Wright, W.P. | 1859 1860 |
January 25 September 5 |
| Wright, William P. | 1858 1860 1862 1863 |
June 29, 30 September 5 November 1, December 2, 6 October 24 |
| Wyant, A.H. | 1869 | November 3 |