SC19915
1 box (0.25 cubic ft.)
Open to research
Collation of items formerly accessioned and catalogued separately; document accession number found in parentheses included with the description of each item
Nicholas Webb, Student Assistant, State University of New York at Albany, May 2008
Biographical Note:
Horace Greeley was a crusading journalist and politician best known for his editorship of the New York Tribune and for his unsuccessful 1872 Presidential campaign against incumbent Republican Ulysses S. Grant on a combined Liberal Republican and Democratic ticket.
Greeley was born February 3, 1811, in Amherst, New Hampshire, and spent time as an apprentice printer in Poultney, Vermont, and Erie, Pennsylvania, before settling in New York City in 1831. After a decade spent editing and publishing various periodicals, including a literary weekly called the New Yorker (no relation to the later magazine of the same name) and a series of Whig Party campaign newspapers, he established the daily New York Tribune in 1841. The Tribune quickly became an influential paper due to its high-toned daily news coverage and its reform-minded editorial policy; its nationally distributed weekly edition made Greeley a shaper of public opinion throughout the northern United States.
During his tenure as editor, Greeley supported a variety of reform causes, most notably abolition, and was a staunch supporter of the Whig Party and of its Northern successor the Republican Party. With the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Greeley pushed for an aggressive war policy under the slogan "On to Richmond!" The disastrous Union defeat at Bull Run forced him to moderate his strategic militancy, but he continued to advocate for the emancipation of the slaves as the explicit goal of the war.
Following the defeat of the Confederacy, Greeley initially backed the Radical Republicans and their program of Reconstruction and staunchly supported the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson. By the early 1870s, however, Greeley, like many other Republicans, was becoming dissatisfied by what he perceived to be an excessively punitive Reconstruction policy and by the notorious corruption of the Grant administration. In 1872, a group of moderates split from the Republican Party and nominated Greeley to run for President under the Liberal Republican banner on a platform of civil service reform and an end to radical Reconstruction policies. The Democratic Party also nominated Greeley as its candidate for the presidency in hopes that a united ticket with the Liberal Republicans would garner enough support to defeat Grant. Greeley spent the summer and fall of 1872 campaigning for the Presidency.
President Grant's supporters, including cartoonist Thomas Nast (who caricatured Greeley relentlessly in the pages of Harper's Weekly), accused Greeley of having abandoned his principles for the sake of political ambition, charging him with selling out the freedmen and dishonoring the Union dead by making common cause with the Democrats. Grant was re-elected by large majorities in both the popular vote and electoral vote. On November 29, 1872, exhausted from the strain of the campaign and distraught at the takeover of the Tribune by a business rival, Horace Greeley died.
Scope and Content Note:
This collection consists chiefly of letters written by Horace Greeley, many of which concern significant political issues in the United States during the mid-nineteenth century. Of particular historical interest are Greeley's letters to a British correspondent, Thomas Alsop, between 1861 and 1866. In this series of letters, Greeley discusses the progress of the Civil War, its effect on the relationship between the Union and Great Britain, and the importance of the struggle to emancipate the slaves. Also of note are two letters written to a "Mr. Jackson" in the summer of 1871 in which Greeley expresses dismay at the corrupt behavior of Republican "carpetbaggers" in the postwar South; these letters provide a window into the growing discontent which would eventually lead him to break with the Republican Party.
Greeley's role as a pioneer of American journalism is represented by several letters to Tribune editors, correspondents and readers, most notably by an 1856 letter in which Greeley chastises an editor for covering a scandalous divorce trial at the expense of serious political reporting and an 1864 letter in which he discusses his opinions on editorial censorship.
This collection also includes an assortment of portraits and several miscellaneous manuscript items. The portraits consist mainly of engravings, but they also include a carte de visite and a high-quality caricature from an 1872 issue of Vanity Fair. Other documents include a handwritten Tribune editorial draft in which Greeley discusses the progress of American industry and a collection of outline notes for a lecture on temperance.
Container and Document List:
Box | Folder | Item | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Correspondence, 1837-1849 | |||
1 | 1 | 1 | A.L.S., 15 October 1837, New York, N.Y., to Edward M. Griffing. 34 cm. (transfer from single accession #13231) |
1 | 1 | 2 | A.L.S., 31 January 1841, New York, N.Y., to J.M. Sterrett, Harrisburg, Pa. 2(4)p. 25 cm. (transfer from single accession #5121) |
1 | 1 | 3 | A.L.S., 8 February 1842, New York, N.Y., to John C. Spencer, Washington, D.C., 8 February 1842. 2(4)p. 25 cm. (transfer from single accession #7596) |
1 | 1 | 4 | A.L.S., 18 August 1844, New York, N.Y., to Joseph Boughton, Binghamton, N.Y. 1(4)p. 25 cm. (transfer from single accession #12226) |
1 | 1 | 5 | A.L.S., 23 March 1845, New York, N.Y., to "the Sons of Old Ireland who reside in and near Albany," Albany, N.Y. 1p. 26 cm. (transfer from single accession #995) |
1 | 1 | 6 | A.L.S., 21 March 1846, New York, N.Y., to William E. Robinson, Washington, D.C. 1(4)p. 26 cm. (transfer from single accession #1556). |
1 | 1 | 7 | A.L.S., 15 December 1846, New York, N.Y., to William E. Robinson, [Washington, D.C.] 1p. 26 cm. (transfer from single accession #1558). |
1 | 1 | 8 | A.L.S., 17 April 1848, New York, N.Y., to General Leslie Combs, Lexington, KY. 2(4)p. 26 cm. (transfer from single accession #8712) |
1 | 1 | 9 | A.L.S., 7 August 1848, New York, N.Y., to William E. Robinson. 1p. 25 cm. (transfer from single accession #1557) |
1 | 1 | 10 | A.L.S., 26 October 1849, New York, N.Y., to "Friend Dwight," [Boston, Mass?]. 1p. (transfer from single accession #15793) |
Correspondence, 1850-1858 | |||
1 | 2 | 1 | A.L.S. 6 March 1850, New York, N.Y., to Rev. H.T. Harrington. 1(4)p. 26 cm. (transfer from single accession #3727) |
1 | 2 | 2 | A.L.S. 28 December 1853, New York, N.Y., to S. Draper. 1(4)p. 16 cm. (transfer from single accession #6069) |
1 | 2 | 3 | A.L.S. 7 July 1854, New York, N.Y. to Sarah Pellet, Syracuse, N.Y. 4p. 16 cm. (transfer from single accession #15642) (Includes transcript.) |
1 | 2 | 4 | A.L.S. 24 July 1854, New York, N.Y. to P.T. Barnum, Bridgeport, Conn. 2(4)p. 16 cm. (transfer from single accession #6060) (Extremely fragmented; includes photocopy and transcript.) |
1 | 2 | 5 | A.L.S. 21 January 1856, Washington, D.C., to A.W. Thayer. 4p. 19 cm. (transfer from single accession #8713) (Includes transcript.) |
1 | 2 | 6 | A.L.S. 9 February 1856, Washington, D.C., to [Charles A.] Dana. 4p. 19 cm. (transfer from single accession #15640) (Includes transcript.) |
1 | 2 | 7 | A.L.S. 2 March [1856], Washington, D.C., to "Fellow Citizen" (identified on catalog card as Charles A. Dana.) 4p. 21 cm. (transfer from single accession #15639) (Includes transcript.) |
1 | 2 | 8 | A.L.S. 29 October 1858, New York, N. Y., to James Kelly. 1p. 21 cm. (transfer from single accession #2648) |
1 | 2 | 9 | A.L.S. [1858] to [Charles A. Dana] 1p. 19 cm. (transfer from single accession #6071) |
Correspondence, 1861-1869 | |||
1 | 3 | 1 | A.L.S., 30 March 1861, New York, N.Y., to Thomas Alsop, Exeter, England. 3(4) p. 21 cm. (transfer from single accession #14669-1) |
1 | 3 | 2 | A.L.S., 25 November 1861, New York, N.Y., to unknown correspondent. 1(4)p. 16 cm. (transfer from single accession #4797) |
1 | 3 | 3 | A.L.S., 25 November 1861, Thomas Alsop, Redhill, England to Horace Greeley, New York, N.Y., 21 cm. (transfer from single accession #14668) |
1 | 3 | 4 | A.L.S., 6 January 1862, New York, N.Y., to "Sam W." (identified on catalog card as Samuel Wilkeson, Washington, D.C.). 3(4)p. 21 cm. (transfer from single accession #16339). Includes envelope. |
1 | 3 | 5 | A.L.S., 31 March 1862, New York, N.Y., to Thomas Alsop [Junior?], [California.] 1(4)p. 21 cm. (transfer from single accession #14669-5) |
1 | 3 | 6 | A.L.S., 31 March 1862, New York, N.Y., to John S. Hittell, Esq., and W.B. Farrell, Esq., San Francisco, California. 1(4) p. 21 cm. (transfer from single accession #14669-2) |
1 | 3 | 7 | A.L.S., 8 August 1862, New York, N.Y., to Thomas Alsop, London, England. 2(4) p. 21 cm. (transfer from single accession #14669-3) |
1 | 3 | 8 | A.L.S., 26 October 1862, New York, N.Y., to Thomas Alsop, [England]. 2(4) p. 21 cm. (transfer from single accession #14669-4) |
1 | 3 | 9 | A.L.S, 25 November 1862, New York, N.Y., to Schuyler Colfax, Washington, D.C. 1p. 20 cm. (transfer from single accession #15909) |
1 | 3 | 10 | A.L.S., 8 January 1863, New York. N.Y., to Samuel Wilkerson, Washington, D.C. 3(4)p. 20 cm. (transfer from single accession #16346). Includes envelope. |
1 | 3 | 11 | A.L.S., 6 May 1863, New York, N.Y., to Allan Campbell. 1p. 21 cm. (transfer from single accession #8711) |
1 | 3 | 12 | A.L.S., 5 April 1864, New York, N.Y., to Richard Wynkoop, Yonkers, N.Y. 1(4)p. 21 cm. (transfer from single accession #4351a) |
1 | 3 | 13 | A.L.S., 15 June 1864, New York, N.Y., to H.E. Booker. 3(4)p. 21 cm. (transfer from single accession #14922) |
1 | 3 | 14 | A.L.S., 22 February 1865, New York, N.Y., to Thomas Alsop, [?], England. 4 p. 21 cm. (transfer from single accession #14669-6) |
1 | 3 | 15 | A.L.S. [1865?], to "H." 2p. 25 cm. (transfer from single accession #5117) (Greeley's autographed response written on an A.L.S. from "H." addressed to "Editor Press.") |
1 | 3 | 16 | A.L.S., 27 February 1866, New York, N.Y., to Thomas Alsop, England. 4p. 22 cm. (transfer from single accession #14669-7) |
1 | 3 | 17 | A.L.S., 7 September 1866, New York, N.Y., to [?] Sloane. 22 cm. (transfer from single accession #18739) |
1 | 3 | 18 | A.L.S., 9 October 1866, New York, N.Y., to Hon. F.A. Conkling, [New York, N.Y.]. 1(4) p. 22 cm. (transfer from single accession #16029) |
1 | 3 | 19 | A.L.S., 6 January 1868, New York, N.Y., to Helen R. Marshall, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. 2(4)p. 22 cm. (transfer from single accession #1050) |
1 | 3 | 20 | A.L.S., 18 August 1868, New York, N.Y., to J.H. Plumb, Esq., "and others," Gowanda, N.Y. 1p. 21 cm. (transfer from single accession #13204) |
1 | 3 | 21 | A.L.S., 21 February 1869, New York, N.Y., to Alfred B. Street, Esq., Albany, N.Y. 1p. 21 cm. (transfer from single accession #13904) |
Correspondence, 1870-1872 | |||
1 | 4 | 1 | A.L.S., 20 February 1870, New York, N.Y., to O. D. Case, Esq., 1p. 21 cm. (transfer from single accession #4351b) |
1 | 4 | 2 | A.L.S., 12 August 1870, New York, N.Y., to John Taylor Hall, Albany, N.Y. 1p. 21 cm. (transfer from single accession #4351) |
1 | 4 | 3 | A.L.S., 6 August 1871, New York, N.Y., to "Mr. Jackson." 2 p. 21 cm. (transfer from single accession #18101-1) |
1 | 4 | 4 | A.L.S., 11 August 1871, New York, N.Y., to "Mr. Jackson." 1p. 21 cm. (transfer from single accession #18101-2) |
1 | 4 | 5 | A.L.S., 13 January 1872, New York, N.Y., to William L. Stone, Esq. 2(4) p. 20 cm. (transfer from single accession #8070 [6076?]) (Includes envelope.) |
1 | 4 | 6 | A.L.S., 19 January 1872, New York, N.Y., to R.N. Reavis, Esq. 1p. (transfer from single accession #15908) |
1 | 4 | 7 | A.L.S., 29 May 1872, New York, N.Y., to John Taylor Hall, Stuttgart, Germany. 2(4) p. 20 cm. (transfer from single accession #4350) |
1 | 4 | 8 | A.L.S., 14 August 1872, [Goshen?], N.H., to George W. Sterling, Esq. 1p. 21 cm. (transfer from single accession #13207) |
Writings | |||
1 | 5 | 1 | Editorial, for New York Tribune, Mss. draft, n.d. . 7p. 29 cm. (transfer from single accession #5500) |
Writings and Miscellaneous Papers, 1840-1854 | |||
1 | 6 | 1 | Receipt, 21 March 1840, New York, N.Y. 1 p. 20 cm. (transfer from single accession #1042) |
1 | 6 | 2 | Poem, (A.D.S.) 19 June 1854, New York, N.Y. 18 cm. (transfer from single accession #15641) |
1 | 6 | 3 | Letter of recommendation of Thomas Parker, New York, n.d. 1 p. 22 cm. (transfer from single accession #7955) |
1 | 6 | 4 | Notes for temperance lecture, n.d. N.Y. 25 p. 3 x 4 cm. Includes envelope labeled "Ms. of Temperance Lecture in the Handwriting of Horace Greeley and delivered by him. June 30 1873." (transfer from single accession #5116) |
Folder 7: Cartoon, 1872 | |||
1 | 7 | 1 | Cartoon, 20 July 1872. 36 cm. (transfer from single accession #1848 [1343?]) |
Folder 8: Photographs and Prints | |||
1 | 8 | 1 | Newspaper clipping, n.d. Portrait of Greeley. 6 cm. (transfer from single accession #6069) |
1 | 8 | 2 | C.D.V., n.d. Portrait of Greeley. 10 cm. (transfer from single accession #6069) |
1 | 8 | 3 | Engraving, n.d. Portrait of Greeley. 19 cm. (transfer from single accession #6069) |
1 | 8 | 4 | Engraving, n.d. Portrait of Greeley. 22 cm. (transfer from single accession #4797) |
1 | 8 | 5 | Engraving, n.d. Portrait of Greeley. 26 cm. (transfer from single accession #6069) |
1 | 8 | 6 | Engraving, n.d. Portrait of Greeley. 24 cm. (transfer from single accession #6069) |
1 | 8 | 7 | Engraving, n.d. Portrait of Greeley. 19 cm. (transfer from single accession #6069) |
1 | 8 | 8 | Engraving, n.d. Portrait of Greeley. 17 cm. (transfer from single accession #6070) |
1 | 8 | 9 | Magazine clipping, n.d. Portrait of Greeley. 18 cm. (transfer from single accession #6069) |
1 | 8 | 10 | Engraving, n.d. Portrait of Greeley. 30 cm. (no accession number indicated) |
1 | 8 | 11 | Engraving, n.d. Portrait of Greeley. 31 cm. (no accession number indicated) |