| Quantity: | 1 Box (0.25 cubic ft.) |
|---|---|
| Access: | Stored in the Vault. Special arrangements required for viewing |
| Acquisition: | Collation of items formerly catalogued separately (former accession number noted at the end of description of each item) |
| Processed By: | Fred Bassett, Senior Librarian, Manuscripts and Special Collections, October 1999 |
Millard Fillmore, the thirteenth President of the United States, was born January 7, 1800 in Cayuga County, New York. Largely self-educated, he read law in an office and was admitted to the bar in 1823. Having established practice in East Aurora, he became involved in local politics. In 1828, he was elected to the first of three terms in the New York State Assembly on the Anti-Masonic Party ticket. Later he joined the Whig Party. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1833-1835 and 1837-1843. Elected Vice President in 1848, he ascended to the presidency upon the death of Zachary Taylor in 1850. As president, he tried with little popular success to steer a moderate course through the divisive slavery issue. His support of the Fugitive Slave Law as part of the Compromise of 1850 cost him the Whig Party nomination in 1852. In 1856 he ran for president of the American (Know Nothing) Party ticket which finished a distant third to James Buchanan and John C. Fremont. Thereafter, Fillmore retired to Buffalo, where he devoted himself to local affairs. He died March 8, 1874 in Buffalo, New York.
The Millard Fillmore collection consists chiefly of letters relating to his long and varied career in politics and government. It includes letters written by Fillmore while serving as a member of the New York State Assembly, U.S. House of Representatives, and as President. Many of these letters concern matters of politics and patronage. Some letters also concern his involvement in the Anti-Masonic, Whig, and Know Nothing parties. Correspondents of Fillmore included Francis Granger and Daniel Webster.
| Box | Folder | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Letters by Millard Fillmore | ||
| 1 | 1 | A.L.S., January 23, 1831, Albany, N.Y. to Lewis F. Allen. Regards legislation of establishing banks and politics. (15442) |
| 1 | 2 | A.L.S., November 30, 1839, Washington, D.C. to Lewis F. Allen. Regards Whig Party politics in New York State and the potential problems of a presidential campaign by Henry Clay in 1840. (17271) |
| 1 | 3 | A.L.S., December 1, 1839, Washington, D.C. to Haven. Regards the selection of Speaker of the House of Representatives. (15984) |
| 1 | 4 | A.L.S., February 6, 1841, Washington, D.C. to Mrs. A.L. Dixon. Regards inaugural festivities for William Henry Harrison. (7235) |
| 1 | 5 | A.L.S., February 23, 1841, Washington, D.C. to Daniel Webster. Regards an ambassadorship appointment for George W. Lay. (15901) |
| 1 | 6 | A.L.S., August 8, 1844, Buffalo, N.Y. to Joseph Boughton. Regards legal business that prevents him from attending the Whig Party convention in Binghamton. (12236) |
| 1 | 7 | A.L.S., August 14, 1844, Buffalo, N.Y. to Calvin Townsend. Regards the Whig Party convention in Michigan and the nomination of Henry Clay candidate for President. (739) |
| 1 | 8 | A.L.S., January 29, 1845, Albany, N.Y. to James F. Simmons. Regards the confirmation of Reuben Hyde Walworth as Justice of the New York State Supreme Court. (11148) |
| 1 | 9 | A.L.S., November 11, 1848, Albany, N.Y. to J.L. Suits. Regards declining an invitation to speak before the Young Men's Association of Schenectady, N.Y. (7545) |
| 1 | 10 | A.L.S., August 15, 1849, Buffalo, N.Y. to J.S. Williams. Regards political activities of the Democratic and Whig parties in New York State. (15474) |
| 1 | 11 | A.L.S., August 22, 1852, Washington, D.C. to Francis Granger. Regards the nomination of Judge Hill for a judgeship on the U.S. District Court of Northern New York State. (2649) |
| 1 | 12 | A.L.S., November 2, 1853, Buffalo, N.Y. to John C. Wright. Regards personal real estate holdings in Buffalo, N.Y. (1513) |
| 1 | 13 | A.L.S., December 28, 1854, Buffalo, N.Y. to George W. Rounds. Regards gifts of prairie chickens and quails. (16209) |
| 1 | 14 | A.L.S., October 23, 1856, Buffalo, N.Y. to Horace H. Day. Regards the electoral prospects for the American (Know Nothing) Party in the Presidential election that year. (7544) |
| 1 | 15 | A.L.S., July 24, 1857, Buffalo, N.Y. to Ira A. Harris. Regards an invitation to Harris to stay at his home In Buffalo while attending the state agricultural fair. (16208) |
| 1 | 16 | A.L.S., August 28, 1857, Buffalo, N.Y. to Mrs. [?] Davids. Regards a mirror that she presented to him as a gift. (15779) |
| 1 | 17 | A.L.S., June 12, 1858, Buffalo, N.Y. to Ira Harris. Regards the state of Mrs. Fillmore's health and renovations to their home in Buffalo. (16210) |
| 1 | 18 | A.L.S., October 13, 1859, Buffalo, N.Y. to Dr. C. Powers of Moravia, N.Y. Regards the death of Albert H. Tracy and the state of Mrs. Fillmore's health. (17241) |
| Letters to Millard Fillmore | ||
| 1 | 19 | A.L.S., February 2, 1829, Buffalo, N.Y., Oliver Forward. Regards an enclosed deposition by Forward on pending litigation between the State of New York and the failed Bank of Niagara. Also includes a related report by the State Comptroller. (16722) |
| 1 | 20 | A.L.S., December 18, 1835, Albany, N.Y. of John V. Yates. Regards the collection of money from Joseph A. Coughy a debtor to Fillmore. (15576) |
| 1 | 21 | A.L.S., August 16, 1848, Athol, Mass. of Marvin Parker. Regards financial matters. (16009) |
| 1 | 22 | A.L.S., July 10, 1858, New York State Assembly. Resolution granting Millard Fillmore special privileges of the Assembly. (5521) |