Collections

43 documents on vellum.

Correspondence and letter books, 1845-1889, of Charlemagne Tower, as well as legal and business papers related to real estate transactions, coal and iron lands in Pennsylvania, and the family affairs of the Tower family.

Correspondence, documents, and financial records relating almost entirely to the last ten years of Cora Crane's life, dealing largely with the operation of her brothel, The Court, and touching on her last marriage to Hammond P. McNeil and to her work on the invention of a new army canteen. Much of the collection consists of bills, receipts, insurance policies, cancelled checks, and other fairly routine financial papers. Also, a Harold Frederic manuscript and the last known signature of Stephen Crane.

An indenture on parchment from 1775, relating to the estate of one George Pasmore of Middlesex County, England.

Correspondence, manuscripts of poems, and manuscripts of lectures by Benjamin. The correspondence consists of original letters of Benjamin, typescript and photostatic copies of Benjamin letters in other libraries, and letters to Benjamin from some of his literary contemporaries including Paul Hamilton Hayne, Willis Gaylord Clark, John Lothrop Motley, and Fitz-Greene Halleck. Many of the letters relate to Park Benjamin's lecture tours. There are other family letters and many documents relating to the Benjamin family,and two letterbooks of John Lothrop Motley. Also, a large amount of genealogical material of the Benjamin family, and its related families from the 16th century to the present day. There are also financial records, monographs, clippings, and photographs.

Five manuscripts, one map, and four books formerly belonging to various members of the Van Cortlandt family: New York (Colony) Laws, Statutes, etc. Lawes Establish'd by the Authority of his Majesties Letters Patents.. By virtue of a Commission from.. James Duke of Yorke.. 1664. This first set of laws for New York, commonly known as the "Duke's Laws" were promulgated by Governor Richard Nicolls, after a meeting with representatives in Hempstead, Long Island, on March 1, 1664. Bound with this code are nine additions most of which are "Orders made at the Generall Court of Assizes held in New York" 1664-1672. The texts are written in several different hands and signed variously by Richard Nicolls (1624-1672), first governor of New York, 1664-1668; Matthias Nicolls (1630?-1687), Richard's brother and secretary to the province during the period covered; and Francis Lovelace (1618?-1675?), brother of the poet Richard Lovelace and governor of New York, 1668-1673. Written copies of this code were prepared for all the towns on Long Island. Of these copies only four are apparently extant, including this one and one in the New York Historical Society.

A small but interesting collection of family documents that relate to the history of slavery and Columbia.

Papers dealing with Johnson's public life in New York City and in the New York State Senate. While Assistant Alderman, Johnson received numerous letters of application from citizens seeking patronage for a variety of municipal offices, ranging from requests to be a night watchman to a position as a municipal court justice. Also, letters, reports, and other documents relating to various municipal services such as health, welfare, fire fighting, street maintenance, water, sewers, railroads, ferries, and stage coaches. Some letters and documents concern Whig Party politics in the 3rd Ward. Johnson's correspondence as a New York Society Library Trustee refers to the proposed merger with the New York Athenaeum. Also, twelve items relating to his term in the State Senate, covering taxation and control of foreign laborers.