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John C. Hamilton papers, 1779-1851

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Summary Information

At a Glance

Call No.: MS#0545
Bib ID 4078859 View CLIO record
Creator(s) Hamilton, John C (John Church), 1792-1882
Title John C. Hamilton papers, 1779-1851
Physical Description 11 linear feet (24 boxes)
Language(s) English .
Access You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

This collection has no restrictions.

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

Arrangement

Arrangement

Arranged. Copies in part.

Description

Summary

Papers of John Church Hamilton, consisting of transcripts of his father's letters and papers, and his own notes, drafts, and manuscripts of his biography of his father, THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER HAMILTON, and of his HISTORY OF THE REPUBLIC. The collection is of particular importance because it contains copies of letters for which the location of the originals is unknown since the time when John Church Hamilton made his transcripts. These include letters from generals of the Continental Army, from the French Expeditionary forces, and from others who played important roles in the American Revolution and the period which followed.

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Restrictions on Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

This collection has no restrictions.

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); John C. Hamilton Papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Reproduction Note

Type of reproduction--Copies in part

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Swan, William H. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1969. Accession number--M-69.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 06/--/1989.

Revision Description

2022-07-06 PDF replaced with encoded finding aid. kws

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Subject

Heading "CUL Archives:"
"Portal"		 "CUL Collections:"
"CLIO"		 "Nat'l / Int'l Archives:"
"ArchivedGRID"
Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Historians Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
United States. Continental Army Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID

History / Biographical Note

Biographical / Historical

Historian. John C. Hamilton was the son of Alexander Hamilton.

After clicking 'Submit Request', users will login with their UNI and password (Columbia affiliates) or their special collections account (external users). Appointments are required and will be arranged according to each individual repository's policy.

Series I: John C. Hamilton papers


Box 1 Washington transcriptions

A total of 414 foolscap pages, transcriptions of George Washington's correspondence in 1779 with John Jay and the Continental Congress, the Board of War, his staff, and foreign dignitaries. Some of the originals have disappeared since these transcripts were made; this material is therefore of equal importance to the Jared Sparks papers (at Harvard), for the history of this portion of the Revolution. The transcripts are clearly written on good paper; each is docketed. Hamilton at this time was Washington's aide-de-camp


Box 2 Washington transcriptions

A total of 409 foolscap pages, transcriptions of George Washington's correspondence in 1780 with Congress, the Army, and others. Alexander Hamilton was Washington's aide-de-camp at the time


Box 3 Washington transcriptions

A total of 145 foolscap pages, transcriptions of George Washington's correspondence in 1781 (Jan.-April); Hamilton was Washington's aide-de-camp at this time


Box 4 Washington transcriptions

Transcripts (251 pp. foolscap) of Washington's correspondence in 177; 295 pp. for 1778 - a total of 546 pages. Hamilton was Washington's aide-de-camp at this time


Box 5 Hamilton transcriptions

Alexander Hamilton's correspondence, transcripts, 1765-1783. 354 pieces, each docketed


Box 6 Hamilton transcriptions

Alexander Hamilton's correspondence, transcripts, 1784-1792. 604 pieces, each docketed


Box 7 Hamilton transcriptions

Alexander Hamilton's correspondence, transcripts, 1793-1797. 652 pieces, each docketed


Box 8 Hamilton transcriptions

Alexander Hamilton's correspondence, transcripts, 1793-1799. 533 pieces, each docketed


Box 9 Hamilton transcriptions

Alexander Hamilton's correspondence, transcripts, 1800-1804, and undated. 377 pieces, each docketed


Box 10 "The Life of Alexander Hamilton" manuscript

Ms. of John Church Hamilton's "The Life of Alexander Hamilton," (New York, 1840, 2 vols.). Chapters 2-29, each in a separate folder; J.C. Hamilton's original Ms., heavily corrected. Two volumes of the biography appeared as "The History of the Republic of the United States of America, as traced in the writings of Alexander Hamilton and His Contemporaries," (New York, 1857-60, 6 vols.)


Box 11 "The Life of Alexander Hamilton" manuscript

Chapters 30-49, each in a separate folder


Box 12 "The Life of Alexander Hamilton" manuscript

Chapters 50-59, each in a separate folder


Box 13 "The Life of Alexander Hamilton" manuscript

Chapters 60-79, each in a separate folder


Box 14 "The Life of Alexander Hamilton" manuscript

Chapters 80-99, each in a separate folder


Box 15 "The Life of Alexander Hamilton" manuscript

Chapters 100-129, each in a separate folder


Box 16 "The Life of Alexander Hamilton" manuscript

Chapters 130-167, each in a separate folder


Box 17 "The History of the Republic" manuscript

Eleven drafts of chapters in Vols. 3 and 4 of "The History of the Republic," each in a separate folder


Box 18 "The History of the Republic" manuscript

Unpaged Ms. of "The History," and also material for J.C. Hamilton's edition of Alexander Hamilton's "Works," (N.Y., 1850-51, 7 vols.)


Box 19 "The History of the Republic" manuscript

Unpaged Ms. of "The History." Some of this appears to be early drafts, and there are also notes for composition and queries about inclusion of material. A Number of handwritings are represented. There are also pages of J.C. Hamilton's "Life" revised for the later "History," and some corrected proof of the "History."


Box 20 "The History of the Republic" manuscript

Unpaged Ms. of the "History," (drafts), Ms. for Alexander Hamilton's "Works," and some of J.C. Hamilton's notes and working papers in his original wrappers.


Box 21 "The History of the Republic" manuscript

Unpaged Ms. of the "History," and Ms. for the "Works," with notes and some proof


Box 22 Drafts and working papers

Drafts and working papers for J.C. Hamilton's projects and some correspondence of his business papers; several newspapers (1840s)


Box 23 Hamilton transcriptions

Transcripts of Hamilton's correspondence, each docketed. (Used by J.C. Hamilton in his edition of the "Works")


Box 24 Hamilton transcriptions

Six folders of transcriptions of letters to and from Alexander Hamilton, copies of other Revolutionary or Federal materials, lists of correspondences, in J.C. Hamilton's hand.