Letters and Signatures
name: label: Series Creator
content: Warshaw, Isadore, 1900-1969
setName: label: See more items in
content: Warshaw Collection of Business Americana Subject Categories: Autographs
unitdate: label: Date
content: circa 1725-1920
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents note
content: Letters and Signatures circa 1725-1920, consists primarily of persons known only by the names they have signed. A smaller, but considerable number are written by persons prominent in civic and business affairs as noted above; some may be of historic interest. These have been identified by their title or office. A very few signatures saved as "autographs" in the popular sense are present. A number of letters are to New York Governor Grover Cleveland from constituents offering their views on various issues. H. T. Duncan's 1862 letter from Lexington, Kentucky is an interesting Civil War document. Several groups of letters are of particular interest for their depiction of personal, business or political affairs:

Subseries 1a, Robert Beverley Papers, circa 1795-1811, are miscellaneous checks written by him and are the only examples of his handwriting. He was probably a member of the prominent Beverley family of Virginia with connections to the family of George Washington. Most of this material was written to him by others and concerns his business affairs. His papers include material concerning the estate of Colonel William A. Washington.

Subseries 1b, Robert DePeyster Outgoing Correspondence, 1828-1829, are letters from Mr. DePeyster in New Orleans to Mr. Leverich in New York. These concern business matters, possibly the import and export of various commodities.

Subseries 1c, Thomas F. Foster Outgoing Correspondence, 1831-1837, are letters written by a Georgia congressman to his friend in Litchfield, Connecticut. Written from several towns in Georgia and from Washington, DC these provide an intimate view of social and political activities in the 1830s. Fine examples of the flowery language in use at the time, they are informative, witty, and convey a strong sense of the personality of the writer. Foster's papers include a sermon "Preached by Mr. Hickock" and an undated Independence Day address; these are not in Foster's hand. For additional information, contact the Archives Center at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270

Subseries 1d, Mary L. McMurman Outgoing Correspondence, 1867-1868, are letters from a widow in Natchez to Mr.Leverich in New York discussing various financial aspects of her late husband's estate.