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Guide to Research Collections New England Historic Genealogical SocietyR Stanton Avery Special Collections Department Boston, MA Papers: 1773-1854, 132 items. Nearly all of the letters in this collection were written by Joshua Coit to his brother Daniel Lathrop Coit, a merchant at Norwich, Connecticut. The letters contain little information about personal activities. For the most part, they concern congressional activities, including current measures which would affect Daniel Coit’s mercantile interests. Coit’s letters describe United States relations with England and events surrounding Jays Treaty, and trade relations with France in anticipation of French spoliation claims, and the X, Y, Z, Affair. While most of his letters comment on international relations, others discuss congressional actions in domestic affairs, notably the Yazoo Land Company claims in 1795. There is also a group of five family letters written between 1784-1854. Two of them are by Ann B. Coit, widow of Joshua Coit, and contain the legacy she left her children. A finding aid is available in the repository. Connecticut Historical Society Hartford, CT Papers: In the Chester McArthur Destler Papers, 1934-1984, 19 boxes. The papers include galleys and page proofs of Chester Destler’s book on Joshua Coit. Library of Congress Manuscript Division Washington, DC Papers: 1792-1798, 0.2 linear foot. Letters from Joshua Coit to his wife Nancy, his eldest son Robert, and Charles Bulkeley, all of New London, Conn., chiefly written in Philadelphia, Penn., while Coit was serving in Congress as a Federalist representative from Connecticut, 1793-1798. Subjects include a dinner with President George Washington, levees for Martha Washington, politics, the prospect of war with Great Britain, the XYZ Affair, an altercation between fellow Representatives Roger Griswold and Matthew Lyon, and religion. Topics also include family, the effect of Coit’s absence on his family, and fatherly advice to his son including the importance of good behavior, helping with household chores, schooling, and proper letter writing. Many of the letters are accompanied by typewritten transcripts. A finding aid is available in the library. New London County Historical Society New London, CT Papers: In the Shaw papers, 1734-1850. ca. 2 feet. Letters (1794-1798) to Elias Perkins discussing treaties and 1796 presidential election. Finding aid in repository. Restricted. New-York Historical Society New York, NY Papers: December 14, 1778. 1 letter. Finding aid in repository. |