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The Henry Clay Family
A Register of Its Papers in the Library of Congress
Prepared by Henry Barnard
Revised and expanded by Harry G. Heiss
2000
Manuscript Division
Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Finding aid encoded by Library of Congress
Manuscript Division, 2000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table of Contents for The Henry Clay Family
Collection Summary
Selected Search Terms
* Names:
* Subjects:
* Occupations:
Administrative Information
* Provenance:
* Processing History:
* Transfers:
* Copyright Status:
* Microfilm:
* Published Editions:
* Preferred Citation:
Biographical Note
* Henry Clay
Scope and Content Note
Description of Series
Part I
* General Correspondence, 1770- 1910, n.d.
* Dispatches and Instructions, 1825- 1829.
* Addenda, 1785- 1924, n.d.
Part II
* General Correspondence, 1800- 1891, n.d.
* Family Correspondence, 1780- 1927, n.d.
* Business Records, 1771- 1927, n.d.
* Biographical File, 1901- 1905, n.d.
* Writings File, 1844- 1901, n.d.
* Miscellany, ca. 1793- 1922, n.d.
* Legal File, 1732- 1857, n.d.
* James Morrison Papers, 1790- 1849, n.d.
* George Nicholas Papers, 1777- 1831, n.d.
* Transylvania University Archives, 1829- 1868, n.d.
* Addenda, 1837- 1847.
* Microfilm.
Container List
Part I
* GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE, 1770- 1910, n.d.
* DISPATCHES AND INSTRUCTIONS, 1825- 1829
* ADDENDA, 1785- 1924, n.d.
Part II
* GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE, 1800- 1891, n.d.
* FAMILY CORRESPONDENCE, 1780- 1927, n.d.
* BUSINESS RECORDS, 1771- 1927, n.d.
* BIOGRAPHICAL FILE, 1901- 1905, n.d.
* WRITINGS FILE, 1844- 1901, n.d.
* MISCELLANY, ca. 1793- 1922, n.d.
* LEGAL FILE, 1732- 1857, n.d.
* JAMES MORRISON PAPERS, 1790- 1849, n.d.
* GEORGE NICHOLAS PAPERS, 1777- 1831, n.d.
* TRANSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES, 1829- 1868, n.d.
* ADDENDA, 1837- 1847
* MICROFILM
Appendix
* Abstracts of Part I: General Correspondence
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Collection Summary
Creator: Clay, Henry, 1777-1852
Title: Henry Clay Family Papers 1732-1927 (bulk 1814-1852)
Size: 18,850 items; 75 containers; 30 linear feet; 24 microfilm reels
Repository: Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Abstract: Personal, official, and family correspondence, speeches,
writings, business records, legal files, biographical material, printed
matter, and other papers chiefly documenting the public career and private
life of statesman Henry Clay (1777-1852), U.S. secretary of state and
representative and senator from Kentucky; his son, James B. Clay
(1817-1864), diplomat, U.S. representative from Kentucky, and Confederate
sympathizer; and other members of Henry Clay's family.
Selected Search Terms
Names:
Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848--Correspondence
Biddle, Nicholas, 1786-1844--Correspondence
Blair, Francis Preston, 1791-1876--Correspondence
Bragg, Braxton, 1817-1876
Breckinridge, John C. (John Cabell), 1821-1875
Brooke, Francis Taliaferro, 1763-1851--Correspondence
Brown, James, 1766-1835--Correspondence
Buchanan, James, 1791-1868
Clay, Henry, 1811-1847--Correspondence
Clay, Henry, 1849-1884--Correspondence
Clay, James Brown, 1848-1908--Correspondence
Clay, John, 1775-1829--Correspondence
Clay, Lucretia Hart, 1781-1864--Correspondence
Clay, Porter, 1779-1849--Correspondence
Clay, Susan Maria Jacob
Clay, Theodore Wythe, 1802-1870--Correspondence
Clay, Thomas Jacob, 1853-1939--Correspondence
Clay family
Colton, Calvin, 1789-1857
Erwin, Anne Brown Clay, 1807-1835--Correspondence
Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872--Correspondence
Greely, A. W. (Adolphus Washington), 1844-1935
Harrison, William Henry, 1773-1841--Correspondence
Hart, Thomas, d. 1808--Correspondence
Howgate, Henry W.
Hughes, Christopher, 1786-1849--Correspondence
Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845.
Johnston, Josiah Stoddard, 1784-1833--Correspondence
Kendall, Amos, 1789-1869--Correspondence
Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, marquis de,
1757-1834--Correspondence
Marshall, Humphrey, 1760-1841
Marshall, John, 1755-1835--Correspondence
Monroe, James, 1758-1831--Correspondence
Nicholas, George, 1754?-1799
Porter, Peter B. (Peter Buell), 1773-1844--Correspondence
Randolph, John, 1773-1833
Rochester, William Beatty, 1789-1838--Correspondence
Rush, Richard, 1780-1859--Correspondence
Sergeant, John, 1779-1852--Correspondence
Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850--Correspondence
Watkins, Elizabeth Hudson Clay, 1750-1829--Correspondence
Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852--Correspondence
Wickliffe, Robert, 1775-1859--Correspondence
Clay, James B. (James Brown), 1817-1864. Papers
Morrison, James, 1755-1823. Papers
Bank of the United States (1816-1836)
Liberty Party (U.S.)
Transylvania University
Great Britain. Treaties, etc. United States, 1814 Dec. 24
United States. Army--History--War of 1812
United States. Army. Cavalry
United States. Dept. of State
Whig Party (U.S.)
Conference Convention (1861 : Washington, D.C.)
Congress of Panama (1826)
Subjects:
Burr Conspiracy, 1805-1807
Banks and banking--Kentucky--Lexington
Diplomatic and consular service, American--19th century
Diplomatic and consular service, American--Portugal
Elections--United States
Indians of North America--Texas
Mexicans--Texas
Nullification
Practice of law--Kentucky--Lexington
Presidents--United States--Election--1824
Presidents--United States--Election--1832
Presidents--United States--Election--1844
Presidents--United States--Election--1856
Public lands--United States
Slavery--Washington (D.C.)
Tariff--United States
Arctic regions--Discovery and exploration
Fort Clark (Tex.)--History
Kentucky--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Kentucky--Politics and government--1792-1865
Latin America--Foreign relations--United States
New York (State)--Politics and government--1775-1865
Texas--Annexation to the United States
Texas--History--1845-1950
United States--Foreign relations--Latin America
United States--History--War of 1812
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
United States--Politics and government--19th century
Occupations:
Representatives, U.S. Congress--Kentucky
Senators, U.S. Congress--Kentucky
Statesmen
Administrative Information
Provenance:
The papers of Henry Clay, congressman, senator, and secretary of state, and
those of his family were received by the Library of Congress through
numerous purchases and gifts, 1899-1997, with the largest acquisitions
being a purchase from Thomas Jacob Clay and George Hudson Clay in 1924 and
donations by the estate of Thomas Jacob Clay in 1940 and 1943.
Processing History:
The papers of the Henry Clay family were arranged and described in 1981.
Additional material was incorporated into the collection in 2000.
Transfers:
Photographs and other pictorial material have been transferred to the
Library's Prints and Photographs Division where they are identified as part
of these papers.
Copyright Status:
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Henry Clay is
governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Microfilm:
A microfilm edition of part of the Henry Clay Family Papers and of selected
Henry Clay items from other collections in the Manuscript Division on
twenty-four reels is available. Produced by the National Archives and
Records Administration, the microfilm edition is described in a separate
register and is available from the Library's Photoduplication Service for
purchase subject to the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17,
U.S.C.). This microfilm edition may also be requested on interlibrary loan
through the Library's Loan Division. No more than ten reels may be
requested for each loan period of one month.
Published Editions:
The Henry Clay Family Papers have also been substantially reproduced in The
Works of Henry Clay, 6 vols. (New York, N.Y.: A. S. Barnes & Burr,
1855-1857), Works of Henry Clay, Comprising His Life, Correspondence, and
Speeches, edited by Calvin Colton (New York, N.Y.: Henry Clay Publishing
Co., 1897), and The Papers of Henry Clay, edited by James F. Hopkins and
Mary W. M. Hargreaves (Lexington, Ky.: University of Kentucky Press, ca.
1959, ca. 1992).
Preferred Citation:
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following
information: container number and roman numeral designating the Part, The
Henry Clay Family Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress,
Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Henry Clay
Date Event
1777 , Apr.
12 Born, Hanover County, Va.
1791 Appointed clerk, Richard Denny's retail store, Richmond,
Va.
1792 Appointed clerk, Office of the Clerk, High Court of
Chancery, Richmond, Va.
1796 Studied law under Robert Brooke
1797 Admitted to the Virginia bar
Moved to Lexington, Ky.
1798 Admitted to the Kentucky bar
1799 Married Lucretia Hart (died 1864)
1803 - 1809 Member, Kentucky legislature
1806 - 1807 Member, U.S. Senate, filling unexpired seat of John Adair
1807 - 1809 Speaker, Kentucky legislature
1809 Survived duel with Humphrey Marshall
1809 - 1811 Member, U.S. Senate, filling unexpired seat of Buckner
Thruston
1811 - 1821 Member, U.S. House of Representatives; speaker, 1811-1820
1814 Appointed commissioner, Ghent Peace Commission, Ghent,
Belgium
1816 Appointed presiding officer, founding meeting of the
American Colonization Society
1820 - 1825 Counsel, Bank of the United States
1821 Resigned from U.S. House of Representatives
1822 Nominated for president by Kentucky legislature
1822 - 1823 Commissioner, land claim dispute between Kentucky and
Virginia
1823 - 1825 Member and speaker, U.S. House of Representatives
1824 Announced as Whig candidate for president
1825 - 1829 Secretary of state
1826 Survived duel with John Randolph
1827 Published Address to the Public
1830 Nominated for president by Kentucky legislature
1831 Nominated as Whig candidate for president
1831 - 1842 Member, U.S. Senate
1836 Elected president, American Colonization Society
1838 Nominated for president by Kentucky legislature
1844 Nominated as Whig candidate for president
1848 Announced as Whig candidate for president
1849 - 1851 Member, U.S. Senate
1852 , June
29 Died, Washington, D.C.
Scope and Content Note
The Henry Clay Family Papers span the years 1732-1927, with the bulk of the
material that pertains to Henry Clay (1777-1852) himself falling in the
period 1814-1852. The papers consist of personal, official, and family
correspondence, business records, biographical material, speeches,
writings, legal files, printed matter, and other material that chiefly
document the public career and private life of Henry Clay and, to a lesser
extent, that of his immediate family. The papers are organized in two parts
based on their acquisition by the Library. Part I consists mostly of
material acquired in 1924 from Henry Clay's grandsons, Thomas Jacob Clay
and George Hudson Clay. Part II was received primarily from the estate of
Thomas Jacob Clay in 1940 and 1943. Both Part I and II also contain smaller
acquisitions received by the Library from other sources.
Part I
Part I of the papers, 1770-1910, is comprised of three series: General
Correspondence, Dispatches and Instructions, and Addenda. The General
Correspondence series consists of letters received and copies of letters
sent by Henry Clay and members of the Clay family. The material has been
bound and is almost exclusively political in content but also includes
occasional business records and family papers. An index to the Henry Clay
correspondence in this series is available in the Manuscript Division
Reading Room and on microfilm. Abstracts of the general correspondence in
Part I are included as an appendix to this register.
The Dispatches and Instructions series has also been bound and includes
information sent to chargés d'affaires and ministers plenipotentiary during
Clay's tenure as secretary of state. The series does not include incoming
material. For unofficial correspondence with ministers, particularly James
Brown and Christopher Hughes, see the General Correspondence series of Part
I.
The Addenda includes correspondence and printed matter received since or
omitted from the bound volumes.
The collection does not include material on Clay's childhood or
adolescence, nor does it include correspondence on the political stands he
assumed in the late 1790s in regard to the Alien and Sedition acts or the
Kentucky constitutional crisis over slavery. There is little political
correspondence for the decade 1790-1800, but professional correspondence
and business records exist for the period 1800-1810.
For the Aaron Burr litigation in Kentucky in 1806, the collection contains
several letters in which Burr requests Clay's professional services while
assuring Clay of his innocence in regard to the charge of treason. There is
documentation for Clay's duels with Humphrey Marshall in January 1809 and
John Randolph in April 1826. Letters between Clay and military and
political leaders on the conduct of the War of 1812 reveal Clay's reaction
following military setbacks during the war, particularly the fall of
Detroit. There is much correspondence between Clay and other Treaty of
Ghent commissioners while in Europe, including extensive and revealing
correspondence between Clay and William H. Crawford while the peace
negotiations were in progress.
After the War of 1812, correspondence concerning the tariff, public lands,
internal improvements, and South America appears intermittently over three
decades. There is very little material on the Missouri Compromise.
Of all the topics chronicled by the Henry Clay Family Papers, the one
documented most heavily is presidential politics. The documentation goes
beyond coverage of the elections of 1832 and 1844 when Clay was his party's
principal standard bearer. Correspondence on presidential politics begins
in 1821, when Clay first considered running in the 1824 race, and ends with
Clay's defeat before the Whig nominating convention of 1848. Only the 1836
presidential campaign, when Clay disclaimed candidacy, is not covered.
Correspondence written between the stalemated presidential election on 9
November 1824 and the run-off election in the House of Representatives on 9
February 1825 sheds light on the circumstances surrounding the "bargain and
intrigue" scandal. Subsequent correspondence follows the sporadic course of
events of the scandal, including a challenge to James K. Polk to debate the
issue. Noteworthy are the numerous letters Tobias Watkins solicited after
the fact as evidence in Clay's behalf.
There is a considerable amount of correspondence in opposition to the
Andrew Jackson administration. Beginning in 1830, politicians including
Hiram Kitchum, John L. Lawrence, P. B. Porter, W. B. Rochester, and Richard
Rush, wrote to Clay on the anti-Masonry issue. There is substantial
correspondence beginning in 1830 on rechartering the Bank of the United
States. A side issue was Clay's professional relationship with bank
officials Langdon Cheves and Nicholas Biddle before Clay resigned from the
bank on 8 March 1825. Correspondence on nullification begins very early,
with the first suggestion of impending conflict appearing in letters about
the time of the Tariff of Abominations. From that point on, the
correspondence on nullification grows until the spring of 1833, when it
predominates.
Toward the end of the 1830s, correspondents take up the issues of slavery
in the District of Columbia and the annexation of Texas. Letters between
Clay and newly-elected William Henry Harrison disclose a sudden break in
their relationship. A sizable amount of correspondence on the effect of New
York politics and the Liberty Party on the presidential election of 1844
appears before and after the election. There is very little material on the
Compromise of 1850.
Henry Clay regularly corresponded with three individuals who may well be
regarded as his political confidants: Francis Brooke, James Brown, and
Josiah Stoddard Johnston. He also corresponded with such eminent
individuals as John Quincy Adams, Nicholas Biddle, Francis Preston Blair,
Horace Greeley, William Henry Harrison, Christopher Hughes, Amos Kendall,
de Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, Marquis Lafayette, John
L. Lawrence, John Marshall, James Monroe, P. B. Porter, W. B. Rochester,
Richard Rush, John Sargeant, Zachary Taylor, Daniel Webster, and Robert
Wickliffe.
Part II
Part II of the Henry Clay Family Papers consists of twelve series: General
Correspondence, Family Correspondence, Business Records, Biographical File,
Writings File, Miscellany, Legal File, James Morrison Papers, George
Nicholas Papers, Transylvania University Archives, Addenda, and Microfilm.
The General Correspondence series includes letters received and copies of
letters sent pertaining principally to Henry Clay's professional and
business interests. The series also includes occasional memoranda, notes,
and speeches, as well as correspondence with Francis Brooke and Josiah
Stoddard Johnston copied by Clay's biographer, Calvin Colton. Letters of
condolence and other correspondence about Clay are located at the end of
the series.
The Family Correspondence series contains mostly letters of Clay family
members other than Henry Clay, with occasional notes, memoranda, journals,
speeches, and telegrams. Correspondents include Clay's mother, Elizabeth
Watkins Clay; brothers, Porter Clay and John Clay; father-in-law, Thomas
Hart; wife, Lucretia Hart Clay; children, Theodore Wythe Clay, Anne Brown
Clay Erwin, Henry Clay, Jr., and James Brown Clay; James's wife, Susan
Maria Jacob Clay; and James and Susan's children, James Brown Clay, Jr.,
John Cathart Johnston Clay, Henry "Harry" Clay, Thomas Jacob Clay, Charles
Donald Clay, George Hudson Clay, and Lucretia Hart Clay.
The Business Records series contains material from the law offices of Henry
Clay, Thomas Hart, James Brown Clay, and several of James's children. Also
included are the wills of Henry Clay, John Clay, Lucretia Hart Clay, Susan
Maria Jacob Clay, Thomas Hart, John I. Jacob, Richard Taylor, and John
Watkins. Material of Clay's father-in-law, Thomas Hart, an early settler
and entrepreneur in Kentucky, includes correspondence with William Blount
and Thomas Hart Benton.
James Brown Clay, one of Henry Clay's sons, was chargé d'affaires to
Portugal under President Zachary Taylor. Opposing the American Party as the
heir apparent to the Whig Party, he gave his support to James Buchanan in
the presidential election of 1856. Clay's support did much to clear
Buchanan of the charge of duplicity over the George Kremer scandal
involving Henry Clay. In return, James was consulted on the formation of
the Buchanan cabinet and was offered the mission to Prussia, which he
declined. He was then elected as a Union Democrat to the House of
Representatives, where he served from 1857 to 1859. As a member of Congress
he took an active part in the recurring debates over "bleeding Kansas."
Later, in 1861, he was appointed a delegate to the failed peace convention
that attempted to avert the Civil War. Unable from ill health to assume a
colonel's commission in the Confederate Army under Braxton Bragg, he fled
Kentucky when Bragg withdrew his troops following the Battle of Perryville.
James subsequently ran the blockade. From Havana, Cuba, he went to Canada,
where he died in Montreal in 1864 from consumption.
The collection contains James Brown Clay's diplomatic correspondence,
speeches as an old-line Whig, and correspondence touching upon Kansas, the
peace convention, and the Civil War. His political correspondence with
Thomas B. Stevenson during the 1850s is particularly revealing. Toward the
end of his life he wrote a sketch of his political career and a critical
account of Braxton Bragg's military campaign in Kentucky.
James Brown Clay had three sons whose papers are also represented in the
collection, James Brown Clay, Jr., Thomas Jacob Clay, and Henry "Harry"
Clay. As a lieutenant and aide-de-camp on the staff of Major General John
C. Breckinridge, James Brown Clay, Jr., corresponded with his mother
concerning military life during the Civil War. His correspondence with G.
C. Wharton in 1905-1906 examines major campaigns during the Civil War.
Thomas Jacob Clay served as a lieutenant in the United States Cavalry.
Stationed at Fort Clark, Texas, he kept a journal describing forays across
the Rio Grande against marauding Mexicans and Indians in 1878.
Henry "Harry" Clay, a lawyer who established the firm of Clay and Rothchild
in San Francisco, participated in the expedition to Lady Franklin Bay,
Greenland, organized by Henry W. Howgate. Subsequently, the site was used
as a staging area for the Adolphus W. Greely expedition to the Arctic. On
that expedition, Clay started out with Greely but was forced to retreat.
When the Greely party ran into difficulties, Henry's brother, Thomas Jacob
Clay, still in the Army, volunteered for the relief party. In a letter
dated 21 December 1883, Henry advises Thomas on the perils of Arctic
travel. He also wrote an article in the Louisville Courier Journal in
January 1884 advising how to undertake the operation. The correspondence on
the Arctic expedition falls in the period 1880-1884 and includes letters
from Greely.
The Biographical File contains an unpublished biography of Henry Clay
titled "Henry Clay; His Slanderers: James Parton, Andrew Jackson; As Judged
by His Contemporaries" written by Clay's daughter-in-law, Susan Maria Jacob
Clay, and revised by her daughter, Lucretia Hart Clay. The file also
contains biographical sketches of Henry Clay, Henry "Harry" Clay, James
Brown Clay, John Cathart Johnston Clay, Lucretia Hart Clay, Lucy Jacob
Clay, Nathaniel Hart Clay, Porter Clay, Susan Maria Jacob Clay, Thomas
Hart, John I. Jacob, Nathaniel Rochester, and Richard Taylor. Also included
is a circular by Susan Maria Jacob Clay, "Slavery in Politics: A Plea for
the Negro."
The Writings File contains religious and fictional writings of Lucretia
Hart Clay and poetry copied and written by Clay family members. The
writings of Lucretia Hart Clay include "What God Has Revealed Respecting
the Animal Creation," "Introduction to the Gospel of St. John,"
"Money-Mad," and "A House-Party at Iverloch."
The Miscellany series contains speeches by Henry Clay and James Brown Clay;
a map of Rome, Italy, 1845; circulars, Re-organization of the Whig Party in
Kentucky, 1856, and Hon. James B. Clay, to His Constituents of the Ashland
District, 1858; reports of the Ohio Canal Commission, 1823, and the
Kentucky Lunatic Asylum Committee, ca. 1847; and Rules of the Republican
Organization of Kentucky, 1901. Other material includes cookbooks; a cattle
auction booklet of James Brown Clay, 1859; an obituary of Catherine H.
Colt, 1846; and genealogies of the Caldwell, Clay, Conway, Hart, Jacob,
Preston, Robertson, Rogers, Taylor, Watkins, and Wilson families.
The Legal File contains client records that are probably from the law
offices of Henry Clay, George Nicholas, or James Morrison and deal
principally with land exchanges, probate, and contracts.
The collection also contains papers of James Morrison and George Nicholas
and archives of Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky. James
Morrison was the executor of the George Nicholas estate. Heirs of the
estate brought suit against Morrison that extended beyond his death.
Morrison's executor in turn was Henry Clay. In addition, Clay represented
the Morrison estate in the suit brought against it by the heirs of George
Nicholas. In both capacities, as executor and as legal counsel, Clay
obtained business and financial records of the two men. He was also
responsible for administering an endowment from the Morrison estate to
Transylvania University. In this role he acquired archival material,
principally financial records of the university.
The James Morrison Papers cover the period 1790-1849, although the bulk of
the material falls in the period 1808-1823. The papers are organized into
business correspondence, business records, and estate papers. The business
correspondence contains letters received and copies of letters sent, with
some enclosed bills and receipts. The business records include records of
Morrison's legal accounts with the Northwestern Army, Indian Department,
Navy Department, War Department, and Treasury Department. The estate papers
contain material concerning the probating of Morrison's estate, including
his autopsy report, correspondence, accounts payable and schedule of debts,
financial records of beneficiary Esther Morrison, and Clay's answers as
legal counsel in the case of Heirs of George Nicholas v. James Morrison.
George Nicholas (ca. 1754-1790) had been a Revolutionary War colonel,
Virginia and Kentucky legislator, author of the Kentucky constitution,
lawyer, and first attorney general of Kentucky. Morrison served as executor
of his estate, and when Morrison died in 1823, Clay, as executor of
Morrison's estate, brought to completion the probate settlement of
Nicholas's estate. The George Nicholas Papers cover the period 1777-1831,
with the bulk of the material documenting the period 1790-1799. Nicholas's
files have been organized into client and business file, correspondence,
and estate papers. The client and business file and correspondence pertain
to Nicholas's law practice. The estate papers include will, statements of
assets and liabilities, and financial records of beneficiaries Mary
Nicholas and Wilson Cary Nicholas.
Transylvania University was a financial beneficiary of the James Morrison
estate. A series of Transylvania University archives, consisting mostly of
financial records and covering the period 1829-1868, includes material
pertaining to the Morrison legacy administered by Clay and articles of
agreement deeding land from the Morrison estate to recompense Gideon
Shryock, architect of Morrison College.
The Addenda contains correspondence received by the Library since the
original processing of the Henry Clay Family Papers. Correspondents include
Coleman Rogers and John M. Clayton.
Description of Series
.
Part I
Microfilm edition available. Shelf nos. 13,789.
Box Series
BOX
I:1-27 General Correspondence, 1770 - 1910 , n.d.
REEL
I:1-6
Letters received and copies of letters sent, family papers,
financial records, letters of condolence, memoranda, notes,
petitions, secretary of state reports to Congress, and speeches.
Organized into Henry Clay correspondence and Clay family
correspondence and arranged chronologically therein. A card index to
the Henry Clay correspondence is available in the Manuscript
Division Reading Room and on microfilm. See the Appendix for
abstracts of the correspondence.
BOX
I:28-34 Dispatches and Instructions, 1825 - 1829 .
REEL
I:7-8
Diplomatic correspondence and instructions.
Arranged chronologically.
BOX I:35
(NOT Addenda, 1785 - 1924 , n.d.
FILMED)
Correspondence, newspaper clippings, reports, speeches, and other
material.
Organized into correspondence and printed matter and arranged
chronologically therein.
.
Part II
BOX General Correspondence, 1800 - 1891 , n.d.
II:36-40
Letters received and copies of letters sent, memoranda, notes, and
speeches.
Arranged by type of correspondence and chronologically therein.
BOX Family Correspondence, 1780 - 1927 , n.d.
II:40-49
Correspondence, envelopes, journals, memoranda, notes, speeches, and
telegrams.
Organized into family correspondence, other correspondence, and
envelopes and arranged chronologically therein.
BOX Business Records, 1771 - 1927 , n.d.
II:49-54
Account records, articles of agreement, bank books, bills of lading,
bonds, deeds, depositions, fee bills, indentures, land patents,
leases, legal opinions, powers of attorney, promissory notes,
receipts, surveys, tax receipts, and wills.
Organized into business records and wills and arranged
chronologically therein.
BOX Biographical File, 1901 - 1905 , n.d.
II:55-57
Unpublished biography of Clay and biographical sketches of Clay and
other family members.
The biography is followed by the biographical sketches arranged in
approximate chronological order.
BOX Writings File, 1844 - 1901 , n.d.
II:57-60
Religious and fictional writings of Lucretia Hart Clay and poetry
and writing fragments of other Clay family members.
The writings of Lucretia Hart Clay are arranged first, followed by
the poetry and fragments.
BOX Miscellany, ca. 1793 - 1922 , n.d.
II:60-64
Address books, calling cards, circulars, cookbooks, drawings,
genealogies, inventories, journal, lists, maps, mementos, newspaper
clippings, notes, obituaries, printed matter, reports, scrapbooks,
sketches, speeches, and transcriptions.
Arranged alphabetically by type of material and chronologically
therein.
BOX Legal File, 1732 - 1857 , n.d.
II:65-66
Articles of agreement, assignments, bills of complaint, deeds,
depositions, indentures, land claims, land grants, land patents,
legal memoranda, legal opinions, plats, pleas, powers of attorney,
surveys, summons, treasury warrants, and wills.
Arranged chronologically.
BOX James Morrison Papers, 1790 - 1849 , n.d.
II:66-74
Correspondence, including letters received and copies of letters
sent with attached bills and receipts; business records, including
accounts payable, accounts receivable, bills of lading, bonds,
indentures, legal records, promissory notes, receipts, and tax
records; and estate papers.
Arranged alphabetically by type of material and chronologically
therein.
BOX George Nicholas Papers, 1777 - 1831 , n.d.
II:74-75
Client and business files including articles of agreement, bills of
complaint, financial records, indentures, land claims, legal
memoranda, pleas, receipts, and wills; correspondence, primarily
professional and business letters received; and estate papers
containing wills, financial records, and legal documents.
Arranged alphabetically by type of material and chronologically
therein.
BOX Transylvania University Archives, 1829 - 1868 , n.d.
II:75
Account records, articles of agreement, bank checks, correspondence,
minutes, promissory notes, and receipts.
Arranged chronologically.
BOX Addenda, 1837 - 1847 .
II:75
Correspondence.
Arranged chronologically.
REEL Microfilm.
9-24
Microfilm of Clay papers miscellany, card index to correspondence,
items from Containers 34-39, and Clay material from other
collections.
Arrangement described in finding aid to microfilm edition.
Microfilm shelf nos. 13,789, 13,789.1, and 17,343.
Container List
Part I
Microfilm edition available. Shelf nos. 13,789 and 13,789.1
Box Reel Contents
GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE, 1770 - 1910 , n.d.
BOX I:1 REEL 1 Clay, Henry
30 Nov. 1770-4 Feb. 1814 Abstract available
BOX I:2 5 Feb. 1814-24 Nov. 1818 Abstract available
BOX I:3 30 Nov. 1818-17 Dec. 1822 Abstract available
BOX I:4 19 Dec. 1822-14 Oct. 1824 Abstract available
BOX I:5 15 Oct. 1824-12 Oct. 1825 Abstract available
BOX I:6 REEL 2 13 Oct. 1825-10 Apr. 1826 Abstract available
BOX I:7 12 Apr.-18 Nov. 1826 Abstract available
BOX I:8 20 Nov. 1826-21 Apr. 1827 Abstract available
BOX I:9 22 Apr.-2 Aug. 1827 Abstract available
BOX I:10 3 Aug.-21 Oct. 1827 Abstract available
BOX I:11 REEL 3 22 Oct. 1827-14 Jan. 1828 Abstract available
BOX I:12 15 Jan.-30 Apr. 1828 Abstract available
BOX I:13 2 May-22 Nov. 1828 Abstract available
BOX I:14 24 Nov. 1828-14 Mar. 1829 Abstract available
BOX I:15 16 Mar.-11 Nov. 1829 Abstract available
BOX I:16 REEL 4 13 Nov. 1829-29 Oct. 1830 Abstract available
BOX I:17 30 Oct. 1830-25 Oct. 1831 Abstract available
BOX I:18 26 Oct. 1831-20 Mar. 1832 Abstract available
BOX I:19 22 Mar.-24 Aug. 1832 Abstract available
BOX I:20 REEL 5 26 Aug. 1832-7 Nov. 1834 Abstract available
BOX I:21 8 Nov. 1834-5 June 1838 Abstract available
BOX I:22 11 June 1838-13 Mar. 1841 Abstract available
BOX I:23 15 Mar. 1841-4 Oct. 1844 Abstract available
BOX I:24 REEL 6 9 Oct. 1844-18 Apr. 1845 Abstract available
BOX I:25 22 Apr. 1845-19 July 1848 Abstract available
BOX I:26 22 July 1848-4 Nov. 1852 Abstract available
BOX I:27 Undated Abstract available
Clay family, 1853-1910, n.d. Abstract available
DISPATCHES AND INSTRUCTIONS, 1825 - 1829
BOX I:28 REEL 710 Mar.-10 May 1825
BOX I:29 11 May-22 Nov. 1825
BOX I:30 24 Nov. 1825-13 June 1826
BOX I:31 19 June-8 Nov. 1826
BOX I:32 REEL 811 Nov. 1826-4 May 1827
BOX I:33 11 May 1827-20 Feb. 1828
BOX I:34 21 Feb. 1828-28 Feb. 1829
ADDENDA, 1785 - 1924 , n.d.
BOX I:35 Correspondence
Originals, 1814-1853
(2 folders)
Photostats, 1785-1888
Printed matter, 1823-1924, n.d.
(2 folders)
Part II
GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE, 1800 - 1891 , n.d.
BOX II:36 General correspondence
Feb. 1800-Jan. 1824
(7 folders)
BOX II:37 Feb. 1824-Dec. 1831
(7 folders)
BOX II:38 Jan. 1832-Dec. 1842
(7 folders)
BOX II:39 Jan. 1843-May 1852, n.d.
(6 folders)
BOX II:40 Condolence letters, 1852-1853
Other correspondence, 1801-1857
Envelopes, annotated wrappings, etc., ca. 1806-1891, n.d.
FAMILY CORRESPONDENCE, 1780 - 1927 , n.d.
BOX II:40 Family correspondence
Originals
Nov. 1780-Oct. 1812
(4 folders)
BOX II:41 Nov. 1812-Oct. 1849
(6 folders)
BOX II:42 Nov. 1849-May 1855
(6 folders)
BOX II:43 June 1855-Jan. 1858
(6 folders)
BOX II:44 Feb. 1858-Feb. 1863
(6 folders)
BOX II:45 Mar. 1863-July 1873
(6 folders)
BOX II:46 Aug. 1873-Sept. 1884
(6 folders)
BOX II:47 Oct. 1884-Aug. 1912
(6 folders)
BOX II:48 Sept. 1912-Aug. 1927, n.d.
(3 folders)
Photostatic copies, 1781-1923
(3 folders)
Other correspondence
1782-1803
BOX II:49 1804-1863, n.d.
(2 folders)
Envelopes, annotated wrappings, etc., ca. 1781-1917
(3 folders)
BUSINESS RECORDS, 1771 - 1927 , n.d.
BOX II:49 Business records
Oct. 1771-June 1802
(2 folders)
BOX II:50 July 1802-Nov. 1816
(5 folders)
BOX II:51 Dec. 1816-Jan. 1829
(6 folders)
BOX II:52 Feb. 1829-Aug. 1837
(5 folders)
BOX II:53 Sept. 1837-Dec. 1855
(6 folders)
BOX II:54 Jan. 1856-Feb. 1927, n.d.
(5 folders)
Wills, 1780-1923, n.d.
BIOGRAPHICAL FILE, 1901 - 1905 , n.d.
BOX II:55 Biography by Susan Maria Jacob Clay, "Henry Clay; His
Slanderers: James Parton, Andrew Jackson; As Judged by His
Contemporaries," n.d.
Typescript copies
(4 folders)
Original manuscript
(2 folders)
BOX II:56
(2 folders)
Fragments
Miscellaneous biographical sketches
Henry Clay, 1905, n.d.
(2 folders)
BOX II:57 Clay family, 1901, n.d.
(4 folders)
WRITINGS FILE, 1844 - 1901 , n.d.
BOX II:57 Clay, Lucretia Hart
"What God Has Revealed Respecting the Animal
Creation," n.d.
Typescript copies
(1 folder)
BOX II:58
(1 folder)
Original manuscript
(2 folders)
"Introduction to the Gospel of St. John," n.d.
Miscellaneous religious writings, ca. 1866-1901, n.d.
(1 folder)
BOX II:59
(1 folder)
"Money-Mad," n.d.
Mimeograph copies
(2 folders)
Original manuscript
"A House-Party at Iverloch," n.d.
BOX II:60 Other family members
Poetry, 1844-1890, n.d.
Fragments, n.d.
MISCELLANY, ca. 1793 - 1922 , n.d.
BOX II:60 Drawings and sketches, 1882, n.d.
Genealogies, 1832-1919, n.d.
(2 folders)
Journal, containing original collection inventory, critique of
Andrew Jackson administration, and "Alphonse, or Natural Son,"
ca. 1829-1871, n.d.
BOX II:61 Mementos, calling cards, and address book, 1852-1883, n.d.
Newspaper clippings, ca. 1856-1917
(2 folders)
BOX II:62
(2 folders)
BOX II:63
(1 folder)
Notes, lists, transcriptions, and inventories,
ca. 1793-1922, n.d.
Printed matter, ca. 1828-1922
(2 folders)
BOX II:64
(1 folder)
Scrapbooks
Henry Clay, ca. 1835-1914, n.d.
Clay family, ca. 1880-1921, n.d.
Civil War, ca. 1861-1862, n.d.
LEGAL FILE, 1732 - 1857 , n.d.
BOX II:65 Dec. 1732-July 1801
(5 folders)
BOX II:66 Aug. 1801-Aug. 1857, n.d.
(3 folders)
JAMES MORRISON PAPERS, 1790 - 1849 , n.d.
BOX II:66 Business correspondence
Correspondence
Nov. 1795-Dec. 1807
(3 folders)
BOX II:67 Jan. 1808-Feb. 1810
(6 folders)
BOX II:68 Mar. 1810-Aug. 1816
(6 folders)
BOX II:69 Sept. 1816-Sept. 1822
(6 folders)
BOX II:70 Oct. 1822-Aug. 1823
Envelopes, annotated wrappings, etc., ca. 1795-1823,
n.d.
Business records
Aug. 1790-Nov. 1808
(5 folders)
BOX II:71 Dec. 1808-Dec. 1810
(7 folders)
BOX II:72 Jan. 1811-Feb. 1816
(7 folders)
BOX II:73 Mar. 1816-Aug. 1823, n.d.
(5 folders)
Estate papers
Feb. 1823-June 1829
(2 folders)
BOX II:74 July 1829-Jan. 1849
GEORGE NICHOLAS PAPERS, 1777 - 1831 , n.d.
BOX II:74 Client and business file, 1777-1779, n.d.
(2 folders)
Correspondence, 1782-1799
(2 folders)
Estate papers
1797-1825
(2 folders)
BOX II:75 1826-31
TRANSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES, 1829 - 1868 , n.d.
BOX II:75 Records, 1829-1868, n.d.
(5 folders)
ADDENDA, 1837 - 1847
BOX II:75 Correspondence, 1837-1847
MICROFILM
Microfilm shelf nos. 13,789, 13,789.1, and 17,343
REEL 9 Clay papers miscellany
REEL 10-19 Reproductions from Containers 41-49
REEL 20-23 Selections from other Manuscript Division collections
REEL 24 Card index to correspondence
.
Appendix
Abstracts of Part I: General Correspondence
Vol. 1: 30 Nov. 1770-4 Feb. 1814
This volume includes material on Henry Clay's ancestors; his license
to practice law in Virginia, dated 6 November 1797; business
correspondence related to land speculation and debt collection,
principally with out-of-state clients, notably from Baltimore; the
first letter with Clay's most intimate and long-term correspondent,
Francis Brooke, a boyhood friend; a letter from Felix Grundy on the
Kentucky Insurance Company issue, dated 4 February 1805; a letter from
Attorney General John Breckenridge on relations with Great Britain,
dated 22 March 1806; correspondence on the Aaron Burr litigation in
November and December 1806; the challenges, formal rules, and an
eyewitness account of the Clay-Marshall duel in January 1809; and
letters concerning the War of 1812 from Thomas Hart Benton, William
Henry Harrison, and James Monroe.
Vol. 2: 5 Feb. 1814-24 Nov. 1818
This volume includes correspondence with fellow commissioners James
Asheton Bayard, Albert Gallatin, and Jonathan Russell during the
Treaty of Ghent negotiations; extensive correspondence with William H.
Crawford on the diplomatic issues at stake; an American position
statement, dated 14 December 1814; Secretary of State James Monroe's
offer to Clay to assume a diplomatic mission to Russia, dated 30
October 1815; President James Madison's offer to Clay to take over the
War Department, dated 30 August 1816, and Clay's letter of refusal,
dated 14 September 1816; the first letter to be received by Clay from
Marquis de Lafayette, dated 26 October 1815, in which he comments on
political conditions in France. Lafayette's correspondence would grow
in volume and is noteworthy for its perspectives on European politics,
international relations generally, and South American independence
movements in particular.
Vol. 3: 30 Nov. 1818-17 Dec. 1822
This volume includes correspondence with Langdon Cheves concerning
Clay's professional relationship with the Bank of the United States,
correspondence that would subsequently be taken up by Nicholas Biddle;
the correspondence and official records of the land claims
negotiations between Kentucky and Virginia in which Clay acted as
commissioner for Kentucky; extensive correspondence on presidential
politics, beginning with a letter from Henry R. Warfield, dated 13
December 1821; a letter from Jonathan Russell relating his efforts to
undermine John Quincy Adams's presidential campaign, dated 9 July
1822; a letter from Amos Kendall describing his clandestine efforts,
dated 20 June 1822; and a letter from Andrew Hughes suggesting that
Andrew Jackson might run for president, dated 31 July 1822.
Vol. 4: 19 Dec. 1822-14 Oct. 1824
This volume is dominated by presidential politics. Secondary subjects
include Clay's continuing professional relationship with the Bank of
the United States and a disagreement with Congressman Ichabod Bartlett
of New Hampshire, which ended amicably in January 1824.
Vol. 5: 15 Oct. 1824-12 Oct. 1825
Correspondence reflecting uncertainty over the final electoral vote
count includes the letter from Clay to Francis Preston Blair, dated 8
January 1825, that would provide the basis for the revival of the
charge of "bargain and intrigue" during the presidential campaign of
1828 (see abstracts to vols. 11 and 12). A letter from Clay to Blair
dated 29 January 1825 responds to George Kremer's
anonymously-published calumny. The volume also includes Nicholas
Biddle's reply to Clay's resignation from the Bank of the United
States, dated 11 March 1825; correspondence in response to Clay's
address to his constituents concerning Kremer's allegations; and the
initial correspondence between James Brown as minister to France and
Clay as secretary of state. The latter correspondence was particularly
frank, for the two men were longtime friends, and related by marriage
to the Hart family of Kentucky.
Vol. 6: 13 Oct. 1825-10 Apr. 1826
This volume includes a letter from William Carroll concerning Andrew
Jackson's resignation from Congress, dated 25 November 1825;
correspondence on the procrastination of Congress over sending
delegates to the Congress of Panama; a letter from Robert Wickliffe,
Clay's principal source of information on Kentucky politics,
concerning the political gains of the Jackson faction in Kentucky,
dated 7 March 1826; and documentation from late March through early
April 1826 relating to the Clay-Randolph duel.
Vol. 7: 12 Apr.-18 Nov. 1826
This volume begins with correspondence on the Clay-Randolph duel.
Correspondence from ministers Christopher Hughes and James Brown
predominates. In a letter dated 9 May 1826, W. B. Rochester comments
on the presidential aspirations of DeWitt Clinton. However, the main
focus of Clay's political correspondents, who report on political
movements within their states, is the popularity of the Jackson
faction. This preoccupation also takes up a substantial portion of the
following six volumes. Volume 7 also includes correspondence with
Daniel Webster, which was substantial, supportive, and confidential
during the Adams administration and the first Jackson administration,
and material on internal improvements and the St. Lawrence River.
Vol. 8: 20 Nov. 1826-21 Apr. 1827
This volume consists principally of correspondence on presidential
politics. The correspondents pay close attention to the Jackson
faction, with comments on DeWitt Clinton and Martin Van Buren as well.
Clay's informants continue to report on politics within their
particular states. The concern over the pivotal states New York and
Pennsylvania is reflected in correspondence with politicians from
these states. Throughout these volumes the following correspondents
regularly report to Clay concerning political conditions in their
states: Adam Beatty, Kentucky; Francis Brooke, Virginia; William
Carroll, Tennessee; James Erwin, Louisiana; Charles Hammond, Ohio;
Edward Ingersoll, Pennsylvania; Francis Johnson, Kentucky; Joseph
Kent, Maryland; John L. Lawrence, New York; P. S. Markley,
Pennsylvania; Thomas Metcalfe, Kentucky; Hugh Mercer, Virginia;
Hezekiah Niles, Maryland; John Hampden Pleasants, Virginia; Peter
Buell Porter, New York; William Beatty Rochester, New York; John
Sergeant, Pennsylvania; Henry Shaw, Massachusetts; Jonathan Sloane,
Massachusetts; Thomas B. Stevenson, Ohio; Joseph M. Street, Missouri;
Charles Stewart Todd, Kentucky; Henry R. Warfield, Maryland; Daniel
Webster, Massachusetts; Robert Wickliffe, Kentucky; and Elisha
Whittlesey, Ohio.
Vol. 9: 22 Apr.-2 Aug. 1827
This volume begins with a letter dated 27 April 1827 related to the
acquisition of a cipher to the coded correspondence between Jackson,
Burr, and Blennerhassett (letters related to this attempt to discredit
Jackson are dated 7 April 1827 and 13 August 1828). Much of the volume
comprises replies to Tobias Watkins's circular asking for statements
to dispute Carter Beverly's allegation that Clayites had bargained
with the Jackson camp in the previous election. These replies provide
the documentation for Clay's Address to the Public, a refutation of
the charges against him, published in December 1827. This volume also
includes correspondence responding to Clay's July denial to Jackson's
June statement that, in the previous election, an individual
representing Clay had made overtures to the Jackson camp.
Vol. 10: 3 Aug.-21 Oct. 1827
This volume begins with correspondence responding to Clay's repeated
denial that he had dealt with the Jackson camp in the previous
election, a denial Clay reiterated in a published speech given in
Lexington in August in which he called upon Jackson to name the
supposed go-between. Correspondence in August and September relates to
James Buchanan's statements that he had not acted in such a capacity.
Vol. 11: 22 Oct. 1827-14 Jan. 1828
This volume includes more correspondence concerning the Beverly-
Jackson-Buchanan matter; correspondence on Congressional elections as
harbingers of presidential politics; two Francis Preston Blair
letters, dated 14 November and 31 December 1827, written prior to his
testimony before the Kentucky senate committee investigating the
charges against Clay; a published version of Clay's Address to the
Public; and correspondence responding to the Address and to the
Harrisburg Convention.
Vol. 12: 15 Jan.-30 Apr. 1828
Correspondence in this volume concerns Francis Preston Blair, his
appearance before the Kentucky senate investigating committee, and the
question of publishing the supposedly incriminating letter Clay wrote
to Blair, dated 8 January 1825.
Vol. 13: 2 May-22 Nov. 1828
This volume is dominated by presidential politics.
Vol. 14: 24 Nov. 1828-14 Mar. 1829
This volume includes correspondence commenting on the outcome of the
election and expressing considerable apprehension concerning the
Jackson administration and ends with invitations to Clay to attend
public demonstrations in his behalf following his departure from
Washington, D.C.
Vol. 15: 16 Mar.-11 Nov. 1829
This volume includes correspondence critical of the Jackson
administration. A letter from Sidney Breese, dated 30 July 1829, is
the first to question Clay on the prospect of running in 1832.
Vol. 16: 13 Nov. 1829-29 Oct. 1830
Correspondence in this volume speculates on the likely candidates for
1832, including the possibility that Martin Van Buren would receive
the Democratic nomination. W. H. Crawford's letter, dated 31 March
1830, is representative of this speculation over candidates. The
volume also includes correspondence critical of the Jackson
administration. Daniel Webster's letter, dated 29 May 1830, is
representative. There is a letter from Richard Rush on the
anti-Masonry issue in New York, dated 25 September 1830, and a letter
from James Madison on the "nullifying doctrine," dated 9 October 1830.
Vol. 17: 30 Oct. 1830-25 Oct. 1831
This volume includes a letter, dated 3 November 1830, from Nicholas
Biddle to Clay in which the banker states that it would be
"inexpedient" to raise the recharter issue. Daniel Webster reports in
a letter dated 4 March 1831 on the split between Calhoun and Jackson.
In May, Richard Rush starts an urgent correspondence to persuade Clay
to go along with the anti-Masons. Hugh Mercer reports on the
resignation of the cabinet in a letter dated 9 May 1831. In a letter
dated 31 August 1831, Clay is warned that the Jackson faction in
Kentucky will make a concerted effort to block his election to the
Senate. In a letter of 7 September 1831, John Quincy Adams disputes
the legitimacy of nullification, expounding his constitutional theory
of government. The correspondence in October concerns Clay's bid for a
seat in the Senate.
Vol. 18: 26 Oct. 1831-20 Mar. 1832
Correspondence congratulating Clay on his election to the Senate opens
this volume. Nicholas Biddle's letter of 22 December 1831 touches upon
rechartering the Bank of the United States. Patrick Henry urged Clay
to encourage the government to purchase Mount Vernon in a letter dated
18 February 1832. Beginning in March, there is more correspondence on
the recharter issue.
Vol. 19: 22 Mar.-24 Aug. 1832
A March 22 letter from James Madison argues for accommodation on the
tariff to avert a crisis over nullification. In May and June, Hiram
Kitchum and Richard Rush address Clay on anti-Masonry. Clay's letter
to Hezekiah Niles, dated 8 July 1829, comments on the tariff bill, the
bank bill, and the public land bill. Nicholas Biddle's letter, dated 1
August 1832, expresses his reaction to Jackson's veto.
Vol. 20: 26 Aug. 1832-7 Nov. 1834
Correspondence on the presidential election continues through November
with correspondence on the outcome of the election in November and
December. P. B. Porter and W. B. Rochester kept Clay abreast of the
anti-Masonry splinter group in New York. A copy of a bill to modify
the tariff is located at the beginning of 1833. Dated 8 February 1833,
a letter from Nicholas Biddle indicates his intention to fight back
against the kitchen cabinet. The period from February through June
1833 contains increasing correspondence on the nullification crisis.
In a letter dated 20 February 1833, John M. Clayton commented on the
struggle in Congress; in a letter dated 19 March 1833, Peleg Sprague
expressed the northern point of view; and in a letter dated 2 April
1833, James Madison advised appeasement. The period from January
through March 1834 contains correspondence on the removal of the
deposits from the Bank of the United States, the purportedly arbitrary
removal of secretaries of the treasury, and the Senate's intention to
censure Andrew Jackson for these "unconstitutional" actions. Clay's
letter to Francis Brooke, dated 23 March 1834, expressed his fears for
the political future of the country.
Vol. 21: 8 Nov. 1834-5 June 1838
This volume includes correspondence on the French crisis during the
winter of 1835. In a letter dated 4 January 1835, Nicholas Biddle
expressed the view that the Bank of the United States played a role in
collecting the claims. In a letter dated 31 January 1835, James
Madison cautioned against rash action. The volume also includes
material on the slavery issue. Lewis Tappan attempted to win Clay over
to the anti-slavery group, with letters dated 24 March, 22 June, and
20 July 1835 and 1 May and 5 June 1838. John Greenleaf Whittier wrote
Clay on 5 June 1837; and in January and February 1838 there is
correspondence responding to Clay's January 8 speech in Congress
modifying Calhoun's December resolutions. The question of the choice
of the Whig candidate arose in correspondence between July and August
1837. The volume also includes a letter from Henry Austin attempting
to enlist Clay's support for Texas, dated 13 April 1836; and two
letters on the issue of international copyright from Harriet
Martineau, dated 15 May 1837, and from Grenville A. Sackell, dated 25
January 1838.
Vol. 22: 11 June 1838-13 Mar. 1841
A letter from Nicholas Biddle commented on the Texas question, dated 7
September 1838, and a letter from Clay on the proper course of action
for Congress in relation to slavery in the District of Columbia, dated
25 February 1839. Letters and petitions advocate Clay's presidential
candidacy. During the election year, there is correspondence with
William Henry Harrison, dated 25 February, 21 June, 6 August, 2
November, and 15 November. A letter dated 13 March 1841 and its reply
dated 15 March document a rupture in the relationship between the two
men. Volume 22 also includes business correspondence between Henry
Clay and his son, Thomas Hart Clay, esecially during the 1840s when
their joint business ventures were failing.
Vol. 23: 15 Mar. 1841-4 Oct. 1844
This volume begins with Clay's March 15 reply to William Henry
Harrison's March 13 letter that rebuked Clay for "dictating"
proposals. The period from May to September 1841 contains
correspondence on reestablishing a Bank of the United States. A letter
from Clay to Martin Van Buren written 26 March 1842, the day before
Clay's farewell address to the Senate, extended an invitation to the
would-be Democratic candidate to visit Ashland. Immediately
thereafter, Clay received a letter, dated April 2, from Carter Beverly
that exonerated Clay from the allegations Beverly had made in 1827. A
letter dated 25 July 1842 from Clay to Jacob Gibson, provides insight
into Clay's basic views on slavery. Joseph Story responded to Clay's
Lexington speech, his first as a presidential candidate, in a letter
dated 3 August 1842. Clay challenged James K. Polk to a debate over
the issue of "bargain and intrigue" in a letter dated 20 May 1843.
This volume also includes correspondence describing political trends
within particular states and correspondence attesting to Clay's
innocence in regard to the old charge of "bargain and intrigue."
Vol. 24: 9 Oct. 1844-18 Apr. 1845
Correspondence commenting on the electoral defeat includes allegations
of election fraud, particularly in New York. Beginning in November but
continuing through the winter and spring there are many letters of
sympathy concerning the electoral defeat and invitations to attend
public demonstrations of support. The period from January through May
1845 contains correspondence on the fund-raising drive to relieve Clay
of large debts. A copy of a letter dated 28 February 1845 from Andrew
Jackson to William B. Lewis commented on James Buchanan's want of
moral fiber in relation to the role he played in the "bargain and
intrigue" scandal.
Vol. 25: 22 Apr. 1845-19 July 1848
This volume contains correspondence with Horace Greeley on
presidential politics, with letters dated 15 November 1846, 30
November 1847, and 28 April, 29 May, and 21 June 1848. Correspondence
with candidate Zachary Taylor is dated 4 November and 28 December 1847
and 30 April 1848. Clay's letters dated 2 December 1847 and 12 April
1848 relate to his own candidacy. Letters of sympathy concern the
outcome of the Whig nominating convention.
Vol. 26: 22 July 1848-4 Nov. 1852
Additional letters concern the outcome of the Whig nominating
convention. Writing on 11 September 1848, Clay disclaimed any
intention to run as a third party candidate. His letter of 31 May 1850
to Thomas Hart Clay revealed pessimism over passage of the Compromise
measures. In the last years of his life, Clay wrote many letters to
his wife, Lucretia Hart Clay. The last third of volume 26 consists of
letters of condolence (see also letters of condolence in Part II:
General Correspondence).
Vol. 27: 1853-1910, n.d.
Undated correspondence and miscellaneous material relate to Henry
Clay; other Clay family papers are dated 1853-1910.
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