“As for your interest in the proclamation of May 14, 1948, any document or statement issued by the President goes through a series of statements to make certain of its accuracy and clarity of meaning. I continue to hope that a reign of peace will soon come to pass ...”

Massachusetts Congressman John F. Kennedy makes a powerful statement about the place of religion, specifically his own Catholicism, in politics. Here he criticizes a priest in western Massachusetts for using religion as a political wedge in a local school election, reminding Catholics, who tended to vote Democratic, of the difficulties faced by Al Smith, a Catholic, in his presidential campaign in 1928. “I think that the priest up there should be reprimanded by the Bishop for attempting to make a religious war out of a school election. And then they complain about Al Smith’s treatment.”

The 1876 presidential election between Republican Rutherford B. Hayes and Democrat Samuel Tilden came down to a dispute over Florida’s electoral votes. This archive of 12 pamphlets, broadsides, and documents includes official signed copies of key Florida court and executive decisions. From the papers of Edward Louden Parris, an attorney for Tilden, who ended up losing the election by way of the “Compromise of 1877.”

The 1876 presidential election between Republican Rutherford B. Hayes and Democrat Samuel Tilden came down to a dispute over Florida’s electoral votes. This archive of 21 pamphlets, broadsides, and documents includes official signed copies of key Florida court and executive decisions. From the papers of Edward Louden Parris, an attorney for Tilden, who ended up losing the election by way of the “Compromise of 1877.”

The 1876 presidential election between Republican Rutherford B. Hayes and Democrat Samuel Tilden came down to a dispute over Florida’s electoral votes. This archive of 5 pamphlets and documents includes official signed copies of key Florida court and executive decisions. From the papers of Edward Louden Parris, an attorney for Tilden, who ended up losing the election by way of the “Compromise of 1877.”

This broadside announces the 1876 presidential election between Republican Rutherford B. Hayes and Democrat Samuel Tilden. Unknown at the time, the election would be among the most controversial in American history, with the entire contest resting on a dispute over Florida’s electoral votes. From the papers of Edward Louden Parris, an attorney for Tilden, who ended up losing the election by way of the “Compromise of 1877.”

“The record of modern warfare rarely shows a more desperate encounter than upon the parapet of Fort Gregg…”

Exciting manuscript battle report from the decisive campaign ending combat operations in Virginia. Brevet Brigadier General Edwin S. Greeley, regimental colonel of the 10th Connecticut, dispatched this “…to the adjutant general of Connecticut detailing the regiment’s involvement in the fall of Petersburg and subsequent surrender of Lee’s army at Appomattox.” Included are detailed accounts of the Battle of Hatcher’s Run (April 1) and the final assault on Fort Gregg on April 2, 1865, which caused the collapse of the Confederate lines at Petersburg and the evacuation of Richmond the following day.

This decisive field order enabled Robert E. Lee to elude Union General George Meade, just as he had done in July after the Battle of Gettysburg. “…go with the Art^l [Artillery] tomorrow and at daylight towards the Rapidan river & see to its being placed in position to defend the fords”

“[2/11/64] This forenoon had a game at ball, knocked the ball to pieces & had to stop...[2/12/64] had a game at ball. Towards evening had another game at ball... 

Pair of war-date diaries of Wheaton J. Race, Company H, 114th Regiment of New York State Volunteers, incredibly detailed content on marching, daily camp activities and news, rumors, and more, fighting and retreating (“on the skedaddle”), and contains ink ownership signature of Race. The 114^th N.Y. served principally under Nathaniel Banks in Louisiana, capturing Port Hudson on July 8, 1863, fighting in the failed Red River Expedition, and was reassigned to the Eastern theater in 1864.

Likely the first published map, of the historic battle, printed the same year.

Jackson gives directions to his division commander, D.H. Hill, on leaving the Shenandoah Valley to join Robert E. Lee in countering the Union offensive in Virginia. On December 13, Jackson and Hill contributed to the Battle of Fredericksburg, a decisive Confederate victory. “…Your route will be from New Market via Columbia bridge, & Fishers Gap. You will leave the Valley pike at New Market ...”