William Henry Seward papers addition
Biographical / Historical note
William Henry Seward (1801-1872) was a New York senator and Secretary of State to Presidents Lincoln and Johnson. He spent his early career working as a lawyer. In 1830 he was elected to the New York State Senate for four years. After being defeated in 1834, Seward was elected governor of New York State in 1838 and 1840. After his second term as governor, Seward returned to practicing law, first in the court of chancery and later in patent cases. He also defended cases involving fugitive slave laws. In 1849 Seward was elected to the United States Senate, and increasingly built a reputation as an anti-slavery senator. After 1855, the Whig party merged into the Republican party, and Seward became one of the leading Republicans. He was passed over as the presidential nominee in both 1856 and 1860. After Lincoln's election in 1860, Seward was appointed to the post of Secretary of State, a position he held until 1869 serving under both presidents Lincoln and Johnson. As Secretary of State Seward during the Civil War years Seward dealt with the possibility of European intervention, the outfitting of Confederate cruisers in British ports, the Trent affair and the French invasion of Mexico. Seward was also interested in territorial expansion, and in 1867 negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia. Seward was seriously wounded in the Lincoln assassination conspiracy, and after 1865 his health was not good. He retired from public life upon Grant's election and died in 1872. William Henry and Frances Adeline Seward had three sons and two daughters: Augustus Henry Seward (1826-1876), Frederick William Seward (1830-1915), William Henry Seward, Jr. (1839-1920), Cornelia Seward (1835-1836), and Frances (Fanny) Adeline Seward (1844-1866).
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of additions to the William Henry Seward papers after the main collection was microfilmed in 1981.
Series I: Correspondence (1819-1882) contains the public and political correspondence of William Henry Seward, as well as letters exchanged by members of the Seward family, filed in chronological order. This series also contains letters, telegrams, notes, and memoranda from Abraham Lincoln to William Henry Seward. Here also are letters to Seward from Mary Todd Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant and others. A bound special presentation copy of letters between William Henry Seward and Joseph S. Wilson, Commissioner of the General Land Office is included.
Series II: Political papers (1839-1868) includes the political papers of William Henry Seward from 1839–1868.
Series III: Legal documents contains documents such as deeds and also papers from Seward's time as a lawyer. Subseries 1 relates to property and Subseries 2 relates to Seward's sons' power of attorney. Subseries 3 contains other miscellaneous legal documents.
Series IV: Financial and bank documents contains financial documents such as cashed checks and other papers relating to the bank. Subseries 1 contains items related to the Wm. H. Seward + Co. bank, while Subseries 2 contains all other financial documents.
Series V: Personal texts contains non-published texts such as journals and ledgers. It includes journals kept by Frederick and Anna Seward while accompanying Seward on his trip to the West Indies in 1866 to develop the possible purchase of the Danish Virgin Islands.
Series VI: Published texts contains published texts and papers relating to published texts. It includes notes and transcriptions prepared by Frederick W. Seward and secretaries for the biography of W.H. Seward. (See also Box 118 of the William Henry Seward papers for preliminary notes.) The notes for part of 1862 have been severely damaged by water and should NOT be handled without supervision; consult a staff member.
Series VII: Visual material contains photographs and drawings. Subseries 1 consists of photographs and prints. Subseries 2 contains maps and blueprints.
Series VIII: Ephemera contains various ephemera. It includes copies of 55 newspapers that include William Henry Seward's speeches, published letters, and proclamations printed between 1839 and 1864. This series also includes 3D ephemera such as an Abraham Lincoln mourning badge (April-June 1965).
Creator
- Seward, William H. (William Henry), 1801-1872 (Person)
- Seward, Frances Adeline, 1805-1865 (Person)
- Seward, Augustus Henry, 1826-1876 (Person)
- Seward, Frederick William, 1830-1915 (Person)
- Seward, Wm. Henry (William Henry), 1839-1920 (Person)
- Seward, Frances Adeline, 1844-1866 (Person)
- Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 (Person)
- Lincoln, Mary Todd, 1818-1882 (Person)
- Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885 (Person)
Dates
- Creation: 1819-1882
Language of Materials
English
Extent
9 box(es)
Access
The William Henry Seward Papers Addition is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books, Special Collections &apm; Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.
Use
In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Materials were donated by the Emerson Foundation of Auburn, New York in February 1987.
Additional materials were purchased using the Foundation Historical Association Fund and the Claire Seward Fund.
Preferred Citation
[Item title, item date], William Henry Seward Papers Addition, D.179, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Accruals
New acquisitions are added each year through donations and purchases using the Foundation Historical Association Fund and the Claire Seward Fund.
Subject
- Seward, William H. (William Henry), 1801-1872 (Person)
- Seward, Frances Adeline, 1805-1865 (Person)
- Seward, Augustus Henry, 1826-1876 (Person)
- Seward, Frederick William, 1830-1915 (Person)
- Seward, Wm. Henry (William Henry), 1839-1920 (Person)
- Seward, Frances Adeline, 1844-1866 (Person)
- Seward family (Family)
- Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 (Person)
- Lincoln, Mary Todd, 1818-1882 (Person)
- Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885 (Person)
- Auburn and Owasco Canal Company (Organization)
- Title
- William Henry Seward papers addition
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Rare Books and Special Collections staff
- Date
- undated
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Library Details
Part of the Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Library
