R. R. Logan collection of John Dickinson papers
Correspondence, documents, business records, essays, notes, and newspaper clippings of John Dickinson, lawyer and statesman. The collection consists almost entirely of papers collected by Dickinson on his political and business activities, but there is a large quantity of miscellaneous papers by ot...
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Main Author: | |
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Collection: | R. R. Logan Collection of John Dickinson Papers |
Collection Number: | 0383 |
Format: | Manuscript |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | Link to finding aid |
Physical Description: |
6.6 Linear feet 16 boxes, 1 volume, 2 flat files |
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Summary: |
Correspondence, documents, business records, essays, notes, and newspaper clippings of John Dickinson, lawyer and statesman. The collection consists almost entirely of papers collected by Dickinson on his political and business activities, but there is a large quantity of miscellaneous papers by other people, mainly from the Logan family. Although the correspondence deals predominantly with Dickinson's activities in the public, governmental sphere, a significant portion concerns his private affairs, especially land and business activities. Correspondents include various statesmen and Revolutionary leaders among whom are Samuel Chase, Dickinson's brother Philemon Dickinson, poet and political satirist Hannah Griffitts, Arthur Lee, Richard Henry Lee, Charles Lee, George Read, Caesar Rodney, Thomas Rodney, army surgeon James Tilton, and the first president of Congress Thomas McKean. There are one or two letters each from Samuel Adams, Josiah Quincy, Robert Morris, George Washington, Joshua Clayton, James Madison and Caesar Wilson. Later letters include those of Archibald Hamilton Rowan and Tench Coxe.
Documents from the Revolutionary War period, 1776-1783, relate chiefly to Dickinson's service as an officer in the Pennsylvania militia. They include furlough recommendations, hospital reports, notes on military movements, militia returns, and information on soldiers' provisions including ammunition. Government documents extend from the early Revolutionary period and Dickinson's involvement in the Stamp Act Congress to his participation in the 1787 Constitutional Convention. Included are an original draft of Resolutions from the Stamp Act Congress, two Olive Branch Petitions, a copy of the Speech of the Earl of Chatham in the House of Lords 1775, drafts of the Articles of Confederation, the original manuscripts of the "Letters of Fabius" written in support of the Constitution by Dickinson. There are Dickinson's notes on the first Continental Congress, papers on early national land policies, foreign policy, taxation proposals, and military regulations. Also included are peace negotiation notes and drafts with Great Britain and "Urgent advise to Inhabitants of Quebec" signed by John Hancock.
Pennsylvania government documents, 1764-1784, include financial accounts, drafts of Dickinson's speeches prepared while he was president of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, bills, court-martial records, materials on the Wyoming controversy, and miscellaneous Dickinson notes on government affairs.
Dickinson was President of the Delaware Supreme Council 1781-1782. Delaware government documents, 1772-1789, include papers on the Delaware River land dispute, 1772, militia returns, 1782, budget figures and various bill drafts and notes.
The collection includes Dickinson's land and business records, 1760-1808. Leases, agreements, memoranda, bills, receipts, center on the management of his real estate holdings, primarily in Delaware: house construction, relations with tenants, property sales, production figures. There is material relating to Dickinson's law practice which include information on cases argued before the High Court of Errors in Pennsylvania. Drafts of Dickinson's will, with codicils, are also present.
Miscellaneous notes and essays include the Pennsylvania Pocket Almanack with marginal notes, 1774, Poor Will's Almanack with marginal notes, 1776, the Manumission of John Dickinson's slaves, 1777, and Drafts for Dickinson's "Essay Towards the Religious Instruction of Youth."
Miscellaneous correspondence includes Jonathan Dickinson, Philemon Dickinson, Samuel Dickinson, Hannah Griffitts, Albanus C. Logan, Algernon S. Logan, Deborah Logan, George Logan, James Logan, James Logan, Jr., John Dickinson Logan, Maria Dickinson Logan, Isaac Norris, Isaac Norris, Jr., Isaac Norris, III, Mary Parker Norris, and George Read. |