Finding Aid to the Morristown Library Autograph Collection, 1685-1992 Finding Aid to the Morristown Library Autograph Collection, 1685-1992North Jersey History and Genealogy Center
The Morristown and Morris Township Library One Miller Road Morristown, NJ 07960
Overview of Collection Morristown Library HM 512 MSS Auto Morristown Library Autograph Collection, 1685-1992. 1.5 linear feet in 3 manuscript boxes Scope and Content of the Collection

This collection contains the autographs and signatures of over 100 people collected by Morristown Library's administration over the years. However the signatures were acquired, whether through normal business correspondence, donations from patrons (both intentional and unintentional), or happenstance, the provenance and quality of these autographs is remarkable. In the broadest sense, the signatures of the world famous are housed next to those of purely local fame.

The following list shows the abbreviation codes used to signify the kinds of documents included in the collection.

Abbreviation code: A - Autograph; ACS - Autograph Card Signed; ADS - Autograph Document Signed; AL - Autograph Letter; ALS - Autograph Letter Signed; AMs - Autograph Manuscript; AMsN - Autograph Manuscript Note; ANS - Autograph Note Signed; DS - Document Signed; TLS - Typed Letter Signed.

Each cited signature/autograph begins with the name of the writer/signer, his or her dates (if known), their significance (historic, literary, political), followed by an abbreviation code, and the date of the document and/or documents.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged alphabetically by last name and divided into two series: I. Historic autographs, 1685-1992, and II. New Jersey Governors autographs, 1832-1971.

Important Information for Users of the Collection

The Morristown Library Autograph Collection is open for research under the conditions of the North Jersey History and Genealogy Center archives access policy. Items may be copied for use in individual scholarly or personal research, however, as with all materials in the North Jersey History and Genealogy Center, researchers are responsible for obtaining copyright permission to use material from the collection.

Preferred Citation

Morristown Library Autograph Collection, 1685-1992. North Jersey History and Genealogy Center, The Morristown and Morris Township Library.

Processing Information

Originally compiled from library administrative files, 1983. Finding aid composed and encoded by North Jersey History and Genealogy Center Archivist, 2009. Updated August 2022.

 Container List Series I: Historic autographs, 1685-1992. Box 1 1 1 Abeel, Neilson (1916-1947) [poet] - ALS, December 27, 1928. 1 1 Armstrong, Margaret (Neilson) (1867-1944) [book cover designer] - TLS April 28, 1941; ALS, May 13, 1941. 1 2 Atkin, [Leonard?], - TLS, May 24, ----. 1 3 Blackwell, Alice Stone (1857-1950) [feminist, journalist] ALS, November 14, 1918. 1 4 Boswell, Joseph (1789-1876) - ALS, December 17, 1825. 1 4 Boyd, Ernest [Augustus] (1887-1946) [literary critic, translator] - TLS, March 8, 1926; ALS, May 7, 1926; TLS, April 30, ----. 1 5 Bradley, Bill (1943- ) [U.S. Senator from New Jersey] - TLS, June 6, 1992. 1 5 Breshkobskaya, Catherine K. (1844-1934) [Russian revolutionary] - TLS, March 10, 1919. 1 6 Bridges, Robert (1858-1941) - TLS, May 26, 1922 May 26, 1922. 1 6 Brittain, Vera (1893-1970) [writer, feminist] - A, November 8, 1934 1 7 Bronson, Wilfrid Swancourt (1894-1985) [author, illustrator] - ALS, [October 1935]; ALS, November 14, 1935. 1 7 [Browell], Gertrude Ball - ALS, April 4, 1922. 1 8 Buchan, John (1875-1940] [British novelist] - TLS, August 25, 1924; ALS, October 2, 1924; TLS, May 26, 1925. 1 9 Buchanan, James (1791-1868) [15th President of the United States, 1857-1861] - A, not dated. 1 9 Burr, Anna Robeson (Burr) - ALS, December 1, ----. 1 9 Burton, William Evans (1804-1860) [actor, publisher] - A, not dated. 1 10 Canby, Henry S. - TLS, December 6, 1921; TLS, January 12, 1922. 1 11 Carmer, Carl (1893-1976) [author] - ALS, April 10, 1944. 1 11 Carrell, Eugene A. [local pharmacist] - ALS, January 12, 1933; ALS, August 18, 1936. August 18, 1936. 1 12 Chamberlain, Samuel (1829-1908) [soldier, painter, author] - TLS, January 11, 1957. 1 13 Child, Francis (circa 1794-1856) [Morris County Justice of the Peace, 1833; Morris County Judge, 1833; 1843; 1851] - ALS, June 29, 1839. 1 14 Clafin, Ebjokiel(?) - ALS, March 15, ----. 1 14 Clafin, John - ALS, February 12, 1931. 1 14 Clemens, Samuel Langhorne (1835-1910) [pen name of Mark Twain, American author] - ALS, not dated. 1 15 Colgate, Henry A. - ALS, February 4, 1934. 1 15 Colles, Julia Keese (circa 1874-1913) [New Jersey preservationist, author] - ALS, January 11, 1890. 1 15 Colquhoun, Patrick (1745-1820) [English author, early proponent of crime prevention] - ALS, March 10, 1795. 1 16 Darlington, James H. - TLS, August 28, 1924. 1 17 De Angeli, Marquerite (Mrs. John) (1889-1987) [author, illustrator of children's books] - ALS, October 22, 1943. 1 18 Decres, Denis (1761-1820) [French naval officer] - LS, [in French], October 15, [1801]. 1 19 Digges, Dudley (1879-1947) - ALS, June 8, 1918. 1 19 Dodge, Mary Mapes (1831-1905) [author of children's books] - ALS, January 18, 1890. 1 19 Duvoisin, Roger (1904-1980) [author, illustrator] - ALS, November 18, 1952; December 4, 1952. 1 19 Dunn, Waldo Hilary [biographer of English authors] - ALS, December 1, 1919. 1 20 Durham, Lady Charlotte Matilda Bruce (1799-1816) [wife of Royal Navy officer Philip Charles Durham and sister of Lord Elgin] - ALS, September 25, 1816. 1 20 Durham, Sir Philip (1763-1845) [Royal Navy officer] - ALS, October 8, 1836. 1 21 Early, Eleanor (1895-1969) - TLS, August 6, ----. 1 21 Eaton, Charles Aubrey (1868-1953) [clergyman, politician] - TLS, December 7, 1943. 1 22 Eisenhower, Dwight D. (1890-1969) [34th President of the United States] - TLS, February 20, 1948. 1 22 Erickson, Phebe - ALS, September 2, 1957. 1 22 Emerson, Ralph Waldo (1803-1882) [essayist, philosopher, poet] - ANS, not dated. 1 23 Ewing, Charles (1780-1832) [Chief Justice, New Jersey Supreme Court] - ALS, August 15, 1828 1 24 Fairchild, Elias A. - [both letters in regard to Morris County Schools]: ALS, February 26, 1906; ALS, not dated. 1 24 Field, R[ichard] S[tockton] (1803-1870) [U.S. Senator from New Jersy] - ALS, October 5, 1840. 1 25 Fisher, Dorothy Canfield (1879-1958) [educational reformer, social activist, author] - ALS, January 10, 1921. 1 25 Frelinghuysen, J. - TLS, January 31, 1918. 1 25 Frelinghuysen, Peter Hood Ballentine Jr. (1916-2011 ) [New Jersey politician] - ALS, February 2, 1939, November 1, 1962. 1 25 French, Alice (1850-1934) [author] - ANS, November 12, 1915. 1 26 Frost, Arthur Burdett (1851-1928) [illustrator, graphic artist] - DS, October 13, 1884; DS, March 20, 1894. 1 27 Fyfe, Hamilton (1869-1951) [British journalist] - TLS, November 8, 1921. 1 28 Gould, Jay (1836-1892) [financier] - TLS, April 17, 1886; Green, Gretchen - ALS, 1936. 1 28 Green, Gretchen - ALS, 1936. 1 29 Green, Henry Woodhull (1804-1876) [English author?]- ALS, September 6, 1838; ALS, October 28, 1850; ALS, September 28, 1855; DS, September 5, 1856; DS, January 5, 1858; ALS, April 23, 1858; D (S), March 7, 1862; DS, March 19, 1862. 1 30 Green, James S[proat] (1792-1862) - ALS, January 26, 1856; ALS, August 31, 1858; ALS, August 24, 1859; ALS,October 8, 1860; ALS, not dated. 1 30 Greenfell, Sir Wilfred (1865-1940) [English missionary] - TLS, August 11, 1937. 1 31 Hamilton, Cosmo (1870-1942) [English playwright and novelist]- ALS, November 5, 1918. 1 32 Harte, Brett (1836-1902) [American author and poet] - A, not dated. 1 32 Hassam, Childe (1859-1935) [American Impressionist painter] - ALS, not dated. 1 33 Hastings, Thomas (1860-1929) [American architect] - TLS, January 20, 1919; TLS, January 24, 1919. 1 34 Hawthorne, Nathanial (1804-1864) [American author] - ADS, September 14, 1861. 1 35 Henderson, Robert R. - TLS, September 27, 1921. 1 36 Hendrick, Burton J. (1870-1949) [editor, author] - ALS, February 11, 1923; ALS, July 30, 1924; ALS, August 22, 1924; ALS, September 25, 1924; ALS, October 22, 1924; ALS, December 2, 1924; ALS, December 9, 1924. 1 36 Henry, Louise - ALS, not dated. 1 36 Hoffman, Henry B. - ALS, August 15, 1937. 1 37 Holmes, Oliver Wendell (1841-1935) [Justice of the United States Supreme Court]- ANS, [July] 28, 1928. 1 38 Holt, Guy - ALS, not dated. 1 38 Holt, Henry [Roland](1840-1926) [publishing company executive]- TLS, February 24, 1922. 1 38 Horton, Edward A. - LS, April 7, 1904. 1 39 Hough, Lynn Harold (1877-1971) - ALS, May 9, 1931; ALS, October 2, 1932. 1 40 Howe, Louis McH. (1871-1936) [newspaper man; Roosevelt loyalist] - ALS, February 26, 1935. 1 40 Hueston, Ethel (1887- ) - ALS, January 1, 1942; TLS, November 20, 1942. 1 41 Huxley, Aldous (1894-1963) [English author]- ALS, [January 1], 1929. 1 41 Hyde, Henry (2nd Earl of Clarendon) (1638-1700) - ALS, October 10, 1685. 1 42 Ingham, Harvey (1858-1949) [newspaper editor] - TLS, January 3, 1922. 1 42 Irving, Washington (1783-1859) [American author] - A, not dated. 2 1 Kean, Hamilton F. (1862-1941) [United States Senator from New Jersey] - TLS, February 3, 1932; TLS, February 3, 1932. 2 2 Keller, Helen Adams (1880-1968) [American author, political activist and lecturer] - TLS, October 18, 1941; TLS, March 14, 1944; TLS, January 10, 1947; TLS, March 6, 1951. [5 photographs] 2 3 Kerne/Kline, [Department of Labor, Office of the Secretary] - TLS, May 4, 1921. 2 4 Kilmer, Joyce (1886-1918) [American journalist, poet, literary critic and editor] - A (two pages from Latin Dictionary for Schools, 1888), 1908. 2 4 King, Charles (1789-1867) - ALS, October 5, 1816. 2 4 King, Hortense Flexner (1885-1973) - ALS, June 13, 1926. 2 5 King, John Alsop (1788-1867) [Governor of New York, 1857-1859]- ALS, November 5, 1826. 2 6 Kinsey, James (1731-1803) [lawyer from Burlington, New Jersey] - ALS, July 8, 1788. 2 6 Kissel, Caroline Thorn (Mrs. Gustave) - ALS, May 24, ----. 2 7 Lathrop, George H. (local physician) - ALS, April 30, 1931; ALS, May 2, 1931. 2 7 Laughlin, Clara E. - TLS, December 23, 1931. 2 7 Lautenberg, Frank R. (1924- ) [United States Senator from New Jersey] - TLS, October 11, 1991. 2 8 Lee, Gerard Stanley - TLS, Febrauary 12, 1932. 2 8 Lee, Ruth Webb - TLS, December 29, 1933. 2 9 Leonard, T.D. - ALS, March 10, 1928. 2 9 Lewars, Elsie Singmaster - TLS, April 23, 1937; TLS, June 19, 1937; TLS, October 4, 1937. 2 10 Lindsay, John V. (1921-2000) [Mayor of New York City, 1966-1973]- TLS, May 10, 1967. 2 11 Livingston, Robert R. (1746-1813) [American lawyer, politician and diplomat from New York] - DS, September 16, 1791. 2 12 Lowrie, Donald (1875-1925)[newspaper writer, author] - TLS, November 22, 1924. 2 13 Notebook: Morris County signatures - with index to signatures, circa 1750-1899. 2 14 McCarthy, Joseph R. (1908-1957) [United States Senator from Wisconsin, 1947-1957] - TLS, [July 1951]. 2 14 Macculloch, George Perrott (1775-1858) [Morristown resident, "Father of the Morris Canal"]- ALS, June 19, 1825. 2 15 [McGraw?], D.F. - ALS, March 16, 1922. 2 15 Madison, James (1751-1836) [Fourth President of the United States]- DS, February 8, 1817. 2 15 Maraziti, Joseph J. (1912-1991) [U.S. Representative from New Jersey (Boonton)] - TLS, December 5, 1968. 2 16 Marsh, Edward C. (regarding Katrina Trask Peabody and Yaddo) - TLS, September 12, 1922. 2 16 Marsh, H.O. (President, National Iron Bank) - ALS, May 17, 1886. 2 16 Marten [?], E.A. - A, not dated. 2 16 Mencken, Henry L. (1880-1956) [American journalist, essayist and critic] - ALS, not dated. 2 17 Miller, J[acob] W[elsh] (1800-1862) [U.S. Senator from New Jersey] - ALS, April 4, 1850. 2 17 Mills, Alfred Elmer - TLS, April 16, 1909. 2 17 Mitchell, Edwin Valentine - ALS, June 6, 1924. 2 18 [Scrapbook] Autographs of the Old Inhabitants of Morristown, not dated. 2 19 Morristown Autograph book: Day, Jane Rowland, 1880-1882. 2 19 Morristown Autograph book: Smith, Evelyn Elizabeth, 1919-1923. 2 20 Morristown Librarians, 1891 (?); 1926-1957. 2 21 Morse, John Torrey (1840-1937) [American biographer of Abraham Lincoln] - TLS, June 20, 1928. 2 21 Morse, Samuel F. B. (1791-1872) (inventor of telegraph and Morse code]- ALS, December 31, 1869. 2 21 Morton, David (1886-1957) [American poet]- ALS, January 8, 1931. 2 21 Moult, Thomas (1893-1974) [English journalist and writer] - TLS, April 8, 1921. 2 21 Mulcher, Frederick G. - TLS, December 8, 1947. 2 21 Muquet(?) [to] [Fulwar] Skipwith, Consul General des Etats Unis [Fulwar Skipwith was Consul General in Paris in 1795] - DS [in French], May 9, [1795]. 2 22 Nast, Cyril (1879-1966) - ALS, November 23, 1943. 2 22 Neander, Johann August Wilhelm (1789-1850) [German theologian] - AMs [in German], not dated. 2 22 Neilson, J. - ALS, September 8, 1884. 2 23 Nicholson, D.H.S. [author of The Oxford Book of English Mystical Verse, 1917] - ALS, March 21, 1924; ALS, May 5, 1924; ALS, August 30, 1925. 2 23 Norcross, P.H. [Letter regarding [James A.] Bradley, developer and mayor of Asbury Park and Bradley Beach, NJ] - TLS, June 24, 1921. 2 23 North, Sterling (1906-1974) [American author] - TLS, December 31, 1956. 2 24 Oliver, Peter [Morristown author] - ALS, April 4, 1936; ANS, January 12, 1944. 2 24 Osborn, Albert S. [author] - TLS, May 13, 1931. 3 1 Parker, James [1723-1797; Captain in French and Indian War] - ALS, January 9, 1787. 3 1 Parker, Willis Gaylord - A, not dated. 3 1 Parsons, Samuel (1844-1923) [Landscape Architect] - ALS, July 23, 1922; ALS, November 14, 1922; also including ALS of daughter, M. Parsons, March 2, 1923. 3 1 Patterson, Samuel W. [author] - ALS, November 7, 1956. 3 2 Peabody, Endicot (1857-1944) [educator] - ALS, May 4, 1909. 3 2 Pennell, Joseph (1857-1926) [artist and author] - ALS, [October] 27, 1922. 3 2 Platt, Charles D. [Principal, Morris Academy] - ALS, August 14, [18]86. 3 3 Poe, Edgar Allen (1806-1849) [American author]- A, September 20, 1845. 3 3 Porter, Fitz John (1822-1901) [General in the Union Army] - ALS, December 24, 1897. 3 3 Potter, Ellen C., M.D. - TLS, January 23, 1923. 3 4 Potts, Clyde (1876-1950) [Mayor of Morristown 1923-1934; 1937-1948] - TLS, January 28, 1941; TLS, March 3, 1941; April 8, 1942. 3 4 Power, Tyrone (1914-1958) [American stage and film actor] - TLS, September 17, 1941. 3 4 Price, T. Brooke [Member, Board of Trustees, Morristown Library] - TLS, February 2, 1942. 3 5 Rachmaninoff, Sergei (1873-1943) [Russian composer, pianist and conductor] - A (with accompanying ALS, February 9, 1941 of Byron H. Collins describing circumstances of obtaining autograph), 1931. 3 5 Randolph, Joseph - ALS, October 26, 1924; AMSN, not dated; ALS, January 23, 1926; ALS, March 30, 1926; ALS, April 13, 1926; ALS, September 26, 1926; ALS, August 1, not dated; AMS, not dated. 3 5Randolph, Theodore F. - DS, April 18, 1874. 3 5 Rathbone, Josephine Adams [Library Educator; Bibliographer; Vice-Director, School of Library Science, Pratt Institute) - TLS, March 30, 1931. 3 6 Richelieu, Armand-Emmanuel du Plessis, Duc de (1766-1822) [French nobleman; soldier; statesman) - LS, April 21, 1818. 3 6 Robertson, James [1740-?] (Royalist printer and journalist) - AL, October 6, 1757. 2 6 Runyon, Theodore (1822-1896) [Politician, Diplomat, Brigadier General in Union Army] - ALS, August 15, 1894. 3 7 Salisbury, ? - ALS, October 23, 1884. 3 7 Salisbury, Lord Hood - ALS, May 29, 1815. 3 7 Saumarez, Sir James (1757-1856) - ALS, December 6, 1808. 3 8 Savage, William L. [Member, Board of Trustees, Morristown Library] - TLS, February 2, 1942. 3 8 Sellin, Thursten [Editor, the Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science] - TLS, March 8, 1932. 3 8 Sherman, Charles P. - ALS, September 15, 1932. 3 8 Springer, D. [author] - TLS, January 15, 1923. 3 9 Stewart, Robert, Lord Castlereagh - D, August 30, 1805. 3 9 Stringer, Arthur [Poet] - TLS, April 7, 1938. 3 9 [Sutphen], Van Tassel [Morristown author] - ALS, November --. 3 10 Taft, William Howard (1857-1930) [President of the United States] - TLS, August 7, 1915; TLS, August 4, 1921. 3 10 Talbot, John, 16th Earl of Shrewsbury (1791-1852) - ALS, July 17, 1848. 3 10 Toscanini, Arturo (1867-1957) [Italian conductor] - A Program, April 29, 1936. 3 10 Towse, J. Reuben - ALS, June 16, 1921. 3 11 Trevelyan, [su] - ALS, [June] 25, 1921. 3 11 Truitt, Capt. Oscar P. - ALS, March 8, 1928. 3 11 Tunis, Edwin [author] - TLS, August 10, 1967. 3 11 Tuttle, Joseph F. [Morris County Local Historian] - ALS, December 25, 1854; ALS, January 11, 1859. 3 11 Tyler, John - A, not dated. 3 12 Updike, D.B. [Associated with the Merrymount Press] - TLS, August 26, 1924; TLS, April 26, 1928. 3 12 Vail, George (1809-1875) - ALS, March 8, 1864. 3 12 Van Buran, Martin (1782-1862) - A, not dated. 3 12 Vanderpool, Alice W. - ANS, not dated. 3 13 Van Doren, Carl [Chairman, International Editorial Board, World Government News] - TLS, January 10, 1923. 3 13 Verplanick[?], G.C. - A, not dated. 3 13 Villans, Oswald Garrison [Editor, The Nation] - TLS, January 10, 1923. 3 14 Wall, Garret Dorsett (1783-1850) [New Jersey military officer and politician] - ADS, May 7, 1829; ALS, January 21, 1841. 3 14 Westall, Richard (1765-1836) [British historical painter] - ALS, April 28, 1818. 3 14 Whelpley, E [dward] W. (1818-1864) - ALS, not dated. 3 15 Wiggam, Albert Edward - partial TLS, December 1933. 3 15 Williams, Harrison A. Jr. (1919-2001) [US Senator from New Jersey] - TLS, June 15, 1971. 3 15 Willis, Grinnell (1848-1930) [Founder of Morristown and Morris Township Library] - A, 1925. 3 16 Willis, Katherine Tappert [Librarian and bibliographer of Morristown and Morris Township Library] - ALS, anuary 5, 1931. 3 16 Wilson, President (1856-1924) [President of the United States, 1913-1921] and Mrs. Woodrow (Edith Galt)- Calling cards (Unsigned), August 1919. 3 16 Yellin, Samuel (1886-1940) [Polish-American blacksmith] - TLS, November 11, 1925; TLS, June 18, 1931. 3 16 Yu--lon, Jean - ALS, not dated. Series II: New Jersey Governors autographs, 1832-1971. 3 17 Abbett, Leon (1836-1894) [Governor 1884-1887; 1890-1893] - LS, February 16, 1888; ALS, March 12, 1890; ALS, September 13, 1890; LS, May 7, 1892. 3 17 Bedle, Joseph Dorsett (1831-1894) [Governor 1875-1878] - ALS, March 15, 1884; ALS, January 16, 1889, January 16, 1889. 3 18 Driscoll, Alfred Eastlack (1902-1975) [Governor 1947-1954] - TLS, June 23, 1971. 3 18 Edge, Walter Evans (1873-1956) [Governor 1917-1919; 1944-1947] - TLS, May 27, 1918; TLS, November 9, 1918; TLS, September 15, 1919. 3 18 Green, Robert Stockton (1831-1895) [1887-1890] - ALS, June 27, 1872; ALS, March 31, 1873; DS [2], not dated. 3 19 Haines, Daniel (1801-1877) [Governor 1843-1845; 1848-1851] - DS, May 1, 1850. 3 19Hoffman, Harold Giles (1896-1954) [Governor 1935-1938] - DS, 1937; TLS, September 30, 1938. 3 20Moore, A. Harry (1879-1952) [Governor 1926-1929; 1932-1935; 1938-1941] - TLS, January 13, 1941. 3 20 Olden, Charles Smith (1799-1876) [Governor 1860-1863] - DS, March 15, 1860. 3 21 Parker, Joel (1816-1888) [Governor 1863-1866; 1872-1875] - ALS, February 13, 1868; DS, September 28, 1874; ALS, October 30, 1876; ALS, June 25, 1880; ALS, October 29, 1884; ALS, September 30, 188[7]; AL, (Df), not dated; ALS, not dated. 3 21 Pennington, William (1796-1892) [Governor 1837-1843] - DS, March 12, 1839; DS, November 11, 1841; DS, October 11, 1842. 3 22 Southard, Samuel (1787-1842) [Governor 1832-1833] - ALS, June 9, 1832. 3 22 Stratton, Charles Creighton (1796-1859) [Governor 1845-1848] - DS, February 27, 1845. 3 23 Vroom, Peter Dumont (1791-1873) [1829-1832; 1833-1836) - ALS (Df?), March 1853. 3 23 Werts, George Theodore (1846-1810) [Governor 1893-1896] - ALS, January 14, 1905.