Henry Clay letters

Abstract

The Henry Clay papers (dated 1801-1843; 0.22 cubic feet; 1 boxes) comprise letters, a court report, and a print of Henry Clay. The bulk of the papers consist of letters from Henry Clay to Francis Taliaferro Brooke, a prominent political figure and Virginia Supreme Court judge from Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Henry Clay letters
Date
1801-1843 (inclusive)
Creator
Clay, Henry, 1777-1852
Extent
0.22 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Public policy and politics
Political letter writing.
Finding Aid Author
Amanda Hanner
Preferred Citation
46m95: [identification of item], Henry Clay papers, 1801-1843, University of Kentucky Special Collections.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Congressman, politician, and senator Henry Clay was born on April 12, 1777, in Ashland, Virginia, to John Clay (1754-1781) and Elizabeth Hudson (1750-1829). He studied law in Richmond, Va. and finished his studies in 1797. He was a member (1803-1806) and Speaker (1807-1810) of the Kentucky legislature and represented Kentucky as a United States Senator (1806-1807, 1810-1811, 1831-1842, and 1849-1852) and as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1811-1814, 1815-1821, and 1823-1824). During all but one of his years of service in the House of Representatives, he served as Speaker. Additionally, Clay served as John Quincy Adams' Secretary of State (1825-1829) and ran unsuccessfully for President in 1824, 1832, and 1844. His efforts in the Legislature to avoid dissolution of the Union over the slavery issue included the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and the Compromise of 1850. He married Lucretia Hart (1781-1864) in 1799; they had 11 children. Clay died on June 29, 1852 in Washington, D.C. and was buried in Lexington, Kentucky.
Scope and Content
The Henry Clay papers (dated 1801-1843; 0.22 cubic feet; 1 box) comprise letters, a court report, and a print of Henry Clay. The bulk of the papers consist of letters from Henry Clay to Francis Taliaferro Brooke, a prominent political figure and Virginia Supreme Court judge from Fredericksburg, Virginia. The letters mainly deal with political affairs such as state election results, presidential candidates, and tariffs. The remainder of the letters relate to William H. Crawford, the Secretary of the Treasury (1816-1825), and to Martin Van Buren, former president of the United States (1833-1837). The letters detail the building of an observatory, Department of State elections, and 1828 election opinions. Additional papers include a court report from John and Philip Earle dealing with a report of decree for legal allowances and a print portrait of Henry Clay.

Restrictions on Access and Use

Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Use Restrictions
The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.

Contents of the Collection

Henry Clay letters to Francis Brooke, 1801-1823

  • Box 1, folder 1
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Henry Clay letters to Francis Brooke, 1824

  • Box 1, folder 2
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Henry Clay letters to Francis Brooke, 1825-1827

  • Box 1, folder 3
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Henry Clay letters to Francis Brooke, 1828

  • Box 1, folder 4
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Henry Clay letters to Francis Brooke, 1829-1830

  • Box 1, folder 5
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Henry Clay letters to Francis Brooke, 1831-1833

  • Box 1, folder 6
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Henry Clay letters to Francis Brooke, 1836-1841

  • Box 1, folder 7
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Henry Clay letter to William H. Crawford, 1828 February 18

  • Box 1, folder 8
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William H. Crawford letter to General Samuel Smith, 1821 January 3

  • Box 1, folder 9
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Martin Van Buren letter to Henry Dilsworth Gilpin, 1843

  • Box 1, folder 10
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Henry Clay portrait, engraving, 1838

  • Box 1, folder 11
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John and Philip Earle court record, 1837 July 17

  • Box 1, folder 11
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UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.

Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.

Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.

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You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.

If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.