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William Harris Crawford letters

 Collection
Identifier: MS 0053
Finding aid note: Stored onsite at the Woodson Research Center.

Scope and Contents

Correspondence from William Harris Crawford, a lawyer, legislator, diplomat, and statesman of Crawford, GA. There are eleven letters, ten of which are written to a Captain, later Major, J. M. O'Connor. The identity of the recipient is unknown. The other letter is written to Marquis Barbe de Marbois as an introduction for O'Connor. The letters reveal Crawford’s thoughts on contemporary political issues.

Dates

  • 1817 - 1825

Creator

Access Restrictions

This material is open for research.

Stored onsite at the Woodson Research Center.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish from the William Harris Crawford papers, MS 053, must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University.

Biographical Note

William Harris Crawford was born in Virginia in 1772, but settled with his family in Georgia soon after. Crawford pursued classical studies at a private school in Augusta, GA; then studied law, was admitted to the bar, and began practice in Lexington in 1799. While a member of the State house of representatives (1803-1807), he was elected to fill the vacancy in the United States Senate caused by the death of Abraham Baldwin. Crawford remained in the United States Senate from 1807-1813, when he resigned to become the Minister to France from 1813-1815. Upon his return to the states, he accepted the position of Secretary of War from President James Madison until 1816, when he transferred to be the Secretary of the Treasury until 1825. Due to a stroke, his Presidential campaign for the 1824 election was unsuccessful. Resigning from the position of Secretary of the Treasury, he was appointed a judge for the Georgian northern circuit, which position he held until his death in 1834.

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet (4 folders)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract:

Correspondence from William Harris Crawford, a lawyer, legislator, diplomat, and statesman.

Acquisition Information

This collection was purchased from Argosy Book Stores, Inc. in 1956.

Related Material

See Crawford, William Harris, 1772-1834, papers, 1790-1867; (bulk 1842-1862) [manuscript], Special Collections, Duke University.

Subjects

Record Groups

Related Names

Creator

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the William Harris Crawford papers, 1817-1825
Status
Completed
Author
Sarah Biggerstaff
Date
2007
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Woodson Research Center, Rice University, Houston, Texas Repository

https://library.rice.edu/woodson
Contact:
Fondren Library MS-44, Rice University
6100 Main St.
Houston Texas 77005 USA

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Harmful Content Statement
© 2023 Woodson Research Center
Fondren Library, Rice University
Physical Address: 6100 Main, Houston, Texas 77005-1827
Mailing Address: MS-44, P.O. Box 1892, Houston, Texas 77251-1892