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Sam Houston papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS 0049
Finding aid note: Stored onsite in the vault at the Woodson Research Center.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains government letters and documents written by Sam Houston, letters to Sam Houston from other government officials, and people seeking favors, and personal materials such as letters to and from family members, and bills. Government and military correspondents include Col. James W. Fannin, James Bowie, Anson Jones, Thomas Jefferson Rusk, James A. Hamilton, Gen. Memucan Hunt, Gen. Albert S. Johnston, Cherokee Chief Bowles, Edward Burleson, Gen. George W. Terrell, John C. Calhoun, Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels (founder of New Braunfels), U.S. Sec. of War George W. Hockley, U.S. Sec. of State Daniel Webster, U.S. Sec. of State, James Buchanan (later Pres. of U.S.), Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels (founder of New Braunfels), and others.

While still in private hands, some of these letters were published in Marquis James' The Raven, published 1929, and in Eugene C. Barker's eight-volume set entitled, The Writings of Sam Houston, first volume of eight published in 1938. Where possible, it has been noted in this guide where letters appear in Barker's publication. Many items remain unpublished as of 2004, particularly those of Anson Jones and Thomas Jefferson Rusk.

Highlights include letters to Bowie and Fannin in December 1830 giving orders which were ignored, letters from American Indian scouts and from Cherokee Chief John Jolly (aka Oo-la-te-ka, Houston's adopted Cherokee father) regarding Houston's career and the land needs of the Cherokees, and the 1861 letter from Houston to his wife urging that she let their son Sam go on to war ("God can shield him as he has me,"), and Houston's own account of Andrew Jackson's death as related to James Buchanan, U.S. Sec. of State.

Dates

  • 1821 - 1863

Creator

Access Restrictions

This material is open for research.

Conditions Governing Access

Stored onsite in the vault at the Woodson Research Center.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from Sam Houston papers must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University.

Biographical Note

Samuel Houston (1793-1863) was born in Virginia and raised in Tennessee. After serving in the United States Army, he practiced law in Tennessee, was elected to the United States House of Representatives, and served as governor of Tennessee. Houston lived in the Cherokee nation for several years before he moved to Texas, where he became a leading figure in establishing Texas’ independence from Mexico. After Texas joined the United States, Houston represented Texas in the United States Senate from 1846-1859. He was elected governor of Texas in 1859, but was removed from office when he refused to sign a loyalty oath to the Confederate States of America.

Excerpted from:

Thomas H. Kreneck, "HOUSTON, SAMUEL," Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fho73), accessed April 01, 2015. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.

Extent

1 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract:

Sam Houston was the leader of the Battle of San Jacinto which won Texan independence from Mexico, the first regularly elected president of the Republic of Texas, U.S. Senator from state of Texas, and later Governor of Texas. This collection of letters contains government letters and documents written by Houston, letters to Houston from other government officials, and people seeking favors, and personal materials such as letters to and from family members, and bills. Government and military correspondents include Col. James W. Fannin, James Bowie, Anson Jones, Thomas Jefferson Rusk, James A. Hamilton, Gen. Memucan Hunt, Gen. Albert S. Johnston, Cherokee Chief Bowles, Edward Burleson, Gen. George W. Terrell, John C. Calhoun, Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels (founder of New Braunfels), U.S. Sec. of War George W. Hockley, U.S. Sec. of State Daniel Webster, U.S. Sec. of State, James Buchanan (later Pres. of U.S.) and others.

Acquisition Information

This collection was donated in 1992 by Charlotte Williams Darby, great-granddaughter of Houston, daughter of Franklin Weston Williams.

General note

Portions of this collection are available online at https://scholarship.rice.edu/handle/1911/62265.

Processing Information

This finding aid was reviewed for harmful, offensive, and aggrandizing language in August 2021. Published titles and names of organizations with this language are not edited. Extracts from letters with this language are identified with quotation marks. Legacy finding aids are available by request. If you have suggestions, please email woodson@rice.edu.
Title
Guide to the Sam Houston papers, 1821-1863
Status
Completed
Author
Amanda York Focke / Saaid Mendoza
Date
2004
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

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

Contact:
Fondren Library MS-44, Rice University
6100 Main St.
Houston Texas 77005 USA