Guide to the John Brown letter, 1859
Redwood Library and Athenaeum
50 Bellevue Avenue
Newport, RI 02840
Tel: (401) 847-0292
Fax: (401) 841-5680
email: redwood@redwoodlibrary.org
Published in 2013
Collection Overview
| Title: | John Brown letter |
| Date range: | 1859 |
| Creator: | Brown, John, 1800-1859 |
| Extent: | 0.01 linear feet (1 folder) |
| Abstract: | This collection consists of a facsimile letter of John Brown (1800-1859) to his cousin, Reverend Luther Humphrey in Charlestown, Virginia, in which he reflects upon his imprisonment and upcoming death sentence as a result of his raid on Harper’s Ferry. |
| Language of materials: | English |
| Repository: | Redwood Library and Athenaeum |
| Collection number: | RLC.Ms.550 |
Scope & content
This collection consists of a facsimile letter of John Brown to his cousin, Reverend Luther Humphrey in Charlestown, Virginia, on November 19, 1859, in which he reflects upon his imprisonment and upcoming death sentence as a result of his raid on Harper’s Ferry. A typewritten transcription is also included.Access Points
Subject Names Subject Topics Geographical Names Subject Topics Document TypesArrangement
This collection is arranged in chronological order.
Biographical note
John Brown (1800-1959), born on May 9, 1800, in Torrington, Connecticut, was a militant abolitionist. On October 16, 1859, Brown led twenty-one men on a raid of the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia (now in West Virginia), with the intent to arm slaves with the seized weapons. However, Brown’s plans were thwarted by local farmers, militia, and marines led by Robert E. Lee and within thirty-six hours of his attack, most of his men were either killed or captured. Brown was captured and moved to Charlestown, Virginia (now in West Virginia), where he was tried and convicted of treason. John Brown was hanged on December 2, 1859.Access & Use
| Access to the collection: | Access is open to members and researchers at the Redwood Library and Athenaeum. |
| Use of the materials: | This collection is owned by the Redwood Library and Athenaeum. Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the Special Collections Librarian of the Redwood Library and Athenaeum. |
| Preferred citation: | John Brown letter , RLC.Ms.550, Redwood Library and Athenaeum. |
| Contact information: | Redwood Library and Athenaeum 50 Bellevue Avenue Newport, RI 02840 Tel: (401) 847-0292 Fax: (401) 841-5680 email: redwood@redwoodlibrary.org |
Administrative Information
| ABOUT THE COLLECTION | |
| Acquisition: | Gift of Mary Lieber in 1952 August. |
| Custodial history: | This letter was found amount the old letters of Professor Francis Lieber of Columbia College, New York, by his granddaughter and the donor, Mary Lieber. |
| Processing information: | This collection was initially processed by Leah Podolsky in 2009 and Aimee Saunders in 2010. |
| ABOUT THE FINDING AID | |
| Author: | Finding aid prepared by Elizabeth Delmage. |
| Encoding: | Finding aid encoded by Elizabeth Delmage 2013 December 17 |
| Descriptive rules: | Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) |
| Sponsor: | Funding for processing and cataloging this collection was provided by the van Beuren Charitable Foundation. |
Additional Information
| Related material: |
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| Location of originals: | The original letter was noted as being held at Storer College in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, in Boyd B. Stutler’s 1947 article in the Colby Library Quarterly. However, Storer College closed in 1955 and its unclear where this letter is now held. |
| Bibliography: |
Inventory
| Manuscripts Box 1 | Letter to Rev. Luther Humphrey |
1859 Nov 19 |