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George Wolf papers
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Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
George Wolf (1777-1840) was Pennsylvania's seventh governor under the 1790 Constitution. Wolf was born in Northampton County to George and Maria Wolf. He attended Allen Township Classical Academy, worked in several county offices, and formed a private law practice in Easton, Pennsylvania. With his election to the U. S. House of Representatives in 1824, he broke into national politics and later joined the Jacksonian Democratic Party. He won the Pennsylvania governor's race in 1829. Among his most notable achievements was the establishment of a statewide school system that ensured a proper education to all children regardless of financial or social status. In 1836, after losing the 1835 governor's race to Anti-Mason candidate Joseph Ritner, Wolf was appointed the nation's first comptroller of the U. S. Treasury by President Andrew Jackson.
Wolf married Mary Erb in 1798 and the couple had at least eight sons and one daughter. Wolf died in Philadelphia in 1840.
The George Wolf papers, in five boxes, primarily span Wolf's tenure as governor of Pennsylvania from 1829 to 1835; however, there are a few documents that fall outside this date range. The collection consists almost entirely of incoming letters addressed to Wolf, and everything is arranged alphabetically by author, item, or organization. The predominant correspondents include state and national politicians, judges, lawyers, and businessmen and the overarching discussions in the letters concern politics and Wolf's administration. At least some letters directly discuss the Democratic or Republican parties in Pennsylvania. There is little that sheds light on Wolf's personal life, his family, or his career before or after the Pennsylvania governorship.
Scattered among the correspondence are other papers such as petitions, essays, recommendations, and invitations. Virtually all items are addressed to Wolf; however some letters are addressed to other people, such as President Andrew Jackson and Pennsylvania politician Henry Beuhler. For the most part, there exists only one or a few letters from each correspondent listed. But there are larger groups of letters from some individuals including Pennsylvania senators George Mifflin Dallas (Box 1, Folder 55) and Isaac D. Barnard (Box 1, Folder 18), Judge Charles B. Penrose (Box 3, Folder 51), and Pennsylvania representative Joel Barlow Sutherland (Box 4, Folder 56). There are also several folders (Box 5, folders 4-7) of letters from abolitionist and educator Roberts Vaux, many of which deal with Wolf's politics as they affected the Philadelphia region. Some of Vaux's letters also discuss Wolf's creation of a statewide public school system. There is one file of Wolf's outgoing correspondence in Box 5, Folder 26, as well as resolutions, petitions, and other official documents and drafts in Box 5, Folders 27 to 29.
Provenance unknown.
People
- Barnard, Isaac Dutton, 1791-1834.
- Dallas, George Mifflin, 1792-1864.
- Penrose, Charles Bingham, 1798-1857.
- Sutherland, Joel Barlow, 1792-1861.
- Vaux, Roberts, 1786-1836.
Subject
Place
Occupation
- Publisher
- Historical Society of Pennsylvania
- Finding Aid Author
- Finding aid prepared by Cary Majewicz
- Finding Aid Date
- ; 2011
- Sponsor
- Processing made possible by a generous donation from Lori Cohen.
- Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open for research.
Collection Inventory
John B. Alexander, (23 October 1830).
Box 1
Folder 1
William and Joseph Amies, (10 October 1835).
Box 1
Folder 2
John Albright, (4 January 1832).
Box 1
Folder 3
Samuel Anderson, (21 January 1834).
Box 1
Folder 4
Joseph Ankrim, (25 December 1832).
Box 1
Folder 5
Anonymous, (1831, 1832, 1834, undated).
Box 1
Folder 6
John W. Ashmead, (31 December 1833, 24 October 1834, undated).
Box 1
Folder 7
Joseph B. Anthony, (13 March 1834).
Box 1
Folder 8
John M. Atwood, (17 February 1834).
Box 1
Folder 9
A. D. Bache, (18 July 1835).
Box 1
Folder 10
Christian Bachman, (29 January 1835).
Box 1
Folder 11
Samuel Badger, (27 October 1830).
Box 1
Folder 12
James Baird, (6 November 1835).
Box 1
Folder 13
George Baker, (21, 22 October 1834).
Box 1
Folder 14
Stephen Ballict, (22 February 1834).
Box 1
Folder 15
Ephraim Banks, (1 January 1834).
Box 1
Folder 16
James Bard, (12 November 1835, 1 December 1835).
Box 1
Folder 17
Isaac D. Barnard to Henry Buehler, (1829-1833).
Box 1
Folder 18
Fred Beates, (5 March 1832).
Box 1
Folder 19
Lewis D. Belair, (11 March 1834).
Box 1
Folder 20
Robert Bethell, (25 November 1835).
Box 1
Folder 21
Marks John Biddle, (25 January 1830).
Box 1
Folder 22
William M. Biddle, (14 October 1830).
Box 1
Folder 23
John Binns, (11 November 1829).
Box 1
Folder 24
Benjamin Bonsall, (21 March 1834).
Box 1
Folder 25
John Branch, (5 December 1829).
Box 1
Folder 26
Samuel Breck, (30 October 1835).
Box 1
Folder 27
F. E. Brewster, (18, 25 September 1835).
Box 1
Folder 28
William Carll Brewster, (12 November 1835).
Box 1
Folder 29
Daniel M. Brodhead, (1832, 1835).
Box 1
Folder 30
Peter A. Browne [recommendations of], (1827).
Box 1
Folder 31
John C. Bueher, (25 December 1832, 2 February 1833).
Box 1
Folder 32
Henry Buehler, (December 1834).
Box 1
Folder 33
J. R. Burden, (14 October 1830).
Box 1
Folder 34
Charles Callaghan, (29 May 1834, 1 June 1834).
Box 1
Folder 35
James Callan, (25 January 1833).
Box 1
Folder 36
Robert A. Campbell, (undated).
Box 1
Folder 37
E. L. Carey and Abraham Hart, (15 May 1834).
Box 1
Folder 38
Andrew Carothers, (12 October 1830).
Box 1
Folder 39
Benjamin F. Carter, (6, 14, 20 November 1834).
Box 1
Folder 40
David Cash, (22 May 1834).
Box 1
Folder 41
Benjamin Champneys, (14 March 1832).
Box 1
Folder 42
Charles Chauncey, (20 October 1829, 14 January 1830, 16 October 1830).
Box 1
Folder 43
Benjamin Chew, (31 March 1830).
Box 1
Folder 44
D. Conner, (21 August ____).
Box 1
Folder 45
Charles Cope - American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, (17 December 1831).
Box 1
Folder 46
Cornplanter (complaint by), (10 December 1832).
Box 1
Folder 47
Lewis S. Coryell, (17 September 1835, 16 October 1835).
Box 1
Folder 48
Robert Cottingham, (16 January 1830).
Box 1
Folder 49
Charles S. Coxe, (2 January 1830, 30 March 1832).
Box 1
Folder 50
James S. Craft, (18 January 1834).
Box 1
Folder 51
H. Craig, (28 September 1833).
Box 1
Folder 52
John W. Cunningham, (11 December 1833).
Box 1
Folder 53
J. B. Dallas, Travanion Barlow Dallas, (17 January 1834).
Box 1
Folder 54
George Mifflin Dallas, (1830-1835).
Box 1
Folder 55
Adam Daniel, (24 May 1834).
Box 1
Folder 56
John Davis, (15 January 1835).
Box 1
Folder 57
Samuel Davis, (2 January 1832).
Box 1
Folder 58
Charles DeHass, (2 November 1829).
Box 1
Folder 59
Charles Ludwig Denbart, (8 February 1834).
Box 1
Folder 60
A. T. Dick, (10 February 1835).
Box 1
Folder 61
Henry D. Dietrich, (16 October 1833).
Box 1
Folder 62
Adam Diller, (14 March 1832).
Box 1
Folder 63
Asa Dimock, (3 March 1834).
Box 1
Folder 64
William J. Duane, (27 January 1830, 4 May 1833).
Box 1
Folder 65
William Duncan, (27 October 1830).
Box 1
Folder 66
Thomas Dunlap, (14 April 1833).
Box 1
Folder 67
T. W. Dyott, (4 November 1834; 20, 25 November 1834).
Box 1
Folder 68
Eastern State Penitentiary, (19 May 1829).
Box 1
Folder 69
N. B. Eldred, (11 November 1835).
Box 1
Folder 70
William Folwell, (17 February 1834).
Box 1
Folder 71
John Fox, (29 January 1834, 12 May 1834).
Box 1
Folder 72
Samuel R. Franklin, (26 March 1834).
Box 1
Folder 73
Henry G. Freeman, (22 October 1830, 1 November 1830).
Box 1
Folder 74
Joseph Fry, (26 March 1835).
Box 1
Folder 75
John L. Fuller, (11 December 1833).
Box 1
Folder 76
Hugh Gaullagher, (October 1830).
Box 2
Folder 1
Jacob Gearhart, (20 November 1833).
Box 2
Folder 2
John B. Gibson, (7 January 1834).
Box 2
Folder 3
H. D. Gilpin, (19 October 1833, 4 November 1834).
Box 2
Folder 4
John W. Gloninger, (19 October 1830).
Box 2
Folder 5
Alexander Gordon, (1835?).
Box 2
Folder 6
James Gowan, (1830-1832).
Box 2
Folder 7
William Gracie, (9 February 1830).
Box 2
Folder 8
W. Graham, (15 October 1830).
Box 2
Folder 9
R. G. Greene, (10 November 1832).
Box 2
Folder 10
Nancy Grier, (21 April 1829).
Box 2
Folder 11
Arnold Halbach, (22 May 1834).
Box 2
Folder 12
Frederick John Haller, (11 December 1832).
Box 2
Folder 13
John Hallowell, (30 January 1833; 30, 31 January 1834).
Box 2
Folder 14
John Harper, (14 October 1830, 9 March 1833).
Box 2
Folder 15
Theophilus Harris, (4 December 1835).
Box 2
Folder 16
David Hassinger, (1830, 1831, 1835).
Box 2
Folder 17
Jos. K. Hassinger, (23 November 1832).
Box 2
Folder 18
Jesse Hawley, (25 January 1834).
Box 2
Folder 19
Peter Hay, (20 December 1830, 10 December 1833).
Box 2
Folder 20
William J. Hay, (4 December 1829).
Box 2
Folder 21
Alexander L. Hayes, (9 November 1829).
Box 2
Folder 22
William Hays, (11 November 1829).
Box 2
Folder 23
Charles E. Heath, (24 October 1835).
Box 2
Folder 24
George M. Heckman, (6 February 1838).
Box 2
Folder 25
Samuel Heistzelman, (17 November 1834).
Box 2
Folder 26
Isaac Heister, (21 November 1829).
Box 2
Folder 27
John P. Helfenstein, (7 March 1834).
Box 2
Folder 28
Jacob Hentz, (14 January 1832).
Box 2
Folder 29
George Hess Jr., (9 November 1835).
Box 2
Folder 30
J. Heyberger, (4 November 1834).
Box 2
Folder 31
W. W. Hodges, (14 February 1834).
Box 2
Folder 32
Robert Hodgson, (3 February 1833).
Box 2
Folder 33
Henry Horn, (27 October 1830, 8 February 1834).
Box 2
Folder 34
Caroline Horton, (9 March 1839).
Box 2
Folder 35
A. M. Howell, (13 November 1834).
Box 2
Folder 36
William Hummel, (30 January 1833).
Box 2
Folder 37
Charles J. Ingersoll, (19 March 1834).
Box 2
Folder 38
Edward Ingersoll, (26 October 1830).
Box 2
Folder 39
John R. Ingersoll, (13 January 1830).
Box 2
Folder 40
Samuel D. Ingham, (1829-1831, undated).
Box 2
Folder 41
Robert Innes, (14 January 1831).
Box 2
Folder 42
Invitations [arranged chronologically], (1826-1835, 1846, undated).
Box 2
Folder 43
C. J. Jack, (3 December 1830).
Box 2
Folder 44
J. C. Johnson, (18 April 1833, 9 July 1834).
Box 2
Folder 45
William F. Johnson, (24 October 1835).
Box 2
Folder 46
Phineas Jenks, (20 November 1832).
Box 2
Folder 47
Joel Jones, (1829-1835).
Box 2
Folder 48
Jesse Kersey, (1 February 1833).
Box 2
Folder 48
Adam King, (24 January 1833).
Box 2
Folder 49
Edward King, (1829-1830, 1834-1835).
Box 2
Folder 50
Henry King, (1830, 1832).
Box 2
Folder 51
John J. Krider, (24 November 1834).
Box 2
Folder 52
J. Clark Lawry, (24 August? 1834).
Box 2
Folder 53
William Lawson, (3 March 1834).
Box 2
Folder 54
Abner Leacock, (30 December 1833).
Box 2
Folder 55
Robert Leaman, (10, 11 March 1834).
Box 2
Folder 56
William J. Leiper, (8 December 1833, 24 November 1834).
Box 2
Folder 57
Henry Leech, (13 November 1834).
Box 2
Folder 58
J. M. G. Lescure, (20 December 1834).
Box 2
Folder 59
Ellis Lewis, (9 February 1835).
Box 2
Folder 60
C. Lombaert, (24 November 1829).
Box 2
Folder 61
Eliakim Littell, (9 January 1832, 6 November 1833, 15 February 1834).
Box 2
Folder 62
Martin Lowrie, (6 February 1834).
Box 2
Folder 63
C. MacAlester, (1 December 1834).
Box 3
Folder 1
Job Mann, (10 December 1833).
Box 3
Folder 2
Nicholas Marselis, (14 February 1834).
Box 3
Folder 3
Jacob Marshall, (18 February 1834, 30 December 1834).
Box 3
Folder 4
Charles H. Matthews, (21 January 1835, 22 April 1835).
Box 3
Folder 5
George Lewis Mayer, (25 February 1834).
Box 3
Folder 6
Robert B. McAfee, (25 November 1830).
Box 3
Folder 7
Alex McCaraher, (2 May 1834, 3 May 1835).
Box 3
Folder 8
David McClure, (12 February 1834).
Box 3
Folder 9
James McCormick, (3 November 1834).
Box 3
Folder 10
Samuel A. McCoskry, (14 October 1830).
Box 3
Folder 11
William McCreery, (15 December 1829).
Box 3
Folder 12
Anthony A. McDonough, (5 May 1835).
Box 5
Folder 13
Charles McDowell, (31 October 1833).
Box 3
Folder 14
James McKean, (1 February 1833).
Box 3
Folder 15
Samuel McKean, (1829, 1833-1835).
Box 3
Folder 16
Thomas McKean, (22 June 1830).
Box 3
Folder 17
William McKie, (31 March 1832).
Box 3
Folder 18
Daniel McLaughlin, (31 March 1830).
Box 3
Folder 19
J. B. Mitchell, (29 November 1833, 23 December 1833).
Box 3
Folder 20
James Mease, (11 February 1830).
Box 3
Folder 21
James Merrill, (10 May 1833).
Box 3
Folder 22
Benjamin Mifflin, (26 November 1834).
Box 3
Folder 23
D. H. Miller, (1829-1830).
Box 3
Folder 24
Isaac Miller, (7 December 1835).
Box 3
Folder 25
Jacob S. Miller, (18 January 1834).
Box 3
Folder 26
John Mitchell, (1 April 1835).
Box 3
Folder 27
William B. Mitchell, (24 June 1833, 26 March 1853, 29 January 1835).
Box 3
Folder 28
Theodore M. Montgomery, (14 September 1835, undated).
Box 3
Folder 29
Peter Moser, (21 September 1835).
Box 3
Folder 30
J. Moss, (18 March 1834).
Box 3
Folder 31
Henry Myers, (2 March 1835, 16 April 1835).
Box 3
Folder 32
John Naglee, (2 September 1835).
Box 3
Folder 33
Charles Nes, (4 February 1833).
Box 3
Folder 34
Charles Nesin, (1 July 1834, 25 August 1834).
Box 3
Folder 35
H. Niemeyer, (21 April 1834).
Box 3
Folder 36
Michael Nisbet, (8 September 1835).
Box 3
Folder 37
Henry Nixon, (11 July? 1834).
Box 3
Folder 38
Joseph B. Norberry, (30 March 1832).
Box 3
Folder 39
Thomas Officer, (17 January 1834).
Box 3
Folder 40
Joseph Osborn, (28 April 1835).
Box 3
Folder 41
James Page, (7 October 1830).
Box 3
Folder 42
Richard Palmer, (25 May 1833).
Box 3
Folder 43
T. F. Parker, (16 October 1835).
Box 3
Folder 44
Robert Patterson, (2 January 1834, undated).
Box 3
Folder 45
Benjamin Patton, (11 March 1834).
Box 3
Folder 46
William Patton [includes "Slave Question" essay], (28 April 1835, undated).
Box 3
Folder 47
Stephen Paysan, (24 November 1835).
Box 3
Folder 48
H. Pfeiffer, (25 July 1835).
Box 3
Folder 49
Caleb Peirce, (11 June 1834).
Box 3
Folder 50
Charles B. Penrose, (1830, 1833-1834).
Box 3
Folder 51
Henry Pettebone, (20 March 1835).
Box 3
Folder 52
Charles Pettit, (23 April 1830).
Box 3
Folder 53
Thomas M. Pettit, (1826, 1833, 1835).
Box 3
Folder 54
W. Pfaff, (1834).
Box 3
Folder 55
Benjamin Phillips, (9 January 1834).
Box 3
Folder 56
Edward Poole, (11 March 1835).
Box 3
Folder 57
James M. Porter, (25 October 1835).
Box 3
Folder 58
Samuel Potts, (6 February 1834).
Box 3
Folder 59
John Hare Powel, (20 February 1832).
Box 3
Folder 60
Mary Ralston, (1 December 1833).
Box 4
Folder 1
William Ramsey, (1829-1831).
Box 4
Folder 2
Archibald Randall, (27 January 1834).
Box 4
Folder 3
Josiah Randall, (30 October 1830).
Box 4
Folder 4
Matthew Randall, (1829, undated).
Box 4
Folder 5
John Rankin, (18 March 1834).
Box 4
Folder 6
Mr. Rapp, (31 January 1831, 5 February 1831).
Box 4
Folder 7
Frederick A. Rauch, (undated).
Box 4
Folder 8
Almon H. Read, (22 May 1833, 28 April 1835, 23 October 1835).
Box 4
Folder 9
John Read, (12 November 1833).
Box 4
Folder 10
John M. Read, (16 October 1834).
Box 4
Folder 11
A. H. Reader, (24 February 1833).
Box 4
Folder 12
Levi Reynolds, (1833, 1835).
Box 4
Folder 13
John Rheiner, (5 November 1834).
Box 4
Folder 14
Owen Rice, (21 January 1833).
Box 4
Folder 15
Benjamin W. Richards, (9 October 1830, 11 March 1834).
Box 4
Folder 16
Samuel Ringwalt, (20 April 1830).
Box 4
Folder 17
William Robison, (3 May 1833).
Box 4
Folder 18
W. T. Rogers, (5 January 1834).
Box 4
Folder 19
James Ronaldson, (6 February 1832).
Box 4
Folder 20
John Ross, (9 February 1830).
Box 4
Folder 21
A. L. Roumfort, (22 November 1834).
Box 4
Folder 22
William Ruff, (24 November 1834).
Box 4
Folder 23
H. Russell, (28 February 1836).
Box 4
Folder 24
Maria C. Russell, (25 January 1836).
Box 4
Folder 25
Jacob Sallade, (17 September 1834).
Box 4
Folder 26
Wilhem Schmöle, (9 May 1834).
Box 4
Folder 27
James Schott, (8, 9 January 1830).
Box 4
Folder 28
Rev. Edmond de Schweinitz, (29 April 1852; 12, 15 May 1852).
Box 4
Folder 29
Edwin T. Scott, (28 February 1832).
Box 4
Folder 30
John M. Scott, (1829, 1830, 1832, 1834).
Box 4
Folder 31
William Sebring, (10 October 1832).
Box 4
Folder 32
Capt. Samuel Seely, (27 June 1833).
Box 4
Folder 33
John Sergeant, (13 January 1830, 16 December 1830, 24 March 1832).
Box 4
Folder 34
Thomas Sergeant, (4 February 1834).
Box 4
Folder 35
John Shaw, (4 December 1829).
Box 4
Folder 36
Daniel Sheffer, (5 November 1832).
Box 4
Folder 37
C. Shunk, (12 November 1832).
Box 4
Folder 38
Thomas H. Sill, (28 January 1834).
Box 4
Folder 39
Henry Simpson, (1829, 1830, 1834).
Box 4
Folder 40
James K. Simpson, (8 December 1835).
Box 4
Folder 41
James Sinton, (10 January 1830).
Box 4
Folder 42
Adam Slemmer, (27 April 1833, 10 May 1833, 21 December 1834).
Box 4
Folder 43
Francis A. Smith, (13 February 1832).
Box 4
Folder 44
John M. Snowden, (28 April 1835).
Box 4
Folder 45
Joseph Solms, (2 January 1832).
Box 4
Folder 46
Jacob Souder, (15 November 1830).
Box 4
Folder 47
Stewart Steel, (5 March 1834).
Box 4
Folder 48
John B. Sterigere, (11 January 1830).
Box 4
Folder 49
Cornelius Stevenson, (27 January 1830).
Box 4
Folder 50
William Stewart, (24 April 1833).
Box 4
Folder 51
Nimrod Strickland, (26 December 1834).
Box 4
Folder 52
David Stroud, (30 April 1830).
Box 4
Folder 53
George M. Stroud, (18 February 1834).
Box 4
Folder 54
John F. Stump, (26 November 1834).
Box 4
Folder 55
Joel Barlow Sutherland, (1829-1834).
Box 4
Folder 56
William H. Sumner, (7 February 1834).
Box 4
Folder 57
William Swetland, (8 January 1833).
Box 4
Folder 58
Col. John M. Taylor [includes letters to Andrew Jackson], (1829, 1830, 1833).
Box 4
Folder 59
John Thaw, (16 December 1829).
Box 4
Folder 60
George Thomas, (15 February 1834).
Box 4
Folder 61
Henry Toland, (25 November 1834).
Box 4
Folder 62
Col. Simpson Torbert, (4 February 1833).
Box 4
Folder 63
Jacob Urban, (7 December 1835).
Box 4
Folder 64
H. H. Van Amringe, (1829, 1832, 1833, 1934).
Box 5
Folder 1
W. F. Van Amringe, (22 April 1833, 4 January 1834).
Box 5
Folder 2
John Vaughan, (28 December 1833).
Box 5
Folder 3
Roberts Vaux, (1829-1835).
Box 5
Folder 4-7
David D. Wagener, (1830, 1834-1835).
Box 5
Folder 8
Jacob Wagener, (1832, 1834).
Box 5
Folder 9
Peter Wager, (4, 21 November 1834).
Box 5
Folder 10
Mrs. J. Walter, (30 March 1846).
Box 5
Folder 11
John Wanner, (20 April 1830).
Box 5
Folder 12
Christopher L. Ward, (9 January 1835, 9 February 1835, 28 April 1835).
Box 5
Folder 13
John G. Watmough, (30 March 1832).
Box 5
Folder 14
George Watterston, (30 December 1833).
Box 5
Folder 15
H. A. Weir, (undated).
Box 5
Folder 16
Dilworth Wentz, (4 February 1833).
Box 5
Folder 17
Ross Wilkins, (20 November 1833).
Box 5
Folder 18
A. Williams, (21 July 1835).
Box 5
Folder 19
John Williamson, (14 October 1830).
Box 5
Folder 20
John A. Willink, (1 May 1834).
Box 5
Folder 21
J. A. Wilson, (17 September 1835).
Box 5
Folder 22
John Wilson, (29 April 1835).
Box 5
Folder 23
Thomas I. Wharton, (27 October 1830).
Box 5
Folder 24
William White, (12 February 1834).
Box 5
Folder 25
George Wolf [letters from], (1826-1835).
Box 5
Folder 26
George Wolf [resolutions, petitions, proceedings of meetings, subscribers, committees, etc.], (1817-1835).
Box 5
Folder 27-29
Samuel Wonderly, (3 December 1833).
Box 5
Folder 30
Samuel R. Wood, (3 February 1833, 11 December 1833, 4 January 1834).
Box 5
Folder 31
Apollos Woodward, (3 January 1834).
Box 5
Folder 32
Jacob Ziegler, (26 June 1835).
Box 5
Folder 33
Unidentified, unsigned, unknown, (1838, undated).
Box 5
Folder 34