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George B. McClellan Papers

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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. 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

McClellan

A graduate of Princeton (Class of 1886), McClellan was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1895-1903), mayor of New York (1903-1909), and professor of economic history at Princeton (1912-1931). A renowned scholar of Venice, he authored a number of historical books about Italy.

The collection consists of works, correspondence, documents, photographs, scrapbooks, and miscellaneous material of McClellan reflecting his varied career. There are also many of his letters to his mother, Ellen Marcy McClellan. Works include the autograph manuscript of The Oligarchy of Venice (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1904), as well as essays--many about Italy--poetry, speeches (1902-1921), and lecture notes and notebooks for his course on economic history (1912-1930). Documents include wills, memoranda of agreement, and diplomas of the McClellan family (1872-1935), bills to reorganize the army before the House of Representatives (1890-1900), awards to firemen, a veto of a bill to regulate and improve railroad terminals and approaches of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroads in New York City (1893-1917), and honorable discharges and appointments to the regular forces as well as to the Officers Reserve Corps of the U.S. Army (1886-1940). There are photographs and photograph albums, medals and souvenirs of McClellan's political career such as campaign rosettes, and printed material including bound copies of his Spencer Trask (1907) and Stafford Little Lectures (1909), both delivered at Princeton.

The collection also contains some papers of McClellan's father, General George Brinton McClellan (1826-1885), including speeches (1836-1878), correspondence (1861-1888), documents, and miscellaneous material. In addition, there are photographs and photograph albums of McClellan and his wife, army officers, Mathew B. Brady Civil War scenes, and Florence, Italy.

Organized into two series: Series 1: General George Brinton McClellan and Series 2: Mayor George B. McClellan

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Folder inventory prepared by Feng Zhu '2014 in 2012.

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Date
2002
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Collection Inventory

Scope and Contents

Consists of the papers of General George Brinton McClellan, including writings, correspondence, photographs, and clippings.

Arrangement

This series is arranged into four subseries: Writings, Correspondence, Miscellaneous Clippings and Papers, and Photographs.

Physical Description

9 boxes

Scope and Contents

Consists of the speeches of General George Brinton McClellan.

Arrangement

Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.

Physical Description

1 box

Speeches, 1836-1879. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Scope and Contents

Consists of the correspondence of General George Brinton McClellan, primarily to his mother and commanding officer and also includes correspondence from Grover Cleveland.

Arrangement

Arranged by correspondence.

Physical Description

1 box

Correspondence from General McClellan, 1861-1864. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

To commanding officers in Virginia, and to his mother.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence to Mrs. M. A. Marcy, sister-in-law, 1859-1888. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence to General McClellan, 1872-1888. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Including from Grover Cleveland

Physical Description

1 folder

Scope and Contents

Consists of miscellaneous papers and memos.

Arrangement

Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.

Physical Description

1 box

Miscellaneous papers, memoriams, 1839-1894. 2 folders.
Physical Description

2 folders

Scope and Contents

Consists of photographs and albums related to General George Brinton McClellan.

Arrangement

Arranged by genre of material.

Physical Description

8 boxes

Photographs, 1862-1903. 2 boxes.
Physical Description

2 boxes

Photograph Albums, undated. 6 boxes.
Physical Description

6 boxes

Scope and Contents

Consists of the papers of Mayor George B. McClellan, including writings, correspondence, documents, and printed matter.

Arrangement

This series is arranged into five subseries: Writings, Correspondence, Documents, Other printed material, and Miscellaneous.

Physical Description

21 boxes

Scope and Contents

Consists of the writings of Mayor George B. McClellan, including poems, essays, speeches, lectures, and articles.

Arrangement

Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.

Physical Description

5 boxes

Manuscript of book Venice and Bonaparte, undated. 2 folders.
Physical Description

2 folders

Essays from Italy, 1921. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Includes "Tourist Italy", "Italy as Victor", "The Italian General Election", and two other untitled essays.

Physical Description

1 folder

Poems, undated. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Includes "The Mayor", "To Muriel, St. Valentine's Day 1906", "To Muriel", "To One Who Fumbled", 4 poems entitled "A Sonnet" and 8 untitled poems.

Physical Description

1 folder

Campaign Speeches, ca. 1902-1903. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Including press release on McClellan's nomination for Mayor of New York City, mounted newspaper clippings of speech on Democrat unity.

Physical Description

1 folder

Speeches, 1905-1921. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Including speech to Graduates of Fordham University, Dedication of Water Tower at Brown's Station NY, speech to Annual Convention of the National Education Association, Spencer Trask Lecture at Princeton delivered on March 8 1907, Cleveland Memorial Meeting, speech concerning publication of Deutsch-Amerika. speech to W. W. Keen Surgical Society.

Physical Description

1 folder

Speeches by Others, 1902-1918. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Articles, 1908-1916. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Including article for The Youth's Companion

Physical Description

1 folder

Lecture notes: Economic History, Princeton University, 1912-1931. 3 folders.
Physical Description

3 folders

Lecture notes: Economic History, Princeton University, 1912-1931. 2 folders.
Physical Description

2 folders

Lectures, 1907-1908. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Includes bound copy of Spencer Trask lecture given at Princeton University, March 8 1907, entitled "The Impulse and the Law", and bound copy of Oration delivered at Mendelssohn Hall, NYC, February 29 1908, entitled "Augustus Saint Gaudens".

Physical Description

1 folder

Stafford Little Lectures at Princeton University, 1909-1910. 2 folders.
Scope and Contents

Includes 6 bound copies of Lectures delivered March 22 and March 29, 1909 entitled "Principles in Politics", and 5 bound copies of Lectures delivered December 9 and December 16, 1909 entitled "Present Day Legislation".

Physical Description

2 folders

Personal notes on miscellaneous subjects, undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Article on Giacomo Serpotta: photographs, manuscript, 1908. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebooks and Address Books, 1895-1930. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Scope and Contents

Consists of the correspondence of Mayor George B. McClellan.

Arrangement

Arranged by correspondent.

Physical Description

2 boxes

Physical Description

1 box

Letters to George B. McClellan Jr.: correspondent unidentified, 1909-1933. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letters to George B. McClellan Jr.: A - H, 1909-1939. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Includes correspondence from following correspondents: American Academy in Rome; the American Red Cross; American Relief Committee for German Children, Inc.; American Italian Union; Anawanda Club; Anderson, H. James, M.D; "American"; Atkins, Anne; Aztec Club of 1847; Berryman, Clifford K.; Berton, Mimi; Bewer, Dr. Everett E; Blashfield, Edwin Howland; Borie, C.L., Jr.; Brand, C.H.; Bringmann, George B; Buell, Raymond Leslie; Buffalo Specialty Co.; Century Club; Church Layman's Association; Cincinnati, Society of the; Conan, Joseph P.; Coolidge, President Calvin (written by his secretary Everett Sanders); Copeland, Royal S.; Copulli, G.; Coudert, F.R.; Daily Princetonian; Davis, John W.; Delano, Frederic A.; New Jersey Department of Justice; Dixon, Professor Frank Haigh; Eden Hotel, Rome; Ferraros, Orestes (Cuban ambassador to the US); Fischer, Louis; Fisher, George Harrison; Harper and Bros. Pub. Co.; [Hellosgan], George; Hibben, John Grier; Hillprecht, Herman V.; Historical Publications Society; Hollis, Grace Bruerton; Hylan, John F. Also includes some replies from McClellan.

Physical Description

1 folder

Letters to George B. McClellan Jr.: I - L, 1888-1940. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Includes correspondence from following correspondents: Isherwood, Howard; Italian Ambassador; the Italy-America Society; the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia; Jhne, Dr. von; Mrs. Johnson; the Henry B. Joy Historical Research; Kaltenborn, H.V; Kountze, A.; La Farge, Christopher Grant; Lafayette Camp No. 140; La Guardia, Firorello Henry; Langan, Agnes; Larned, J.S. Blair; Lewis, Wilmott; Library of Congress; Lindsay, Elizabeth; Lunn, George R.; Lyons, Rev. William. Also includes some replies from McClellan.

Physical Description

1 folder

Letters to George B. McClellan Jr.: M - O, 1887-1940. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Includes correspondence from following correspondents: Mackay, Clarence H.; MacKay, R.A.; Macmahon, Arthur W.; Macmillan Publishing Co.; Duc de Madrid; Make Europe Pay War Debts Committee; Manjoney, Phillip, M.D.; Markens, Isaac; Maurice; McClellan, Ellen; McClellan, Thomas; McClure, Grace; McGehee, Charles C.; McReynolds, J.C.; Metropolitan Club; the Metropolitan Museum of Art; Merriman, Thaddeus; Miller, Jennie Wright; Mitchell, William D.; Monfried, Walter; Moore, Charles; Moses, George H.; Myers, William Starr; National Portrait Gallery; Nelson, Dr. Herbert C.; New York City Art Commission; New York "Evening Post"; New York Historical Society; Noyes, Frank B.; O'Brien, John P.; Olvany, George W. Also includes some replies from McClellan.

Physical Description

1 folder

Letters to George B. McClellan Jr.: P - S, 1888-1940. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Includes correspondence from following correspondents: Padilla, Alejandro; Palmer, S.P.; Pan American Commercial Congress; Parks, Leighton; Payne, John Barton; Peeson, James B.; Pershing, John J.; Peter, Jeanne, and Peter, Marie; Pfaffer, Joseph Suitner; Phillips, Duncan; Phillips, Marjorie; Pichetto, Stephen S.; Por, Odon; Porter, FitzJohn; Prentice, Maria; Princeton University; Purdy, Lawson; Putnam, Herbert; Radder, Norman J.; Redding, Kiddle and Greely, Counselors at Law; Ridder, Bernard H.; Ridder, Victor F.; Ridgway, Robert; Robbins, Edmund X.; Roberts, Alton T.; Roberts, Owen J.; Robinson, Edward; Roosevelt, President Franklin D.; Royal Historical Society; Russo, Salvatore V.H.; St. James Hotel, D'Albany Hotel; Saint John's Church (Washington, D.C.); Samorini, Dr. Arnaldo A.; Sargent, Helen Louise; Sawyer, Joseph W.; Charles Scribner's Sons Publishing Co.; Office of Selectmen Assessors and Overseers of Poor; Shear, T. Leslie; Shepherd, Sarah Clifford; Slattery, Charles L; Smith, Alfred E.; Citizen's Committee for the Re-Election of Smith, Alfred E.; Smith, J. Waldo; Smithsonian Institute; Société Des Amis du Louvre; Speyer and Company; State Department; Stationers Association of New York, The; Stewart, John A.; Stokes, Anson Phelps; Straus, Oscar S.; Straus, Roger W.; Supreme Court of the United States. Also includes some replies from McClellan.

Physical Description

1 folder

Letters to George B. McClellan Jr.: T - Z, 1921-1938. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Includes correspondence from following correspondents: Thrasher, Roy; Thorne, Samuel; George Washington Memorial Parkway Fund, Inc.; Watson, Roy G.; Weech, Gladys B.; West, Andrew A.; Winlock, H.E. Also includes some replies from McClellan.

Physical Description

1 folder

Letters from George B. McClellan Jr.: A - Z, 1908-1939. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence with McClellan, Mrs. Ellen Marcy (mother), 1888-1889. 2 folders.
Scope and Contents

Includes 23 letters.

Physical Description

2 folders

Correspondence with McClellan, Mrs. Ellen Marcy (mother), 1889-1912. 6 folders.
Scope and Contents

Dated 1888 (11 letters); 1889 (27 letters); 1891 (30 letters); 1893 (3 letters); 1894 (7 letters); 1899; 1908 (2 letters); 1912.

Physical Description

6 folders

Correspondence of Mrs. George B. McClellan (wife), 1873-1941. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Scope and Contents

Consists of bills, receipts, family wills, and documents pertaining to the House of Representatives, New York City, and the military.

Arrangement

Arranged by genre of material.

Physical Description

1 box

Bills and Receipts, 1905-1933. 3 folders.
Physical Description

3 folders

Miscellaneous Family Documents, 1857-1937. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Family Wills, 1884-1919. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

House of Representatives, 1894-1900. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

City of New York, 1893-1917. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Military, 1879-1940. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Scope and Contents

Consists of printed material, including books, articles, periodicals, memos, invitations, programs, engravings, and floorplans.

Arrangement

Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.

Physical Description

3 boxes

Books and Articles, 1885-1919. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Histoire d'une bouchée de pain, 1895. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Copy of book owned by George B. McClellan Jr.

Physical Description

1 folder

Miscellaneous periodicals, 1905-1930. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Princeton alumni materials, 1886-1938. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Includes various scrapbooks, programs, memoriams, dinner invitations, notes, blank stationery, calling cards, Reunions material, postcards and other souvenirs.

Physical Description

1 folder

Papers from Tammany Hall and Mayoralty, 1890-1908. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Brown's Station, NY, 1908. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Commemorative photo pamphlet

Physical Description

1 folder

Invitations, programs, etc., 1885-1908. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Memoriams, 1908-1940. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Postcards, notes, etc., undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Miscellaneous documents, 1881-1929. 2 folders.
Physical Description

2 folders

Princeton University Catalogue, 1940. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Engravings, Floorplans for residence, McClellan's Diploma, etc., undated. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Scope and Contents

Consists of photographs, daguerreotypes, scrapbooks, and miscellaneous memorabilia.

Arrangement

Arranged by genre of material.

Physical Description

10 boxes

Photographs, 1862-1941. 2 boxes.
Physical Description

2 boxes

Daguerreotypes, undated. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Scrapbooks, 1903-1917. 2 boxes.
Physical Description

2 boxes

Memorabilia, 1860-1909. 5 boxes.
Scope and Contents

Includes McClellan's Diploma from the Tammany Society of the Columbian Order, 1891, various medals, pins and buttons.

Physical Description

5 boxes

Print, Suggest