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Andrew Jackson Collection

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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

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Andrew Jackson, seventh president of the United States, was born in the backwoods settlement of the Waxhaw in South Carolina. He received a sporadic education, lost all his family by the time he was fourteen, and moved to Charleston, S.C., where he learned to race horses and also learned the manners of "gentlemen." He studied law and became an outstanding young lawyer in Tennessee. Jackson prospered sufficiently to buy slaves and to build a mansion, the Hermitage, near Nashville. A major general in the War of 1812, Jackson became a national hero when he defeated the British at New Orleans. By 1828 enough political factions had joined him to win numerous state elections and control of the Federal administration in Washington. He was elected to the presidency in 1829 and served till 1837. More than most of his predecessors, Andrew Jackson was elected by popular vote. As president he sought to act as the direct representative of the common man. He died at the Hermitage on June 8, 1845.

The collection consists of selected correspondence and documents of Andrew Jackson, the bulk of which dates from the time of his presidency (1829-1837). The correspondence includes a letter to Dr. James Jackson in Alabama, dated 1821, describing his state of health; a letter to James Carnahan, ninth president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), presenting a gift of a collection of insects from South America; a letter dated 1831 to Hugh L. White, urging him not to resign from the War Department; a letter to Samuel Swartwout, Collector at the Port of New York dated 1833, regarding his purchase of a new carriage and two horses in exchange for his old "Borrouch" [barouche]; a letter to Robert I. Chester dated 1840; and a letter to Elijah Purdy dated 1841, thanking him for his good wishes and criticizing the administration of president William Henry Harrison.

The documents include a deed of land of John W. Ray, dated 1831, signed by Jackson; a passport for the ship NEVA of New York, signed by Jackson and by Secretary of State Edward Livingston, Princeton Class of 1781; a signed ship's document permitting Joseph Z. Chase and his ship, the MAY FLOWER, to depart on a whaling voyage in the Pacific ocean, dated 1834; and a signed document appointing Lewis Boudinot Hunter, Princeton Class of 1824, as a surgeon in the United States Army, dated 1834. Also included is a bookmark printed on silk, commemorating Jackson's victory at the battle of New Orleans, published by W. L. Germon; and a photograph of Jackson's home the "Hermitage" in Nashville, Tenn.

The collection was formed as a result of a Departmental practice of combining into one collection material of various accessions relating to a particular person, family, or subject.

Letter to Hugh L. White was a gift of Fred. Worth, Esq. on September 1900.

Passport for the ship Neva was a gift of G. B. McClellan, Princeton Class of 1886 on Feb. 6, 1912.

Letter to James Carnahan was a gift of Prof. H. C. Cameron on Nov. 27, 1918.

Document to Lewis Boudinot Hunter was a gift of Miss Sarah Hunter on April 9, 1925.

Letter to Chester and document for whaling voyage was a gift of Robbins Milbank, Princeton Class of 1925, and Samuel Milbank, Princeton Class of 1927 on Dec. 19, 1949.

Letter to Dr. Jackson was a gift of The Nassau Club on January 20, 1955.

Deed of John Ray was a gift of Bernard K. Schaefer on January 1955.

Letter to S. Stwartwout was a gift of Edward H. White on June 30, 1965.

Folder inventory added by Nicholas Williams '2015 in 2012.

No appraisal information is available.

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Date
2006
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.

Collection Inventory

Signature of Andrew Jackson, [1837]. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letter to Hugh White Urging Him Not to Resign From the War Department, 29 April 1831. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Passport for the Ship "Neva of New York", 29 January 1834. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letter to James Carnahan, 5 October 1833. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Commission Appointing Lewis Boudinot Hunter a Surgeon in the U.S. Navy, 2 March 1837. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letter to Elijah Purdy, 16 March 1841. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letter to Robert I. Chester, 23 April 1840. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Document Giving Joseph Z. Chase Permission for a Whaling Voyage, 11 October 1834. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letter to Dr. James Jackson, 1 August 1821. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Deed of Land of John W. Ray, Signed by Jackson, December 1831. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letter to Samuel Swartwout and Photograph of the Hermitage, 26 November 1833. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letter to Colonel Mannsel White, 7 April 1936. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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