- Two autograph letters, signed, from Joshua B. Aldridge to Anthony Van Schaick, Esq. of Albany, dated Ballston Spa, N.Y., August 23 and September 15, 1806, regarding the collection of a debt from one John Green. Both letters also bear notations "Sup. Court" and "[Plaintiffs] letter" on reverse. The note referred to in the first letter is not present.
- Autograph letter, signed, from Edward Annely, dated Philadelphia, August 22, 1754, to William Kempe, Esq. Annely requests Kempe’s help and advice in both collecting a debt and in raising funds from a sale of stock in a copper mine on Annely’s property. Annely refers to his estate in Whitestone, but not the state., Addressee may be William Kempe (d. 1759), Attorney General for the colony of New York from 1752-1759.
- Autograph letter, signed, from William Atlee, Deputy Commissoner of Prisoners, to Joseph Nourse, Deputy Secretary of the Board of War, dated Lancaster, August 23, 1777. Letter discusses the transfer of British and German prisoners to various locations throughout Pennsylvania, and supply and intelligence issues.
- Four letters from Stephen Bayard to Gilbert Livingston of Kingston, N.Y., and one to Evert Wendell of Albany, dated New York between 1728 and 1743, before Bayard became mayor of the city. The correspondence is largely concerned with financial matters, especially debts Bayard wished to collect. One letter to Livingston is signed by both Stephen and Nicholas Bayard; another, dated December 6, 1731, mentions new governmental appointments in New York and New Jersey and praises a grand jury charge by James De Lancey., Stephen Bayard was the mayor of New York from 1744 to 1747.
- Henry Bergh founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and helped form both the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. This collection consists of seven letters by Henry Burgh, most concerning the A.S.P.C.A., or cases of animal cruelty. They are accompanied by one portrait engraving autographed by Burgh. Letter recipients include Orange County, N.Y. justice of the peace John Burt; New York state senator Augustus R. Elwood; the editor of the New York Tribune; actor Lester Wallack; and writer Henry Sedley. Of particular interest are two letters: the first, dated December 11, 1866, protesting the regular feeding of live animals to a snake at Barnums museum; and the second, dated November 7, 1881, requesting that Wallack find a position for "a beautiful young lady, of my acquaintance" at his new theater.
- 24 letters and one warrant signed by George Clinton (ca. 1686-1761) in his capacity as governor of New York between 1744 and 1751. The majority of the letters are written from New York, addressed to Major Jacob Glen, and discuss various issues relating to King Georges War, especially negotiations with the Indians for their support in the war and troop supply problems. A letter dated Fort George, New York, May 30, 1751, announces the death of the Prince of Wales to the Council and General Assembly; two others, dated October 7, 1746 and October 13, 1751, are addressed to two subsequent lieutenant-governors of Pennsylvania, George Thomas and James Hamilton. The warrant, dated July 24, 1746, authorizes Henry Holland to impress any carpenter or materials necessary to the building of ""battoes."", George Clinton (ca. 1686-1761) was a British naval officer and politician who served as colonial governor of New York from 1743 to 1753.
- 66 autograph letters, signed, between James B. Collins and his brother Joseph T. Collins, their parents John W. and Mary Anne Collins, and a handful of friends and relatives, all dated between February 4, 1862 and July 9, 1863. The bulk of the letters from the front are written by James B. Collins. Also includes a manuscript copy of lyrics to a song entitled "Song of the Louisiana Lowlands." James B. and Joseph T. Collins of New York City enlisted in the U.S. Navy in August of 1862. They were first assigned to the U.S.S. Monticello, and then transferred to the U.S.S. Commodore Barney. Before being assigned to the Barney, among other experiences they witnessed the destruction of the ironclad U.S.S. Monitor off Cape Hatteras on December 31, 1862. Joseph Collins was killed on the Barney during the Battle of Suffolk on April 14, 1863; James survived the battle but lost an arm in the same explosion that killed his brother. James B. Collins was honorably discharged on July 16, 1863 and returned to New York. He became an Internal Revenue officer for the First District of New York City in 1872.
- Twenty-four letters and financial accounts created by members of the Crooke family, originally of Ulster County, N.Y. Collection includes six documents pertaining to the disposal of the estate of Charles Crooke, Jr., dated 1753-1767; one autograph letter, signed, from John Crooke to Martin S. Wilkins, dated Rhinebeck, July 27, 1807; twelve autograph letters, signed, of an official nature from John Crooke Jr. to Henry Livingston, then clerk of neighboring Dutchess county, ranging in dare from 1737-1750; three personal autograph letters, signed, from William Crooke to Peter E. Elmendorf, all dated Raritan, ranging from 1784-1790; two undated autograph letters, signed, from Rebecca Wickham Crooke to cousins Peter E. Elmendorf and a Mrs. Bleecker (probably Catherine Elmendorf Bleecker, b. 1747)-- the latter is a letter of introduction for Mrs. Jeremiah Reynolds., John Crooke, Jr. served as clerk of Ulster county from 1746-1759. Other members of the Crooke family were also prominent in Ulster county politics, especially in the town of Kingston. Robert Crooke (1717-1802) moved to Rhode Island, married Ann Wickham, and had a daughter, Rebecca Wickham Crooke.
- Correspondence, drafts of essays and speeches, drawings, and autobiographical writings of Alexander Jackson Davis, a successful New York City architect. Includes letters to Davis and miscellaneous papers, 1835-1859, chiefly about building residences. The correspondents include Francis H. Smith of the Virginia Military Institute, Joel Rathbone, W.J. Rotch, and H.K. Harral. The collection also includes numerous examples of autobiographical writing, and notes and essays on the philosophy of architecture, all in draft form, many scribbled in pencil on the backs of advertisements or old letters.
- Letters, certificates, land grants and military orders pertaining to the life of Ebenezer Gray of Connecticut. Items include Grays commissions as major (dated 1777, signed by John Hancock) and lieutenant-colonel in the Sixth Connecticut Regiment (1778, signed by John Jay); eight letters from various officers discussing military matters; Grays membership certificate in the Society of the Cincinnati, signed by George Washington; and a land grant to Grays three children, signed by Thomas Jefferson. Two items dated 1841 and 1844 relate to the discovery of Grays powder horn in Germantown, which was lost in battle, and arrangements to return it to his family., Ebenezer Gray of Windham, Connecticut served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the American Revolution.