Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866

Scope and Contents Printed form completed in manuscript. The top half of the form is a prospectus for Jared Sparks's Life and Writings of Washingotn, with Historical Notes, Illustrations, Engravings, &c. It features a wood engraving of the "Evacuation of Boston, from a Revolutionary medal." The bottom of the form certifies that Oliver B. Dorance - a lawyer and freemason from Portland, Maine - has paid 5 dollars for volumes two and three of Sparks's book. The receipt is signed by Benjamin R. Downes on...

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Photostat. Reference to General orders book of Seize of Boston with Gen. Washington's order, held by man(?) in Iowa. Thinks it would be of little value, if official orderly book of GW is held by Dept. of State. Reference to Great Britain's continued recognition of the United States. PS-537

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Photostat. ER-538

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Form for relinquishing Washington papers to the U.S. Government, drawn up by Jared Sparks for Geo. C. Washington to copy. [See letter of same date, Sparks to G.C. Washington].

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Autograph letter signed with integral address panel. Sparks writes to Bushrod Corbin Washington, executor of the estate of Bushrod Washington, in response to his inquiries about Sparks's progress on his publication of the writings of George Washington.

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A.L.S. 2 pages. Expresses thanks for the books sent. Asks a favor in regards to Mr. Felton.

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Reports on his share of earnings from “Washington’s Writings.” Many copies of the book were destroyed in a fire, but the stereotype and engraved plates were in a fire proof vault.

Scope and Contents A.L.S. 3 pages. Cambridge to Washington, D.C. Does not think Washington can get a loan on security of the papers, since he has already made them over to the govt.--when he finishes with the paper he will bundle up private papers and send to W-n--"Strictly speaking all the papers pertaining to the period in which Genl. Washington held no office are private, but I suppose the spirit of your contract included only family papers, and such as related to his private affairs,"--must have written...

Scope and Contents A.L.S. 3 pages. Cambridge to Georgetown, Washington, D.C. Has confirmed his own opinion that money cannot be borrowed on security of the [Washington] papers since title to them has gone to govt.--cannot advance any money himself because every cent is tied up in publication of Writings--assures him he is working every minute to complete publication--Mr. Forsyth's efforts to institute suit against him for the papers will come to nothing, because "my contract with Judge [Bushrod] Washington...

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A.L.S. 1 page. Cambridge. Dr. Sprague of Albany secured permission from Judge [Bushrod] Washington to take certain autographs and substitute a copy--this done before papers were sold to Congress--doesn't wish it to be thought that he himself took liberties with mss. Autograph letter signed, integral cover, docketed.

Scope and Contents A.L.S. 3 pages. Cambridge to Georgetown. He has never seen G.W.'s missing diaries and Cash Memorandum Books returned all he had--Judge W. not home when he took papers from Mt. V., and altho Revolution papers in good order, private one and those before and after were in bad shape--noticed some diaries missing then--vol. of Orderly books missing at the time and nothing known of it by the Judge or Marshall--"I have recently been informed that one of the volumes of the "Diary," (I think for the...

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Autograph letter signed with integral address panel. Sparks writes to Jane, "My Dear Madam, I am about to publish a series of American Biographies, and I should be glad to include in it a Life of Lawrence Washington, if the materials exist for writing such a Life. Have not his papers been preserved at Mount Vernon?...” A note on the address panel indicates this letter was forwarded to John Augustine Washington III to respond to.

Scope and Contents A.L.S. Cambridge to Mount Vernon. Letter from historian and George Washington biographer Jared Sparks to John Augustine Washington III proposing he write a life of Lawrence Washington. Sparks writes "I was already acquainted with the principal incidents in the life of Lawrence Washington, and although the papers would not seem to furnish materials for a biography of much extent, yet I think a Life of moderate length might be written, which would be interesting and fill a proper space in the...

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Discusses payments based on sales of “Washington’s Writings.” Tells percentages paid to various legatees.

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Sparks reports that he shipped Eyre's Washington Letters explaining that he obtained the copies of the letters from her father. He claims to have never seen the originals and mentions that a service called "Adam's Express" was hired to ship the package.

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A.L.S. 2 pages. Boston to Baltimore. Promises to supply Gilmore with autograph letters, particularly "those of Revolutionary note." Complains about William Sprague, GW document collector. Asks Gilmore to ask Charles Carroll about his memories of the Conway Cabal, "particularly the names of those, who were unfavorably disposed towards [Gen. Washington] in Congress." Autograph letter signed, address leaf, seal, postmark.

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A.L.S. 1 page. Send thanks for copies of George Washington letters but disappointed in not receiving GW autographs "as it was my intention to distribute them in Europe among eminent persons ... I was particularly gratified with your account of Gen. Washington's devotional habits ..." Autograph letter signed, integral cover.

Scope and Contents Thomas sends a letter of Jared Sparks (not present), and mentions “My father being the surviving executor of Judge Washington, at his death all executional power over that estate ceased, and for the purpose of setting up the estate it will be necessary for an administrator, with the will annexed to be appointed in your county. He also mentions that John Augustine’s son is the first male to be born at Mt. Vernon “… to any of the proprietors bearing the name of the first Washington who owned...

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Manuscript list in the hand of Jared Sparks of all the papers of George Washington taken by Sparks from Mount Vernon. A note on the verso signed by Bushrod states that the papers were shipped on 13 June 1827 aboard the schooner Alexandria.

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A.D. 2 pages. A list of the letters and whether in hands of Sparks Hamilton--a note at the end says "those marked S. are in my possession, and were among the papers sent to me from Mount Vernon by Judge Washington." Autograph document, in hand of J. Sparks, laminated.