Collection Summary
Justin S. Morrill Papers
1825-1923
1854-1898
1825-1923
1854-1898
MSS33555
Morrill, Justin S. (Justin Smith), 1810-1898
10,600 items
77 containers
30.8 linear feet
52 microfilm reels
English
Collection material in English
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
United States senator and representative
from Vermont and merchant. Correspondence, government documents, speeches and writings,
printed matter, scrapbooks, and miscellaneous material relating principally to Morrill's
career as a congressman and senator.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Blaine, James Gillespie, 1830-1893--Correspondence.
Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873--Correspondence.
Chittenden, L. E. (Lucius Eugene), 1824-1900--Correspondence.
Colfax, Schuyler, 1823-1885--Correspondence.
Dewey, Charles, 1798-1880--Correspondence.
Fish, Hamilton, 1808-1893--Correspondence.
Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872--Correspondence.
Harris, Jedediah H.--Correspondence.
Marsh, Charles, 1765-1849--Correspondence.
Morrill, Justin S. (Justin Smith), 1810-1898.
Nichols, George Ward, 1831-1885--Correspondence.
Page, Carroll Smalley, 1843-1925--Correspondence.
Randall, Henry S. (Henry Stephens), 1811-1876--Correspondence.
Swain, A. N.--Correspondence.
Thomas, Stephen, 1809-1903--Correspondence.
Underwood, Adin B. (Adin Ballou)--Correspondence.
Wharton, Joseph, 1826-1909--Correspondence.
Organizations
United States. Congress. House.
United States. Congress. Senate.
Subjects
Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877)
School lands--United States.
State universities and colleges--United States.
Tariff--Law and legislation--United States.
Places
United States--Economic policy--19th century.
United States--Politics and government--19th century.
Vermont--Politics and government--19th century.
Occupations
Merchants.
Representatives, U.S. Congress--Vermont.
Senators, U.S. Congress--Vermont.
Acquisition Information
The papers of Justin S. Morrill, U.S. senator and representative from Vermont and
merchant, were deposited in the Library of Congress by Morrill's heirs, Charles L. Swan,
Charles Downer, and Elmer E. Morrill, in 1920. Parts of the collection were temporarily
withdrawn in 1922 to complete a biography of Morrill, before being returned in 1924.
Additions received in 1938 and 1939 and the original deposit were converted to a gift in
1942. Other gift and purchased material was received between 1922 and 1933. Elizabeth
Sullivan gave additional items in 1963.
Processing History
The papers of Justin S. Morrill were processed by Allen H. Kitchens and Bert C. Shaposka
in 1963 and prepared for microfilming in 1978. The finding aid was revised in 2009.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Justin S. Morrill is governed by
the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The Morrill Papers are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the
Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and
advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Microfilm
A microfilm edition of these papers is available on fifty-two reels. Consult a reference
librarian in the Manuscript Division concerning availability for purchase or
interlibrary loan. To promote preservation of the originals, researchers are required to
consult the microfilm edition.
Online Content
An item in the Justin S. Morrill Papers, "A petition of Colored Citizens of South
Carolina, praying that equal rights before the law, and the elective franchise may be
granted to them, [1865]" is available on the Library of Congress Web site at [https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/collmss.ms000122].
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information:
Container or reel number, Justin S. Morrill Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1810, Apr. 14
Born, Strafford, Vt.
1825
1828
Merchant clerk, Strafford, Vt.
1828
1831
Portland, Maine
1831
1848
Merchant clerk, Strafford, Vt.
1841
Married Ruth Barrell Swan
1848
1855
Farmer and horticulturist,
1855
1867
Member, United States House of Representatives; author of Morrill Tariff Act,
1861, and Land Grant College Act, 1862
1865
1898
Trustee, University of Vermont
1867
1898
Member, United States Senate
1883
1898
Regent, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
1898, Dec. 28
Died, Washington, D.C.
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Justin Smith Morrill (1810-1898) cover the period 1825-1923, with the bulk
from 1854 to 1898, while he was United States representative and senator from Vermont. A
Republican, Morrill served in the House as chairman of the House Committee on Ways and
Means, and as senator, he was prominent as chairman of the Committee on Public Buildings
and Committee on Finance. The collection is organized in three series: [ General Correspondence and Related Papers ](genc1), [ Speeches and Writings ](spee66), and [ Miscellany
](misc69).
Included with the large volume of correspondence in the collection are Senate and House
reports and documents, speeches, remarks, and writings, invitations, financial and legal
documents, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, scrapbooks, and record books containing
demographic and other data relating to Vermont.
Much of the correspondence relates to Morrill's efforts as a congressional
representative in behalf of the protective tariff act that bears his name and to his
sponsorship of the Morrill Land Grant College Act. Other papers and documents reflect
his positions on post-Civil War economic issues and Reconstruction.
Prominent correspondents include James Gillespie Blaine, Salmon P. Chase, L. E.
Chittenden, Schuyler Colfax, Charles Dewey, Hamilton Fish (1808-1893), Horace Greeley,
Jedediah. H. Harris, Charles Marsh, George Ward Nichols, Carroll Smalley Page, Henry
Stephens Randall, A. N. Swain, Stephen Thomas, Adin B. Underwood, and Joseph
Wharton.
Organization of the Papers
The collection is arranged in three series:
-
[ General Correspondence and
Related Papers, 1825-1923 ](genc1)
-
[ Speeches and Writings,
1856-1898 ](spee66)
-
[ Miscellany, 1848-1917 ](misc69)
Container List
Available on microfilm. Shelf no. 13,713
Box
Contents
1-65
1-41
General Correspondence and Related
Papers, 1825-1923
1825-1923
1-50
1-27
Chronological File
Bound volumes of letters received with attached and related matter.
Arranged chronologically.
1
1
1825, Aug. 12-1856, Feb. 7
1825, Aug. 12-1856, Feb. 7
2
2
1856, Feb. 8-1857, Dec. 28
1856, Feb. 8-1857, Dec. 28
3
3
1857, Dec. 31-1858, Oct. 21
1857, Dec. 31-1858, Oct. 21
4
4
1858, Oct. 23-1860, May 7
1858, Oct. 23-1860, May 7
5
5
1860, May 8-1862, Mar. 18
1860, May 8-1862, Mar. 18
6
5
1862, Mar. 20-1864, June 4
1862, Mar. 20-1864, June 4
7
6
1864, June 14-1865, Oct. 19
1864, June 14-1865, Oct. 19
8
6
1865, Oct. 21-1866, Jan. 29
1865, Oct. 21-1866, Jan. 29
9
7
1866, Feb. 1-Apr.. 15
1866, Feb. 1-Apr.. 15
10
7
1866, Apr. 16-June 20
1866, Apr. 16-June 20
11
8
1866, June 21-Sept.. 14
1866, June 21-Sept.. 14
12
8
1866, Sept. 15-1867, May 6
1866, Sept. 15-1867, May 6
13
9
1867, May 7-1868, Jan. 17
1867, May 7-1868, Jan. 17
14
9
1868, Jan. 18-June 3
1868, Jan. 18-June 3
15
10
1868, June 5-1869, Feb. 27
1868, June 5-1869, Feb. 27
16
10
1869, Mar. 1-Dec. 18
1869, Mar. 1-Dec. 18
17
11
1869, Dec. 19-1870, May 16
1869, Dec. 19-1870, May 16
18
11
1870, May 17-1871, Feb. 6
1870, May 17-1871, Feb. 6
19
12
1871, Feb. 7-1872, Mar. 27
1871, Feb. 7-1872, Mar. 27
20
12
1872, Mar. 18-1873, Mar. 5
1872, Mar. 18-1873, Mar. 5
21
13
1873, Mar. 6-1874, Mar. 18
1873, Mar. 6-1874, Mar. 18
22
13
1874, Mar. 25-1875, Jan. 18
1874, Mar. 25-1875, Jan. 18
23
14
1875, Jan. 20-Nov. 11
1875, Jan. 20-Nov. 11
24
14
1875, Nov. 12-1876, Aug. 29
1875, Nov. 12-1876, Aug. 29
25
15
1876, Aug. 31-1877, Aug. 3
1876, Aug. 31-1877, Aug. 3
26
15
1877, Aug. 10-1878, Apr. 23
1877, Aug. 10-1878, Apr. 23
27
16
1878, Apr. 24-Oct. 17
1878, Apr. 24-Oct. 17
28
16
1878, Oct. 18-1879, Apr. 16
1878, Oct. 18-1879, Apr. 16
29
17
1879, Apr. 19-1880, Oct. 29
1879, Apr. 19-1880, Oct. 29
30
17
1880, Nov. 12-1882, Jan. 24
1880, Nov. 12-1882, Jan. 24
31
18
1882, Jan. 26-1883, Feb. 20
1882, Jan. 26-1883, Feb. 20
32
18
1883, Feb. 26-1884, Feb. 16
1883, Feb. 26-1884, Feb. 16
33
19
1884, Feb. 18-Aug.. 30
1884, Feb. 18-Aug.. 30
34
19
1884, Sept. 1-1885, Jan. 6
1884, Sept. 1-1885, Jan. 6
35
20
1885, Jan. 8-Sept.. 22
1885, Jan. 8-Sept.. 22
36
20
1885, Sept. 25-1886, July 22
1885, Sept. 25-1886, July 22
37
21
1886, July 24-1887, Aug. 27
1886, July 24-1887, Aug. 27
38
21
1887, Sept. 1-1889, Jan. 23
1887, Sept. 1-1889, Jan. 23
39
22
1889, Jan. 26-1890, June 27
1889, Jan. 26-1890, June 27
40
22
1890, July 10-1891, May 20
1890, July 10-1891, May 20
41
23
1891, May 21-1892, Oct. 11
1891, May 21-1892, Oct. 11
42
23
1892, Oct. 12-1894, Jan. 17
1892, Oct. 12-1894, Jan. 17
43
24
1894, Jan. 18-Aug.. 30
1894, Jan. 18-Aug.. 30
44
24
1894, Sept. 2-1895, June 21
1894, Sept. 2-1895, June 21
45
25
1895, July 5-1896, June 30
1895, July 5-1896, June 30
46
25
1896, July 1-Oct. 27
1896, July 1-Oct. 27
47
26
1896, Oct. 28-1897, June 25
1896, Oct. 28-1897, June 25
48
26
1897, June 26-1898, June 28
1897, June 26-1898, June 28
49
27
1898, June 29-1899, Apr. 29
1898, June 29-1899, Apr. 29
50
27
1899, Apr. 30-1923, Jan. 6
1899, Apr. 30-1923, Jan. 6
51-65
28-41
Alphabetical File
Mostly letters received with attached and related matter.
Arranged alphabetically by name of correspondent.
51
28
“Ab-Be” miscellaneous
Barrett, James
Benedict, G. G.
52
29
“Bi-By” miscellaneous
Blaine, James Gillespie.
Bowen, Henry C.
Brewer, Gardner
Buckham, M. H.
Bullard, G. B.
53
30
“Ca-Co” miscellaneous
Casey, Henry B.
Chapman, C. H.
Chase, Salmon P.
Chittenden, L. E.
Clark, Albert
54
31
“Co-Do” miscellaneous
Colfax, Schuyler
Colton, E. P.
Corcoran, W. W.
Dana, Charles
Dana, Edward
Denison, D. C.
Dewey, Charles
55
32
“Dr-Fi” miscellaneous
Dudley, Daniel B.
Enright, J.
Fairbanks, Erastus
Fairbanks, Horace
Farnham, Roswell
Field, Rodney B.
Fish, Hamilton (1808-1893)
56
33
“Fi-Gr” miscellaneous
Foot, Solomon
Gibbs, M.
57
34
“Gr-He” miscellaneous
Greeley, Horace
Greene, Luther O.
Grout, William W.
Hayes, John L.
Hebard, William
Henry, Hugh
58
35
“Hi-Ke” miscellaneous
Houlbrook, Frederick
Houghton, H. O.
Hunton, A. P.
Hutchinson, James
59
36
“Ki-Me” miscellaneous
Kimball, John
King, Horatio
Lillie, Justin P.
Marsh, Charles
McLain, R. F.
60
37
“Mi-Pa” miscellaneous
Miller, Crosby
Morrill, J. N.
Morrill, Justin S.
Nichols, George
Page, Carroll S.
Parish, J. K.
61
38
“Pe-Ra” miscellaneous
Poland, L. P.
Powers, Preston
Proctor, Redfield
Randall, Henry S.
62
39
“Re-Sh” miscellaneous
Redington, E. C.
Sheldon, Charles
63
39
"Si-Te" miscellaneous
Smith, J. Gregory
Steele, Jason
Swain, A. N.
Swank, James M.
64
40
“Te-Wa” miscellaneous
Tenny, B. F.
Thomas, Stephen
Tracy, A.
Underwood, Adin B.
Veasie, J. A.
65
41
“Wa-Yu” miscellaneous
Unidentified
Walton, E. P.
Wharton, Joseph
White, Andrew D.
Willard, C. W.
65
41
Special File
Letters received from Jedediah H. Harris.
Arranged chronologically.
65
41
Letters to Jedediah H. Harris,
1825-1847
1825-1847
66-68
42-44
Speeches and Writings, 1856-1898
1856-1898
Handwritten and printed speeches, writings, and related material.
Arranged by type of material and therein chronologically.
66
42
Speeches
1856-1893
1856-1893
67
43
1894-1898, undated
1894-1898, undated
Remarks, 1879-1898
1879-1898
Writings
1830-1896, undated (including incomplete
diary, Apr.-June 1930)
Apr.-June 1930)
68
44
Undated
Undated
69-77
45-52
Miscellany, 1848-1917
1848-1917
Biographical material, invitations, financial records, photographs, printed
matter, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, and record books containing demographic
and other data relating to Vermont.
Arranged by type of material.
69
45
Biographical material
General
70
46
General
Financial papers
Photographs, 1861, undated
1861, undated
Printed matter
1848-1887
1848-1887
71
47
1867-1917, undated
1867-1917, undated
72-74
48-50
Newspaper clippings
75
51
Scrapbooks
76-77
51-52
Scrapbooks
Vermont record books, by county, including
individual occupational data, political affiliation, and other demographic
data