Collection Summary
Caleb B. Smith Papers
1841-1862
(bulk 1849)
1841-1862
(bulk 1849)
MSS40303
Smith, Caleb B. (Caleb
Blood), 1808-1864
1,200
items
9 containers
3.4 linear feet
4 microfilm reels
English
Collection material in
English
Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress
Washington, D.C.
Lawyer, statesman,
jurist, and United States representative from Indiana. Principally
correspondence from 1849, the last year of Smith's term as a Whig from Indiana
in the House of Representatives.
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
Barnett, Theodore J.--Correspondence.
Bruen, Luther B. (Luther Barnett), 1822-1864--Correspondence.
Bundy, Martin L., 1817 or 1818-1910--Correspondence.
Butterfield, Justin, 1790-1855--Correspondence.
Carnan, Robert N.--Correspondence.
Colfax, Schuyler, 1823-1885--Correspondence.
Corwin, Robert G. (Robert Griffin), 1815-1897--Correspondence.
Corwin, Thomas, 1794-1865--Correspondence.
Cushing, Courtland, 1809-1856--Correspondence.
Davis, John S. (John Steele), 1814-1880--Correspondence.
Defrees, John D. (John Dougherty), 1810 or 1811-1882--Correspondence.
Dowling, Thomas, 1806-1876--Correspondence.
Hannah, Samuel, 1789-1869--Correspondence.
Holloway, David P. (David Pierson), 1809-1883--Correspondence.
King, Rufus, 1814-1876--Correspondence.
McGaughey, Edward W.--Correspondence.
McLean, John, 1785-1861--Correspondence.
Parker, Samuel W. (Samuel Wilson), 1805-1859--Correspondence.
Sample, Thomas Jefferson, 1800-1882--Correspondence.
Smith, Caleb B. (Caleb Blood), 1808-1864.
Smith, John L. (Collector internal revenue)--Correspondence.
Stevenson, Thomas B., 1810-1863--Correspondence.
Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850.
Thayer, James S.--Correspondence.
Vallette, Henry, 1807-1879--Correspondence.
Walpole, Thomas D., 1816-1863--Correspondence.
Washburne, E. B. (Elihu Benjamin), 1816-1887--Correspondence.
Watton, William, 1818- --Correspondence.
Yaryan, John, 1803- --Correspondence.
Organizations
Whig Party (U.S.)
Subjects
Elections--United States--1848.
Presidents--United States--Election--1848.
Places
Indiana--Politics and government.
United States--Officials and employees.
United States--Politics and government--1845-1861.
Titles
Caleb Blood Smith papers
Occupations
Judges.
Lawyers.
Representatives, U.S. Congress--Indiana.
Statesmen.
Provenance
The papers of Caleb B. Smith, lawyer, statesman, jurist, and United
States representative from Indiana, were purchased by the Library of Congress
in 1898.
Processing History
The papers of Caleb B. Smith were described and prepared for filming
in 1983. The finding aid was revised in 2009..
Additional Guides
A partial index of the collection is available in the Manuscript
Division Reading Room.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Caleb B. Smith
is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The papers of Caleb B. Smith 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 four 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.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the
following information: Container number, Caleb B. Smith Papers, Manuscript
Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1808, Apr. 16
Born, Boston, Mass.
1814
Moved with family to Cincinnati Ohio, and later studied law at
Miami University, Oxford, Ohio,
circa 1827
1828
Admitted to the bar and entered law office of Oliver H. Smith,
Connersville, Ind.; later married Elizabeth Walton
1834
Won election to the Indiana house of representatives
1842
Elected to U.S. House of Representatives, the first of three
terms
1850
Returned to law practice in Indiana
1851
President, Cincinnati and Chicago Railroad Co.
1859
As leader of the Indiana delegation to the Republican
Convention, Chicago, Ill., fought for nomination of Abraham Lincoln for
president
1861
Appointed secretary of the interior
1862
Resigned cabinet position and returned to Indianapolis, Ind.
Appointed judge, U.S. District Court of Indiana
1864, Jan. 2
Died, Indianapolis, Ind.
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Caleb Blood Smith (1808-1864) span the years 1841-1862,
with the bulk of the correspondence and related matter from 1849, the last year
of Smith's term as a Whig from Indiana in the United States House of
Representatives. Subjects include state and national politics, Smith's
opportunities for a cabinet appointment, and Zachary Taylor’s campaign for
president and election of 1848. The collection is organized
chronologically.
Correspondents include Theodore J. Barnett, Luther B. Bruen, Martin L. Bundy, Justin
Butterfield, Robert N. Carnan, Schuyler Colfax, Robert G. Corwin, Thomas Corwin,
Courtland Cushing, John S. Davis, John D. Defrees, Thomas Dowling, Samuel Hannah, David
P. Holloway, Rufus King, Edward W. McGaughey, John McLean, Samuel W. Parker, Thomas
Jefferson Sample, John L. Smith, Thomas B. Stevenson, James S. Thayer, Henry Vallette,
Thomas D. Walpole, E. B. Washburne, William Watton, and John Yaryan.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Container List
Available on microfilm. Shelf no. 18,625
Container
Contents
1
1
Correspondence and related matter
1
1
1841, May 21-1848, Dec.
19
2
1
1848, Dec. 20-1849, Mar.
3
3
2
1849
3
2
Mar. 4-May 2
4
2
May 3-June 5
5
3
June 6-July 27
6
3
July 28-Sept. 28
7
3
1849, Sept. 20-1850, Jan.
18
8
4
1850, Jan. 20-1859, June
11
9
4
1862, Oct. 6-29,
undated