Collection Summary
Simon Cameron Papers
1738-1919
(bulk 1860-1880)
1738-1919
(bulk 1860-1880)
MSS14845
Cameron, Simon,
1799-1889
8,000
items
28 containers plus 1 oversize
12 linear feet
22 microfilm reels
English
Collection material in
English
Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress
Washington, D.C.
Financier, United
States secretary of war, United States senator from Pennsylvania, and diplomat.
Correspondence, diary, account books, notebooks, speeches, business and legal
records, and printed material primarily relating to Pennsylvania and national
politics and to Cameron's business enterprises.
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
Cameron, J. D. (James Donald), 1833-1918--Correspondence.
Cameron, Simon, 1799-1889.
Dana, Charles A. (Charles Anderson), 1819-1897--Correspondence.
Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885--Correspondence.
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865--Correspondence.
Organizations
United States. Congress (29th, 1st session : 1845-1846)
United States. Congress (29th, 2nd session : 1846-1847)
United States. Congress. Senate.
United States. War Department.
Subjects
Business enterprises--Pennsylvania.
Diplomatic and consular service, American.
Legislators--United States--Autographs.
Places
Pennsylvania--Politics and government--1861-1865.
Pennsylvania--Politics and government--1865-1950.
Russia--Foreign relations--United States.
United States--Foreign relations--Russia.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
United States--Politics and government--19th century.
Occupations
Cabinet officers.
Diplomats.
Financiers.
Senators, U.S. Congress--Pennsylvania.
Provenance
The papers of Simon Cameron, financier, United States secretary of
war, United States senator from Pennsylvania, and diplomat, were deposited in
the Library of Congress by his grandson, James M. Cameron, in 1936. Other
material was acquired by gift and purchase, 1919-1984.
Processing History
The Cameron Papers were processed in 1964. Additional material was
added in 1978 and 2005. Changes were made to the housing and numbering of a few
containers at the end of the collection in 2006, but this revision did not
affect the microfilm edition. The finding aid was revised in 2009.
Related Material
Related material in the Manuscript Division includes microfilm
reproducing the Simon Cameron Papers in the Historical Society of Dauphin
County, Harrisburg, Pa.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Simon Cameron
is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The papers of Simon Cameron 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 part of these papers is available on twenty-two
reels. Consult reference staff 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 as
available.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the
following information: Container or reel number, Simon Cameron Papers,
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1799, Mar. 8
Born, Donegal, Pa.
1820
Editor,
Bucks County Messenger
, Harrisburg, Pa.
1822
Editor,
Pennsylvania Intelligencer
, Harrisburg, Pa.
1824
Purchased the
Republican
, Harrisburg, Pa.
1825 (?)
Appointed state printer, Pennsylvania
1826
Adjutant general, Pennsylvania
1838
Appointed commissioner to settle accounts of Winnebago
Indians
1845
1849
Elected as a Democrat and served in seat vacated by James
Buchanan in United States Senate; failed to win reelection
1855
Unsuccessful candidate for United States Senate
1856
Joined Republican Party on its formation and elected to the
United States Senate from Pennsylvania
1860
Unsuccessful candidate for presidential and vice-presidential
nominations
1861
Appointed secretary of war
1862
Resigned from cabinet; appointed and resigned as minister to
Russia
1866
Elected to the United States Senate from Pennsylvania
1872
Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
1877
Retired from United States Senate and relinquished control of
the Republican Party in Pennsylvania in favor of his son, J. D. Cameron
1889, June 26
Died, Donegal, Pa.
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Simon Cameron (1799-1889) span the years 1738-1919, with
the bulk of the material concentrated in the period 1860-1880. The collection
contains correspondence, a diary, account books, notebooks, speeches, business
and legal papers, and miscellaneous printed matter and other material primarily
relating to Pennsylvania and national politics, including his term as secretary
of war, the Civil War, his role as minister to Russia and career in the Senate,
and to Cameron's business enterprises. Included in an addition is an autograph
album containing autographs of members of Congress, 1845-1847. Among the
correspondents are his son, J. D. Cameron, Charles A. Dana, Ulysses S. Grant,
and Abraham Lincoln.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged in five series:
-
[General
Correspondence, 1738-1889](gencorr)
-
[Subject
File, 1830-1889](subject)
-
[Miscellany,
circa 1845-circa 1900](misc)
-
[Addition,
1830-1871](addition)
-
[Oversize,
1861-1883](oversize)
Catalog Record: [https://lccn.loc.gov/mm80014845]
Container List
Available on microfilm. Shelf no. 13,930
Container
Reels
Contents
1-18
1-17
General
Correspondence,
1738-1889
1738-1889
Mostly letters received, with some letters sent.
Arranged chronologically.
1
1
1738-1831
1738-1831
(10
folders)
2
1
1832-1853, Apr.
1832-1853, Apr.
(20
folders)
3
2
1853, May-1854, Dec.
1853, May-1854, Dec.
(20
folders)
4
3
1855-1857, May
1855-1857, May
(20
folders)
5
4
1857, June-1859, Feb.
1857, June-1859, Feb.
(21
folders)
6
5
1859, Mar.-1860, Dec.
1859, Mar.-1860, Dec.
(22
folders)
7-8
6-7
1861
1861
7
6
Jan.-June
Jan.-June
(11
folders)
8
7
July-Sept.
July-Sept.
(9
folders)
9
8
1861, Oct.-1862, Jan.
1861, Oct.-1862, Jan.
(14
folders)
10
9
1862, Feb.-1863, Mar.
1862, Feb.-1863, Mar.
(16
folders)
11
10
1863, Spr.-1865, Jan.
1863, Spr.-1865, Jan.
(21
folders)
12
11
1865, Feb.-1868, Dec.
1865, Feb.-1868, Dec.
(19
folders)
13
12
1869, Jan.-1872, Dec.
1869, Jan.-1872, Dec.
(17
folders)
14
13
1873, Jan.-1877, Dec.
1873, Jan.-1877, Dec.
(14
folders)
15
14
1878, Jan.-1881, Dec.
1878, Jan.-1881, Dec.
(17
folders)
16
15
1882, Jan.-1884, July
1882, Jan.-1884, July
(17
folders)
17
16
1884, Aug.-1888, Feb.
1884, Aug.-1888, Feb.
(18
folders)
18
17
1888, Mar.-1889, Dec., undated
1888, Mar.-1889, Dec., undated
(11
folders)
19-25
17-21
Subject File,
1830-1889
1830-1889
Speeches, congressional bills, memoranda, resolutions, petitions,
maps, a journal, accounts books, bills, receipts, miscellaneous printed matter,
and correspondence.
Arranged by type of material.
19
17
Speeches, congressional bills,
memoranda, and resolutions
(23
folders)
20
18
Printed matter, petitions, and
maps
(15
folders)
21
18
Printed matter
(7
folders)
22
18
Printed matter, journal, and
miscellany
(13
folders)
23
19
Account books, bills, and
receipts,
1832-1875
1832-1875
(14
folders)
24
20-21
Bills and receipts,
1876-1889, undated
1876-1889, undated
(13
folders)
25
21
Additional correspondence,
1830-1888, undated
1830-1888, undated
25-27
22
Miscellany,
circa 1845-circa 1900
circa 1845-circa 1900
Printed matter, clippings and newspapers, envelopes, and
ephemera.
Arranged by type of material.
25-27
22
Miscellany and ephemera
[
See also Oversize
](cameron1)
25
22
Clippings, newspapers, and
envelopes
(10
folders)
26
22
Envelopes
27
22
Clippings and newspapers
(9
folders)
28
Addition,
1830-1871
1830-1871
Correspondence.
28
Correspondence,
1830, 1871
1830, 1871
28
Autograph album,
1845-1847
1845-1847
OV 1
22
Oversize,
1861-1883
1861-1883
Commissions and passports.
OV 1
22
Miscellany and ephemera
OV 1
22
Commissions and
passports,
1861-1883 (Container 22)
1861-1883