James Meacham Papers
Scope and Content Note
The James Meacham Papers date primarily from 1849-1856, the years during which Meacham was a member of Congress. The correspondence in the collection, almost entirely letters received by Meacham, includes several interesting letters devoted to the major political issues of the period, most notably the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Among the more prominent correspondents represented are: Edward J. Phelps; James Johns; Lucius E. Chittenden; Jacob Collamer; William Slade; Rufus Choate; David Robinson; and Joseph Henry. Other materials in the collection include manuscripts of two Meacham orations, a few business papers and receipts, materials relating to Smithsonian Institution, Revolutionary War pension claims, and papers collected by Meacham in connection with the Amistad slave mutiny case and the prospect of Spain's abolishing slavery in Cuba.
The Collection has been arranged chronologically, with the correspondence grouped together and preceding the other materials.
Dates
- 1817-1856
Creator
- Meacham, James (Person)
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Curator of Manuscripts.
Biographical Note
Born in Rutland, Vermont, on August 10, 1810, James Meacham graduated Middlebury College in 1832 before studying Theology at Andover. He returned to his Alma Mater as a tutor in 1836, but left again two years later to accept the pastorate of the Congressional Church at New Haven, VT. In 1846 Meacham became Professor of Rhetoric and English Literature at Middlebury, but resigned in 1850 after winning a seat in the House of Representatives in the election of 1848. He served four terms in Congress, rising to the chair of the House Committee on the District of Columbia and voicing strong opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska Act with its allowance of the extension of slavery into the northern territories. Meacham was nominated for a fifth term in the House, but died before the election, on August 23, 1856, at the age of forty-six.
Extent
0.2 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The James Meacham Papers date primarily from 1849-1856, the years during which Meacham was a member of Congress. The correspondence in the collection, almost entirely letters received by Meacham, includes several interesting letters devoted to the major political issues of the period, most notably the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
Location
Library Research Annex; contact uvmsc@uvm.edu for access.
- Title
- Guide to the James Meacham Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the University of Vermont Libraries, Special Collections Repository
Silver Special Collections Library
48 University Place, Room B201
Burlington Vermont 05405 U.S.A. US
(802) 656-2138
(802) 656-4038 (Fax)
uvmsc@uvm.edu
