Guide to the Ezra Cornell Papers,
1746-1888

Collection Number: 1-1-1

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library

Contact Information:

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
2B Carl A. Kroch Library
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 255-3530
Fax: (607) 255-9524
rareref@cornell.edu
http://rmc.library.cornell.edu

Compiled by:

Phil McCray and Maggie Hale, assisted by Lisa Sasaki

Date completed:

June 1995

EAD encoding:

David Ruddy, 1999
Evan Fay Earle, January 2009

© 1995 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library

PREFACE

Ezra Cornell referred to himself as a farmer and mechanic who had spent some time working in the telegraph industry. His ambition and imagination, however, were not so prosaic. Skillful work, uncommon tenacity, and fortuitous circumstances resulted in his amassing a fortune. As soon as it became clear that it was a fortune, he promptly rejected conventional practice and sage advice, and directed that those riches be used to found a unique university: a comprehensive and practical institution dedicated to all forms of intellectual endeavor.

Ezra Cornell spent much of his time far from home, walking through the ante-bellum south, selling plows in Maine, supervising the construction and operation of lines for the telegraph industry, and serving as a New York State legislator in Albany. Throughout these endeavors, he wrote detailed and descriptive letters to many members of a large family. Both he and they were careful to archive those letters, as well as many other documents related to his various enterprises. Similarly, as Cornell and Andrew Dickson White conceived, planned, and founded Cornell University, their correspondence closely noted the evolution of their dreams and their preparations for the University's opening and operation. These letters and documents show a practical but visionary man whose life both exemplified and shaped 19th century America. His close observations provide a contemporary account of the country's cultural development, the profound effects of industrialization and the Civil War, and his own role in engineering the century's principal communication technology and its most innovative educational experiment.

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:

Ezra Cornell papers, 1746-1888, 1844-1870 (bulk)

Collection Number:

1-1-1

Creator:

Ezra Cornell, 1807-1874

Quantity:

30.2 cubic ft.

Forms of Material:

Accounts, broadsides, correspondence, estimates, memoranda, maps, newspaper clippings, and other papers.

Repository:

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library

Abstract:

Correspondence, financial and legal records, court proceedings, and other documents pertaining principally to the Cornell family, the telegraph industry, and the founding of Cornell University.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE AND CHRONOLOGY

Ezra Cornell was born on January 11, 1807 at Westchester Landing in the town and county of Westchester, New York. His parents, Elijah and Eunice, were members of the Society of Friends, and Ezra and his ten younger siblings were raised as Quakers. During his childhood, Cornell lived in Westchester, Tarrytown, and Westfarms in Winchester County, and in English Neighborhood, Bergen County, before the family settled in DeRuyter, New York. Opportunities for formal education were limited. From the age of thirteen to seventeen Cornell attended school three months each winter.

From the time he was six years old, Cornell helped in whatever way he could in his father's pottery business. At age twelve, he began to work on the family farm in DeRuyter, and at seventeen learned carpentry skills when his father erected a new building for the pottery. In 1825 Cornell constructed a two story house for his parents and family.

Cornell left home in the spring of 1826. He found work in Syracuse as a journeyman carpenter. He helped build sawmills and worked as a contractor getting out timber for shipment by canal. From Syracuse he moved on to Homer, New York where he worked in a shop that produced wool-carding machinery. In his free time, he studied mechanics handbooks.

In the spring of 1828 Cornell arrived in Ithaca, the town he would make his permanent home. He first found work as a carpenter, before being hired as a mechanic by Otis Eddy to work at his cotton mill on Cascadilla Creek. On Eddy's recommendation, Jeremiah S. Beebe then hired Cornell to repair and overhaul his plaster and flour mills on Fall Creek. During Cornell's long association with Beebe he designed and built a tunnel for a new mill race on Fall Creek, a stone dam on Fall Creek (forming Beebe lake) and a new flour mill. By 1832, he was in charge of all Beebe's concerns at Fall Creek.

Ezra Cornell married Mary Ann Wood on March 19, 1831. He bargained with Beebe for a building lot and acreage for a garden and orchard at Fall Creek where he built a one and a half story frame house. In this house, the Nook, Cornell and Mary Ann began housekeeping in the summer of 1831. The Nook remained their home for more than twenty years and nine children were born there. Of these, three sons died in infancy and the eldest daughter died at fifteen. Three sons and two daughters were raised to adulthood.

In the 1830's, Ezra Cornell also became active in local politics and speculated in real estate. As Ithaca's prosperity began to decline in the late 1830's, Beebe and other prominent Ithaca businessmen decided to send a representative to New York City and New England to lay before capitalists and manufacturers the advantages of Ithaca as a manufacturing site, particularly for cotton and woolen mills. A firm believer in Ithaca's potential as center for trade and industry, Cornell made the trips East representing Ithaca in 1840 and 1841.

When Beebe sold his milling concerns in 1839 and 1840, Cornell left his employment and turned to farming. He had an interest in sheep raising and in agricultural experimentation. After several years of farming Cornell looked to other ways to make a living. In 1842 he purchased the patent for the states of Maine and Georgia for Barnaby and Mooers side hill plow. He hoped to make a profit by selling the patent rights county by county to machinists or merchants who would manufacture and sell the plows locally. In the spring of 1842 he left for Maine. After several months of traveling and selling in Maine, Cornell returned to Ithaca for a brief visit before leaving for Georgia in January of 1843. Cornell did not meet with a great deal of success in this business, but made the most of his travels as he passed (often on foot) throughout the counties of Maine and Georgia. He recorded keen observations of the land, the people, and the industries.

Through his meeting with F.O.J. Smith, editor of the Maine Farmer, Cornell became associated with the infant telegraph industry. Following the appropriation by the U.S. Congress of $30,000 for the laying of a test telegraph cable between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Smith had taken a contract from the inventor, Samuel F. B. Morse, to lay the lead pipe which enclosed the telegraph wires. In the summer of 1843, on his second trip to Maine, Cornell visited Smith's office and found him struggling to design a machine to lay the cable underground. At Smith's request, Cornell created a machine that would both dig the trench and lay the cable. Samuel F. B. Morse came to Maine for a demonstration of the machine. He approved of it and Cornell was hired to lay the cable for the test line. Although it was eventually decided to string the cable on poles, this introduction to the telegraph convinced Cornell of the value and potential of the technology referred to as "lightning." His belief in its success led to decades of involvement in the industry. As construction foreman, operator, promoter, superintendent, builder, owner, and stockholder Cornell helped the telegraph expand from the eastern seaboard into the midwest.

Reinvestment of all earnings and endless work and travel kept Cornell on the verge of poverty and exhaustion for years, but his belief in the telegraph was steadfast. With the consolidation of lines into the Western Union Company in 1855, Cornell was in a position to appreciate profit. At the age of forty-nine, he decided to withdraw from further telegraph line building and active management, but his faith in the success of the telegraph continued and he held on to the Western Union stock from which his fortune would come. For years he was the largest stockholder of the Western Union Company.

Returning to Ithaca, Ezra Cornell again became actively involved in farming and politics. In 1857 he purchased a farm of about 300 acres adjoining the village of Ithaca. He moved his family there and named the farm Forest Park. He planted orchards, conducted agricultural experiments, and raised shorthorn cattle and sheep. He was an active member of the New York State Agricultural Society, and as President of this organization attended the International Exposition in London. Cornell and his wife also made an extensive tour of England, Scotland, Wales and Europe. He was elected to the New York State Legislature in 1862 and served six years, two on the Assembly and four years as Senator. His greatest concerns in the Legislature were agriculture and education.

Ezra Cornell's increasing fortune and determination to put the money to some good use led him to various acts of philanthropy. He established the Cornell Public Library, which opened in Ithaca in 1866. His interest in public education and acquaintance with Andrew Dickson White focused his philanthropy on education and led to the establishment of Cornell University, which opened to students in 1868. Cornell applied the same commitment and determination that had led to his success in the telegraph industry to the planning of the University. From his active involvement in the use of the college land scrip available through the Morrill Act to the design of the campus buildings, Cornell never ceased his efforts to create a great university.


CHRONOLOGY
	1807, January 11	Born, Westchester Landing, son of Elijah and Eunice Cornell.
	1819	Family relocates to DeRuyter. Elijah Cornell operates pottery.
	1824	Elijah has new pottery building constructed. Ezra Cornell learns the carpenter's trade.
	1826	Leaves home for Syracuse where he finds work building sawmills and as contractor for getting out timber for shipment by canal. Moves on to Homer to work in shop making wool-carding machinery. Studies mechanics handbooks.
	1828	Arrives in Ithaca where he finds work as a carpenter and then as a mechanic for Otis Eddy cotton mill on Cascadilla Creek.
	1829	Begins working for Jeremiah S. Beebe overhauling and repairing plaster mill on Fall Creek. Other industries on Fall Creek at this time included paper and flouring mills, a machine shop, and establishments for making chairs, iron castings and plows.
	1830-1831	Plans and supervises construction of Fall Creek tunnel for a new mill race.
	1831	Marries Mary Ann Wood. Builds the Nook at Fall Creek and begins housekeeping.
	1832	First child, Alonzo B. Cornell born. Cornell takes charge of Beebe's concerns at Fall Creek.
	1833	Second child, Charles Carrol Cornell born. Cornell working for Beebe and speculating in real estate.
	1835	Elizabeth Percival Cornell born.
	1837-38	Builds new mill for Beebe and constructs stone dam on Fall Creek (forming Beebe lake). Cornell is active in local politics and is delegate to Tompkins County convention of the Whig Party. Charles Carrol Cornell dies. Son Franklin Cuthbert Cornell born.
	1839-1840	Beebe sells mill properties on Fall Creek, Cornell leaves his employment and turns to farming. Son Charles Carrol Cornell (second child with this name) born.
	1841	Ithaca's prosperity declining. Beebe, Speed, and others decide to send a representative to New York City and New England to lay before capitalists and manufacturers the advantages of Ithaca as a manufacturing site, particularly for cotton and woolen mills. Cornell makes two trips representing Ithaca. Charles Carrol Cornell dies.
	1842	Purchases patent rights to Barnaby and Mooers side hill plow for the states of Maine and Georgia. Travels to Maine planning on selling the patent rights county by county to machinists or merchants who would manufacture and sell locally. Meets F.O.J. Smith, publisher of the Maine Farmer. Son Oliver Hazard Perry Cornell born.
	1843	Travels to Georgia. Does much traveling on foot, 40 miles a day.
	1843, July	Returns to Maine, meets with F.O.J Smith and learns of need for pipe-laying and trench digging machine to be used for the laying a test line of telegraph from Baltimore to Washington, D.C. Cornell designs the needed machine.
	1843, August	Samuel F. B. Morse goes to Maine for demonstration of pipe-layer and approves the design.
	1843, October	Goes to Baltimore and Washington to begin work on laying the telegraph line. Spends winter evenings in Washington studying works on electricity and magnetism.
	1844, May	Test line in operation between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Cornell presents telegraph exhibitions in Boston and New York during the summer and autumn.
	1845	Magnetic Telegraph Company organized for the extension of the telegraph from Baltimore to Philadelphia and New York.
	1845-46	New York, Albany & Buffalo Telegraph Company has line built from New York to Buffalo, Cornell erects portion of line between New York and Albany.
	1846	Telegraph industry expands as incorporated companies form under which lines are extended form New York to Boston, Buffalo and Pittsburgh, and with in the next three years to nearly every important town in the United States and Canada.
	1846, October-1847, January	Employed as the Superintendent of the New York, Albany & Buffalo Magnetic Telegraph Company. Submits resignation to Theodore Faxton in January.
	1847, November	Sick with typhus, Daughter Mary Emily Cornell born.
	1847	Erects line of telegraph from Troy through Vermont to Montreal, under contract with the Troy & Canada Junction Telegraph Company. Cornell produces an assignment from Smith making him and J.J. Speed sole agents for the Morse Patent in the five western states. Organizes the Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company to provide a line of telegraph between Buffalo and Milwaukee, by way of Cleveland, Detroit, and Chicago.
	1848	Erie & Michigan line completed. Cornell organizes the New York & Erie Telegraph Company for the purpose of building a line of telegraph from New York to Dunkirk through the southern tier of counties of New York.
	1849	New York and Erie line completed. Son Ezra Clayton Cornell born. Daughter Elizabeth Percival Cornell dies.
	1851	New York & Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company started by Hiram Sibley and Judge Samuel L. Selden. Cornell's son Ezra Clayton Cornell dies.
	1852	New York & Erie Telegraph Company fails, Cornell buys it back and renames it the New York & Western Union Telegraph Company. Cornell works as Superintendent of the company. Daughter Emma Pettit Cornell born. Cornell family leaves the Nook and moves into the village of Ithaca.
	1855-1856	Has accident and severely injures his arm. Cornell meets with Sibley and associates and joins his interests with theirs. Western Union Telegraph Company is formed.
	1856	Goes to Pittsburgh as New York State delegate to the first Republican National Convention.
	1857	Purchases farm of about 300 acres, adjoining the village of Ithaca. Moves family there and names farm "Forest Park." Plants orchard, conducts agricultural experiments, and raises short horn cattle, and sheep. Organizes Ithaca Farmers' Club.
	1860	Visits oil wells in Titusville, involved in telegraph business, coal oil business, and the New York State Agricultural Society.
	1861, October 24	Western Union completes the first transcontinental telegraph.
	1861	At home in Ithaca, involved in the Tompkins County Agricultural Society, The Farmers Club, raising sheep and cattle and collecting agricultural statistics. Travels to Washington and attends Lincoln's inauguration.
	1862, July 3	Morrill Act passed.
	1862	Elected to the New York State Assembly. Also elected president of the New York State Agricultural Society. Attends the Great International Exposition at London and travels extensively through England, Scotland, and Wales as well as through France, Switzerland, Holland, Germany, and Austria.
	1863	Serves second year in New York State Assembly. Construction of Cornell Library underway. Nominated and elected State Senator.
	1865, February	Andrew Dickson White introduces bill in the Senate to establish the Cornell University and to appropriate to it the income of the sale of public lands granted to New York State.
	1865, April	Cornell University Bill formally passed in the Assembly and Senate.
	1866	Takes trip to Wisconsin to locate lands. Involved in University.
	1866, December 20	Dedication of the Cornell Public Library Building.
	1867	Cornell declines reelection to State Senate, after four years as State Senator representing Broome, Tioga, and Tompkins counties.
	1868	Cornell University opens for the reception of students.
	1869, Spring	Construction starts on Cornell villa. Cornell moves downtown to the corner of Tioga and Seneca.
	1869-1873	Cornell involved in photo-lithography business, Albany Agricultural Work, development of the University and western lands.
	1874, December 9	Death of Ezra Cornell.

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

The Ezra Cornell papers consist of correspondence, financial and legal records, court proceedings, and other documents pertaining principally to the Cornell family, the telegraph industry, and the founding of Cornell University. The papers also show Cornell's career as a farmer, New York State legislator, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, and include subsequently printed materials collected in support of his various affairs and enterprises.

After leaving the DeRuyter, New York pottery business of his father Elijah, Ezra Cornell moved to Ithaca to work as a mechanic, engineer, millwright, and dam-builder; soon after, he sold plows and their patent rights in New England, the Mid-Atlantic states, and in the Deep South. During his travels, letters home and closely kept diaries described his view of America in the 1840s and 1850s. During the test-laying of the telegraph cable between Washington and Baltimore, Cornell's ingenuity and industry resulted in his affiliating himself with the new enterprise. Again, diaries and letters home recount in detail the difficulties of procuring equipment, convincing the public of the telegraph's utility, selling subscriptions, managing laborers, and accruing stock. Travels in the midwest provide a view of the special problems in the less well-settled mid-prairie states.

The Civil War was observed by Ezra Cornell as a contributor to the Ithaca Journal. His brother and several cousins and nephews participated in the conflict for both causes, and they wrote many letters to Cornell. It was prior to and during this period that the consolidation of Western Union provided Cornell with enormous stock dividends. Conversations with fellow legislator Andrew Dickson White concerning Cornell's desire to contribute money for an altruistic enterprise led to the founding of the University. Cornell had been cash-poor and far from home for many years; when he announced the establishment of the Cornell University, he was deluged with appeals for help, from close and distant relatives, from needy sufferers and cranks. As a New York State legislator, he received hundreds of letters of appeal from constituents on local and state issues.

Family correspondence occurs throughout the collection. The Cornell family was large, located throughout the United States, and involved in many endeavors and enterprises. The correspondence also documents his farming interests and the establishment of the Cornell family's Forest Park farm, the establishment of the Cornell Public Library in Ithaca, his work in the coal oil business, the photo-lithography business, agricultural supplies and science, and his interest in New York State canals and railroads. In addition to the correspondence, diaries, and letterbooks, the papers also contain documents pertaining to Cornell legal cases, finance, estate records, and family memorabilia.

Phil McCray and Maggie Hale, assisted by Lisa Sasaki, June 1995

PROVENANCE

The Cornell papers have for the most part been presented to the University by the Cornell family. Some material has been held by the Cornell University Library since the beginning of the University. Upon the establishment of the Collection of Regional History in 1942 and the University Archives in 1951, material has been held there and in its successor organizations, Cornell University Library's Department of Manuscripts and University Archives, and the Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections. Additional material was transferred to the University Archives from the DeWitt Historical Society of Ithaca, New York.

SUBJECTS

Names:

Cornell, Ezra, 1807-1874

Finch, Francis Miles, 1827-1897

Kendall, Amos

Morse, Samuel F. B., 1791-1872

Sibley, Hiram

Speed, J. J.

Tillotson, D. T.

White, Andrew Dickson, 1832-1918

Wood, Phebe

Cornell University--History

Cornell University--Presidents

Cornell University--Buildings

Cornell University--Curricula

Cornell University--Students

Cornell Public Library (Ithaca, N.Y.)

Barnaby and Mooers

New York (State). Legislature. Assembly

New York State. Senate

Albany Agricultural Works

Geneva & Ithaca Railroad

Erie Railroad

Utica, Ithaca, and Elmira Railroad

New York State Agricultural Society

Cascadilla Health Resort (Ithaca, N.Y.)

Western Union

Subjects:

Telegraph--History

Telegraph--Apparatus and supplies

Telegraph--Equipment and supplies

Telegraph, Wireless

Telegraph--Law and legislation

Telegraph--Employees

Railroads--New York (State)

Plows--New York (State)

Plows--Maine

Coal trade

Cattle--Breeding--New York (State)

Family--New York (State)--Ithaca

Agriculture--New York (State)

Places:

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives

Ithaca (N.Y.)--History

New York (State)--Politics and government

Ithaca (N.Y.)--Social life and customs

Maine--Description and travel

Georgia--Description and travel

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Access Restrictions:

Collection is open.

Available Copies:

Many of the documents in the Ezra Cornell Papers have been digitized and are available on-line. Links are provided within this guide.

Processing Note:

Processing in the spring of 1995 has included the construction of the finding aid and index, the digitization of the correspondence by the Library's Department of Conservation and Preservation, and additional refoldering and archival processing. Subject headings were discerned, and from these terms the index was derived, though a few additional headings were supplied. The subject headings listed for each folder are intended to characterize the folder, and do not list every topic or incidence in that folder. Personal names may be additionally considered as access points (as "Alonzo B. Cornell" will lead a researcher to the establishment of telegraph lines in Montreal and Ohio). "Agriculture" implies several aspects of the science, including floriculture on Forest Park farm, cattle breeding, grain experimentation, etc. "Family correspondence" denotes special issues pertaining to the Cornell family, but by no means indicates all examples. Family letters occur in series other than the Correspondence series. It should also be noted that series subjects can be found throughout the papers, (as financial material can be found in the Documents and Legal Papers and in the Estate Records, where they have been kept for the sake of provenance, or as they illustrate other materials in those series). In most cases, cities cited in the finding aid serve to suggest the location of Ezra Cornell's business activity or family concerns, and do not usually serve as references to the cities themselves. Further, all the letters were hand-written by persons of imperfect grammatical abilities and irregular senses of linguistic convention. Ezra Cornell especially, was a poor speller, which may result in confusion of attribution.

Collection processed by Phil McCray and Maggie Hale, assisted by Lisa Sasaki (June 1995). HTML encoding by Angela Moll (January 1996). EAD/XML encoding by David Ruddy (May 1999).

Cite As:

Ezra Cornell Papers, #1-1-1. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.

RELATED MATERIALS

Other collections in Cornell University Library's Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections

Alonzo B. Cornell papers, 1830-1904. Collection #773. Correspondence, journals, accounts, clippings, notes, leaflets, blotters, and scrapbooks relating largely to Alonzo Cornell's political activities reflecting his interest in governmental problems. Also information on telegraph stock, his activities in the Republican Party, and papers pertaining to his Governorship of New York State.
Alonzo B. Cornell, collector. Letters for Ezra Cornell Memorial Volume, 1887-1888. Part of Collection #773. Alonzo Cornell proposed publishing these reminiscences with a Founder's Day speech delivered by Francis M. Finch. It was delivered as a Founder's Day Address in 1890 and published as a pamphlet the same year.
Andrew Dickson White papers, 1832-1919. Collection #1-2-2. Collection consists of correspondence and other papers relating to White's career as educator, diplomat, and as first President of Cornell University. Includes much correspondence with Ezra Cornell concerning the founding of the University and the establishment of the Cornell Library.
Daniel Willard Fiske papers, 1847-1903. Collection # 13-1-348. Correspondence, scrapbooks, and account books pertaining chiefly to Fiske's activities as a book collector, his career as a journalist, and his activities as a professor and librarian at Cornell University.
David Starr Jordan letter. Collection #3888. Letter from David Starr Jordan to Jacob Gould Schurman on the 100th anniversary of Ezra Cornell's birth, relating to the spirit that animated the students and faculty of the newly-founded university and to the concepts and functions of the university in a democratic society.
Franklin Cuthbert Cornell, Papers, 1857-1938. Collection #1-1-456. Family papers, including financial and legal documents, stock certificates, indentures, public foreclosures, judgments, estate settlements concerning Cornell and his father, Ezra Cornell.
Cornell Public Library Manuscript collections, 1818-1887. Collection #2594. Ezra Cornell papers include minutes of a citizens' meeting (February 5, 1863), at which Cornell's proposal for building the Cornell Public Library was considered, and letters to Cornell, 1863-1874, from William Hodgins, the library architect, and John Henry Selkreg, Francis Miles Finch, and others concerning the operation of the library.
Delta Phi Fraternity records. Collection #37-4-2714. A history of the fraternity and house originally built for Ezra Cornell, known as Llenroc. Floor plans and photographs.
Henry Williams Sage papers, 1814-1930. Collection #1155. The Sage papers consists of material pertaining to his business interests and the affairs of Cornell University.
Douglass Boardman papers. Collection #18-1-2004. Boardman became a Trustee of Cornell University in 1875. Dean of the Law School. Letters concerning the appointment of the original faculty of the Cornell Law School.
See also the papers held by the Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections of early professors and University departments.

Related Readings

Charter Day 1965 published by Cornell University Library, includes an address by University Historian Morris Bishop, and other accounts of the founding of the University.

Becker, Carl L. Cornell University: Founders and the Founding. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1943.

Bishop, Morris. A History of Cornell. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1962.

Cornell, Alonzo B. True and Firm - A Biography of Ezra Cornell. New York: A.S. Barnes & Co., 1884.

Cornell, John, Rev. Genealogy of the Cornell Family: Being an Account of the Descendants of Thomas Cornell of Portsmouth, R.I. New York: T.A. Wright, 1902. [ digital copy available]
Cornell, Mary Emily. The Autobiography of Mary Emily Cornell. Ithaca: Cayuga Press, 1929.
Dorf, Philip. The Builder: A Biography of Ezra Cornell. New York: The MacMillan Company, 1952.
Ogden, Robert Morris. The Diaries of Andrew Dickson White. Ithaca: Cornell University Library, 1959.
White, Andrew Dickson. Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White. New York: The Century Co., 1905.
Ithaca Journal. (for Civil War, Vermont).

PROMINENT PERSONS

Cornell Family

Elijah Cornell: father
Eunice Cornell: mother
Mary Ann Wood Cornell: wife, married 1831
Elijah B. Cornell: brother (b. 1808), m. Betsy Ann
Benjamin Cornell: brother, (b. 1811, d. 1842)
Lucretia Cornell: sister (b. 1813), m.Thomas Chace
Phebe Cornell: sister (b. 1816), m. Martin B. Wood.
Mary Cornell: sister (b. 1818), m. Hiram Robertson
Deborah Cornell: sister, m. James Wood
Edward S. Cornell: brother, m. Angeline
John H. Cornell: brother, m. Molly Cornell
Jane Cornell: sister, m. James Finch
Daniel B. Cornell: brother, (b. 1830), m. Maria, Delilah Cornell
Alonzo B. Cornell: son (b. 1832) m. Ellen
Franklin Cuthbert Cornell: son (b. 1837, m. Sue
Oliver Hazard Perry Cornell: son
Mary Emily Cornell: daughter
Emma P. Cornell: daughter
Miller Chase: uncle (half-brother of Elijah Cornell)
John W. Cornell, Ezra E. Cornell, and Paul J. Cornell were sons of Paul Cornell, who was son of Ezra Cornell, Elijah Cornell's brother in North Carolina. Keturah Cornell was mother of John, Ezra, and Paul.

Wood Family

Benjamin Wood: father-in-law
Martin B. Wood: Mary Ann's uncle
Elmira Wood Bristol: Mary Ann's sister, m. John Bristol
Harriet Wood: Mary Ann's sister, m. John Dunham
Orrin S. Wood: Mary Ann's brother
Otis Eddy Wood: Mary Ann's brother
William Irving Wood: nephew, dies in the Civil War

Ithaca Business

Jeremiah S. Beebe

Telegraph Business

F.O.J. Smith
Samuel F.B. Morse
Alfred Vail
Amos Kendall
Theodore Faxton
J.J. Speed
D.T. Tillotson
E.W. Chester
Emory Cobb
George Curtiss
J. Haviland
P. A. Hopkins
S.W. Hotchkiss
Henry O'Reilly
W.P. Pew
Hiram Sibley
J.H. Wade

Other Business Ventures

Horace L. Emery
Thomas N. Rooker
John H. Millspaugh

Cornell University

Andrew Dickson White
Henry Wells
Willard Fiske
John Stanton Gould
Douglas Boardman
Goldwin Smith
Burt Green Wilder
James Law

SERIES LIST

Series I. Correspondence, 1746-1878
a. Ezra Cornell Correspondence	Boxes 1-35 Map Case II-8, Folder 1
b. Cornell Family Correspondence	Box 36
Series II. Letterbooks, Notebooks, Diaries 1841-1873	Boxes 37-38
Series III. Financial Records, dates throughout 1829-1874	Boxes 39-65
Series IV. Documents and Legal Papers 1831-1874	Boxes 66-70 Map Case II-8, Folder 2
Series V. Telegraph Material 1845-1889 (1914)	Boxes 71-73, 92-94 Map Case II-8, Folder 3
Series VI. Court Proceedings	Boxes 74-77
Series VII. Estate Records	Boxes 78-80
Series VIII. Scrapbooks, Broadsides, Maps, Photographs, Clippings, Ephemera, and Genealogical Information	Boxes 81-91 Map Case II-8, Folders 4-5

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS AND CONTAINER LIST

Description	Container
Series I. Correspondence 1746-1878
Ezra Cornell's correspondence consists of hand-written letters sent and received, drafts of outgoing letters, documents or drafts of documents intended to clarify or develop certain points in the correspondence, and occasionally letters between persons other than Ezra Cornell.
The correspondence closely follows and details Ezra Cornell's many business enterprises, personal interests, family relations, and the founding of Cornell University. In many cases he used his correspondence as the "document of record," declaring that a letter was to serve as instruction, documentation, or mandate. This was true in both business and family correspondence. Cornell was tireless in self-documenting his affairs and those of his family, encouraging correspondents to regard their letters as important works by leaving margins on the pages and improving their spelling. Most letters were subsequently marked by a member of the family with the name of the correspondent. Cornell also kept many handwritten copies of his own outgoing letters.
Cornell and his correspondents (particularly members of his own family) discussed episodes of poor health, journeys, businesses, fires and floods, and myriad family matters (including news, gossip, and criticism of family members). But the letters also display frequent contemporary comment on many of the issues of the nineteenth century: slavery, the Civil War, temperance, religion, and national and local politics.
Ezra Cornell's letters reveal a man whose principal values did not change over the course of a long and busy life. From his first letters to his last, he ceaselessly preached the merits of industriousness, education ("Knowledge is power"), abstemiousness, and familial trust and devotion. He was always generous with his pecuniary accumulations, whether a few dollars or many thousands, so long as the cause in his view was just and embraced his own values of education and honest hard work. He was always interested in the plight and betterment of "colored" people, and employed women from the beginning. He very clearly believed in the common man's ability to prevail if afforded the opportunities his times conventionally denied.
The earliest letters derive from his travels through New England, the Mid-Atlantic states, and the Deep South selling plows and plow patent rights, and exploring America as a place in which his skills and work could be turned into industrial and financial success. A proven aptitude for design, mechanics, and construction, and an acquaintance with Samuel F.B. Morse resulted in his working with the test laying of the buried telegraph cable between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. When the trench system failed, Cornell devised an effective way of stringing the wires on poles, and the result permitted and ensured the telegraph's success. That achievement allowed Cornell to direct the enterprise of establishing several new telegraph lines in the East and Midwest; this involved the selling of stock and the actual engineering of the projects. The demanding work took him far from home, and resulted in his writing very many letters in which he described his work and continued to attempt to maintain control of his family's upbringing by correspondence. By reinvesting his earnings and accruing stock in various telegraph lines, he was in the position to accumulate great wealth when Western Union was formed. The development of the telegraph industry was contentious from the beginning, and letters refer frequently to litigation, patent abuse, and the venal behavior of scoundrels and such "pirates" as Henry O'Reilly. Cornell was regularly dunned for payment of bills, and he frequently noted his extreme poverty; he was occasionally sued for payment. Suits dogged Ezra Cornell for much of the rest of his life. As litigation proceeded, it was not always clear that the Morse patent would prevail in court.
Throughout the papers, even before the establishment of his wealth, Cornell is beseeched for money, a job, or some other kind of favor. These appeals are ubiquitous. He often made small grants. His unquestioned leadership of the family and concerted efforts to formally augment the honor of the Cornell family resulted in his being constantly appealed to for aid. The correspondence is expanded somewhat by responses to Ezra Cornell's instruction that people in the offices of the telegraph lines, or family members apprise him of their actions.
The Civil War consolidated Cornell's relationship with members of his family, including his younger brother Daniel, who was severely wounded at Vicksburg and thereafter endured a difficult, and well documented, recuperation. Nephews of Ezra Cornell fought for the Confederacy, and became prisoners of war. One nephew, Union soldier W. Irving Wood died from wounds received in battle. Many other letters from friends or constituents describe the War, recalling the tedium and politics of army life, the tribulations of living in the field, horrible woundings, and the glory and debasement of battle and the Civil War itself.
One of Cornell's initial philanthropic efforts was to finance the construction of the Cornell Public Library in Ithaca, which housed a library, and also served as a place for the meeting of civil, social, and religious organizations. An exchange of letters in January 1864 "staggered" his lawyer F.M. Finch with news that Cornell intended to devote the largest measure of his fortune to a noble cause that would soon lead to the founding of a new kind of practical university. From this point until his death in 1874, the correspondence traces Cornell's involvement with the design of the university, pertaining particularly to the Land Grant endowment and financing the institution. Cornell had served in the New York State Legislature with Andrew Dickson White, a like-minded educational idealist who would become Cornell University's first president. Letters between them make clear that Cornell would attend to the practical problems of establishing the college, and that White was to nurture the university's intellectual foundation.
During a brief foray into the coal oil business in Ohio and Kentucky, and during his years as a New York State Legislator, Ezra Cornell also kept in close contact with his family by correspondence, still seeking to manage the affairs of his children, and concerning himself with the establishment and development of the family's Forest Park farm; land later to become the central campus of the University. A life-long interest in the science of agriculture is revealed as Cornell pays close attention to matters of cattle and crops, even during his legislative career and while founding the University. A rumored sixty million dollar legacy from the English Cornell family and Cornell's life-long pursuit of news and family history from the DeRuyter Cornells and from other long separated members of the family resulted in an increase in family correspondence. Letters to Legislator Cornell reveal New York State residents' problems and needs. When he founded the University, the newspaper stories resulted in his receiving appeals claiming pathetic need. In many cases, he sent a few dollars or a few books to the petitioner.
A detailed correspondence follows his involvement with two other enterprises late in life: the Albany Agricultural Works, and the American Photo-lithographic Company, which he founded with Thomas N. Rooker. Rooker seems to have enjoyed an especially friendly relation with Cornell, one of the few evidences in the Correspondence Series of non-family cordiality.
Principal correspondents include J.J. Speed, D.T. Tillotson, Amos Kendall, and F.O.J. Smith in the telegraph industry; Andrew Dickson White, Hiram Sibley, and F.M. Finch in matters of Cornell University; his wife Mary Ann, son Alonzo, sister Phebe Wood, and brother D.B. in his family.
Correspondence :: Ezra Cornell Correspondence
Correspondence :: Ezra Cornell Correspondence :: 1828-1845
June 17, 1828 - September 22, 1830 : [ 35 digital images ]	Box 1	Folder 1
TOPICS: Family correspondence family health travel Quaker Meeting personal finances news from friends and acquaintances (death of children, social events).
HIGHLIGHTS: August 23, 1830. E.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from Manlius: "It's very sickly about here now, there is about 2 hundred patients under the phisician's care."
PLACES: DeRuyter, N.Y.; Manlius, N.Y.; Ithaca, N.Y.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, Elijah; Cornell, E.B.; Eddy, Otis; Cornell, Mary Ann.;
May 19, 1831 - June 12, 1837 : [ 57 digital images ]	Box 1	Folder 2
TOPICS: Family correspondence birth of son Charles and daughter Elizabeth death of son Charles finance and real estate speculation mills and women mill workers national politics and financial situation.
HIGHLIGHTS: February 24, 1832. Ezra Cornell's response to expulsion from Quaker Church due to his marriage to Mary Ann Wood: "I have always considered that choosing a companion for life was a very important affair and that my happyness or misery in this life depended on the choice?" March 6, 1834. Ezra Cornell to Elijah Cornell: "I informed thee when thee was out that I had got out of debt and a little to spare but not being able to enjoy sound sleap while I remained in that situation (that some would call happy) I have remedied the evil by running in debt for the large house and lot?" January 13, 1836. Reference to "distressing conflagration" in New York City. May 15, 1836. Ezra Cornell to Elijah Cornell discussing Ithaca's potential, mentioning the New York and Erie Railroad and the Sodus Canal.
PLACES: Fall Creek (Ithaca); DeRuyter; Rochester, N.Y.; Michigan.;
PEOPLE: Merritt, Nehemiah; Beebe, Jeremiah S.; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Wood, M.B.; Wood, Benjamin; Wood, O. S.; Bristol, John S.; Bristol, Elmira; DeWitt family; Cornell, Mary Ann.;
June 18, 1837 - September 11, 1838 : [ 67 digital images ]	Box 1	Folder 3
TOPICS: Management of Jeremiah Beebe's Ithaca affairs textile mill flour mill women mill workers tannery water power.
PLACES: Ithaca.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, Elijah; Cornell, E.B.; Beebe, Jeremiah S.; Whyte, Thomas; Blunt, Joseph; Bristol, John S.; Bristol, Elmira; Cornell, Mary Ann.;
October 27, 1838 - July 15, 1841 : [ 54 digital images ]	Box 1	Folder 4
TOPICS: Family correspondence family relations business and financial matters pottery Cornell & Wright grocery water power mill machinery Beebe's directives for businesses letters of recommendation for trip East to view improvements in water power and to promote Ithaca as a manufacturing site national politics Loco Focism Whig party.
HIGHLIGHTS: October 6, 1839. Elijah Cornell to Ezra Cornell, regarding the economy: "But in observing the signs of the times I think it is time for people to sing small songs?"
PLACES: Ithaca; DeRuyter; Fall Creek; Michigan.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, Elijah; Macy, Anna; Beebe, Jeremiah S.; Bristol, John S.; Bristol, Elmira; Cornell, Mary Ann.;
July 15, 1841 - August 13, 1842 : [ 78 digital images ]	Box 1	Folder 5
TOPICS: Business and financial correspondence plans for rental housing in Ithaca cattle New York State Agricultural Society Barnaby and Mooers side hill plow, and correspondence to Maine pertaining to selling of plows and plow patent rights.
HIGHLIGHTS: July 15, 1841. Letter to the Trustees of the village of Ithaca concerning complaints about Ezra Cornell's bull.
PLACES: Ithaca; Maine.;
PEOPLE: Dexter, S.; Beebe, Jeremiah S.; Blunt, Joseph; Flagg, J. P.; Mooers, Henry; Cornell, Mary Ann.;
August 18, 1842 - January 31, 1843 : [ 79 digital images ]	Box 1	Folder 6
TOPICS: Family correspondence rental properties Ithaca fires agriculture cattle plows pottery temperance.
HIGHLIGHTS: 1842. Ezra Cornell to the editor of the Maine Farmer regarding Maine's potential as an agricultural state. August 27, 29, and September 29, 1842 concerning Cornell pottery. January 23, 1843. Samuel F.B. Morse to Archibald L. Linn with sketch of his electromagnetic telegraph instrument. Morse alphabet added to letter by Ezra Cornell, February 18, 1873. January 31, 1843. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children describing a four day journey from Ithaca to New York City via stage, railroad, and steamer, relating conditions of travel, type and cost of food, arrival in the city, and the purchase of a life insurance policy. Visits and describes the Croton Reservoir.
PLACES: Maine; New York City.;
PEOPLE: Beebe, Jeremiah S.; Stuvins, E.S.; Cornell, Elijah; Wood, O. S.; Morse, Samuel F.B.; Linn, Archibald L.; Cornell, Mary Ann.;
February 2, 1843 - August 17, 1843 : [ 68 digital images ]	Box 1	Folder 7
TOPICS: Personal finances life insurance plow sales and patent arrangements in Maine and Georgia travel conditions (first class travel versus second) hardships of the times Bankruptcy Act Philadelphia Mint and markets steamer travel account of a rough crossing of Chesapeake Bay observations of Southern landscape and agricultural practices business ventures plans for trench digging and pipe laying machine.
HIGHLIGHTS: February 10, 1843. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children: "?I have got 57 cents left but there is always a way when there is a will and I will get along somehow. I shall have to let you pay the postage on letters?" March 11, 1843. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children: "I arrived at this place last evening very much fatigued with a walk of 150 miles from Charleston through snow and rain?" April 2, 1843. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children giving instructions on family deportment, an account of a murder trial, and comment on Mesmerism, religion, personal faith versus organized religion, and the difficulties in selling plows. April 9, 1843. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell providing extensive observations of slaves and slavery, race relations, and fatherly advice and concern. April 18, 1843. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell: "My dear, the duty that devolved wholly on you in my absence of guiding and expanding the minds of our dear children is a laborious one and a responsible one? "I find that a well-formed, healthy negrow can get as many wives as he wants if it is 3 or 4 at a time but a decrepid fellow can't get the first one by the consent of (her) master or mistress. why is it sow. plain enough 'like begets like' they wish to improve their stock. "?but the American slaves are all illegitimate. I don't know as it can be different were people are bred as stock and sold in the market a cattel." May 16, 1843. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children concerning superiority of Northern farmers, praise of Southern land, Southern idleness, details of route walked, and gold mines.
PLACES: Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; Norfolk, Va.; North Carolina; Wilmington, N.C.; Charleston, S.C.; Augusta, Ga.;
PEOPLE: Lincoln, A.B.; Chandler, J.; Beebe, Jeremiah S.; Mooers, Henry; Cornell, Mary Ann.;
August 24, 1843 - February 5, 1844 : [ 62 digital images ]	Box 1	Folder 8
TOPICS: Family correspondence advice and admonition concerning the children, particularly regarding their education descriptions of travel in Maine, including an account of a rough trip by steamer to New York character of the Maine people phrenology business and finance Ezra Cornell's "new enterprise" a proposal including a description of manufacturing possibilities in the South, and an offer by Ezra Cornell to manage a company if $100,000 were invested plows wool factory (Ithaca) fires in Ithaca the laying of the test telegraph pipe between Washington D.C. and Baltimore rejection of Ezra Cornell's initial patent claim for trench cutter, the Patent Office suggesting amendments description of sights in Washington D.C., including extensive discussion of the Capital.
HIGHLIGHTS: September 3, 1843. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann and children: "Idleness is to the human mind like rust to iron." October 28, 1843. Correspondence concerning trench digging and pipe laying machine. October 29, 1843. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell describing telegraph pipe laying; Ezra Cornell's "flattering" business offers; settlement of Ithaca affairs; completion of plow business in Maine: "I can assure you my Dear that I breathe freer and deeper than I have done for some time past. I feel as though Old Dame Fortune was bestirring herself to make amends as far as may be for her past neglect, but I am cool." December 27, 1843. Authorization from Samuel F.B. Morse detailing plan of action for Ezra Cornell's role in the test laying at a salary of $1000 per year. January 19, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell: "?I have an invention in Embrio that my opperations here has suggested that will open the Eyes of the world, it will be far in advance of anything of the day, and it astonishes me that it should have been overlooked so long."
PLACES: Augusta, Me.; Baltimore; Washington, D.C.; Ithaca.;
PEOPLE: Lincoln, A.B.; Cornell, E.B.; Bristol, Eliza; Smith, F.O.J.; Morse, Samuel F.B.; Cornell, Mary Ann.;
February 16, 1844 - March 31, 1844 : [ 60 digital images ]	Box 1	Folder 9
TOPICS: Laying of the test cable conversion to telegraph posts from trench pipe government involvement in the project F.O.J. Smith's view of Mr. Vail and the difficulties he causes the project, and Smith's account of other conflicts in the telegraph project patents manuscript patent application description of Mount Vernon and the Princeton Steamship catastrophe Ezra Cornell attends lecture by Daniel Webster Ezra Cornell studies in the United States Patent Office Library Ithaca affairs Ithaca fire family finances instructions and advice on child rearing family news business matters plow business.
HIGHLIGHTS: February 16, 1844. Description of Franklin's printing press including a sketch, and a suggestion that it be displayed in the National Institute. February 26, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children describing and providing sketches of items observed in the National Institute, including detailed description of implements of war from the Fiji Islands. March 31, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell reflecting upon thirteen years of marriage: "We have avoided the quicksands of jealousy, the whirlpools of dissipation, the rocks of passion, and the many other impediments to a safe and happy voige. I don't believe that a preparation consists in a belief in Millerism, Jo Smithism, or any of the popular isms of the day, but in doing right?" Concerning the telegraph: "?the thirteen miles will be sufficient to test the phylosophical principal and then if it works well we are in hopes that congress will make appropriations for its continuance to Philadelphia."
PLACES: Washington, D.C.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, E.B.; Slater, Justus; Morse, Samuel F.B.; Cornell, Elijah; Smith, F.O.J.; Beebe, A.; Vail, Alfred; Gale, Leonard; Cornell, Mary Ann.;
April 1, 1844 - May 8, 1844 : [ 51 digital images ]	Box 1	Folder 10
TOPICS: Family correspondence Mesmerism plow business Ithaca elections featuring Loco Foco and Abolitionist Parties Whig Convention in Baltimore telegraph appropriations from Congress.
HIGHLIGHTS: April 14, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell: "?for if I could get [Alonzo] a place at a dollar a day it would be better than some men could do, at any rate it would be better than loafing about fall Creek." April 21, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell: "We are getting along with the telegraph to a good advantage, and it works well, we have got out 14.5 miles from Washington, and at that distance I can converce with Professor Morse as readily as though I was within two feet of him." April 25, 1844. F.O.J. Smith to Ezra Cornell: "In practical matters I do not think there ever was yoked into one team a pair of more decidedly unteachable asses than the Professor and [Vail] without your good common sense to temper their follies, the whole concern would have before this become a laughing stock to the country."
PLACES: Ithaca; Washington, D.C.; Baltimore.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, E.B.; Smith, F.O.J.; Morse, Samuel F.B.; Burbank, David; Cornell, Mary Ann; Vail, Alfred.;
May 13, 1844 - August 9, 1844 : [ 50 digital images ]	Box 2	Folder 1
TOPICS: Family correspondence telegraph business correspondence: completion of line between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, conflicts between partners, removal of pipe from trench hoop machine.
HIGHLIGHTS: n.d. Morse's telegraphic alphabet and phrases written by Samuel F.B. Morse for use of Ezra Cornell on test line between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. July 28, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children describing in detail his journey by coach to Syracuse and train to Albany, his impressions of the State Geological collection, and discussing family businesses, finance, and poles for Benjamin Wood. July 29, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children describing his trip by steamer "Portsmouth" down the Hudson as far as town of Hudson. July 29, 1844. Samuel F.B. Morse to Ezra Cornell from New York: "Things in relation to the Telegraph look well, and if our plans succeed here, you will not want for ample employment." August 9, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children concerning interest in the telegraph from companies in Boston, Philadelphia, and New York; potential employment with telegraph for family members; continued description of trip down the Hudson, including discussion of the raising of a sunken ship rumored to be that of Capt. Kidd.
PLACES: Ithaca; Washington, D.C.; Baltimore; Albany, N.Y.;
PEOPLE: Morse, Samuel F.B.; Wood, Benjamin; Burbank, David; Vail, Alfred; Smith, F.O.J.; Cornell, Mary Ann.;
August 10, 1844 - September 25, 1844 : [ 37 digital images ]	Box 2	Folder 2
TOPICS: Family correspondence Ithaca politics Whigs Loco Focos plows telegraph business correspondence telegraph exhibition.
HIGHLIGHTS: August 18, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children reflecting on slavery and national politics: "My dear, I am convinced that our 'humble cot' is the dwelling place of more happiness in one day than falls to the lot of many a human being in this portion of our boasted 'land of Liberty' during a long life. "Slavery as it is garenteed in the states by the Constitution is bad enough and must be indured until it is removed by the fource of enlightened publick opinion acting upon the slaveholder, but for the sake of humanity let it not be extended." September 2, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children discussing the bustle (women's fashion) and giving detailed directions to Mary Ann concerning her trip to Washington, D.C.
PLACES: Baltimore; Ithaca; Washington, D.C.; Boston.;
PEOPLE: Burbank, David; Cornell, E.B.; Cornell, Mary Ann; Lincoln, A.B.; Slater, Justus; Wood, O.S.; Morse, Samuel F.B.; Smith, F.O.J.;
October 7, 1844 - November 22, 1844 : [ 43 digital images ]	Box 2	Folder 3
TOPICS: Family correspondence business correspondence telegraph exhibition in Boston telegraph elections "lightning."
HIGHLIGHTS: November 24, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell quoting "A World of Love at Home," a poem by J.J. Reynolds and giving instructions to his children on how to maintain this at home.
PLACES: Boston; Ithaca.;
PEOPLE: Smith, F.O.J.; Cornell, Mary Ann; Wood, O.S.; Morse, Samuel F.B.; Vail, Alfred.;
December 1, 1844 - December 29, 1844 : [ 43 digital images ]	Box 2	Folder 4
TOPICS: Business correspondence Family correspondence telegraph telegraph exhibition in Boston electric conductors alarm machine chess games over the telegraph.
HIGHLIGHTS: December 3, 1844. Samuel F.B. Morse to Ezra Cornell discussing the claims of Dr. Charles T. Jackson that Jackson was the inventor of the telegraph. December 5, 1844. Orrin S. Wood to Ezra Cornell discussing use of telegraph to report proceedings of Congress. December 15, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children: "I had heard while at Providence last Thursday that Mary had recd. proposals from Robert Macy but had decided not to accept them, I was glad to hear of that determination as I detest the practice of cousins marrying or any marriage between persons in which there can be traced the most distant relationship. I go for the improvement instead of the deterioration of our race?" Alarm machine, telegraph for the Postmaster. December 22, 1844. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children sending New Years wishes and messages to Mary Ann, Alonzo, Frank, Elizabeth, and Oliver Perry to accompany books for each of them.
PLACES: Boston; New York City.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, Mary Ann; Speed, J.J.; Morse, Samuel F.B.; Smith, F.O.J.; Wood, O.S.;
January 2, 1845 - January 31, 1845 : [ 50 digital images ]	Box 2	Folder 5
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: line from New York to Boston, materials and supplies, line damaged in storm, New York telegraph exhibition discussion of possible duel between Congressmen Clingman and Yancey conflict with Beebe.
HIGHLIGHTS: January 15, 1845. E.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell regarding E.B.'s financial difficulties and hopes for assistance from Ezra Cornell. January 29, 1845. Jeremiah S. Beebe to Ezra Cornell: "I think it was 1829 or 30 that I applied to Otis Eddy for a man to mend my plaster mill, and he recommended you. At that time I was worth $40.000 and you perhaps 40/, soon after I employed you to take charge of my affair at Fall Creek. From that time forward for at least 8 or 9 years you was in my employment at a good salary. You had my means to live on and my [?] to try your crazy experiments upon, and what is the result. I am now obliged to wear the old clothes about that I had 7 years ago and you are moving upon lightening. You have been brought forward to the world's notice?"
PLACES: New York City; Washington, D.C.;
PEOPLE: Wood, O.S.; Smith, F.O.J.; Nash, John; Burbank, David; Beebe, Jeremiah S.; Cornell, Mary Ann.;
February 1, 1845 - March 23, 1845 : [ 52 digital images ]	Box 2	Folder 6
TOPICS: Wool factory (Ithaca) alarm machine telegraph business correspondence: New York telegraph exhibition, Congressional appropriation, plans for telegraphic enterprise hoop machine conflict with Beebe fire at National Theater in Washington Ithaca fire E.B. proposes fresh water business in Chicago.
PLACES: New York City; Ithaca; Washington, D.C.;
PEOPLE: Burbank, David; Avery, Thomas; Speed, J.J.; Wood, O.S.; Smith, F.O.J.; Morse, Samuel F.B.; Beebe, Jeremiah S.; Cornell, E.B.;
April 10, 1845 - May 29, 1845 : [ 34 digital images ]	Box 2	Folder 7
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: line maintenance, materials and supplies plow business.
HIGHLIGHTS: April 19, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Samuel F.B. Morse: "?my object was to aid in carrying through, what I regarded as a magnificent experiment, and laying a foundation for future profitable employment." Telegraph conflicts, alarm machine. May 29, 1845. Amos Kendall to Ezra Cornell: "?we are willing to arrange for your employment and services in behalf of the Magnetic Telegraph Company of which you are already a member with this understanding?"
PLACES: New York City; Washington, D.C.;
PEOPLE: Morse, Samuel F.B.; Smith, F.O.J.; Burbank, David; Speed, J.J.; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Kendall, Amos; Lincoln, A.B.;
June 15, 1845 - June 28, 1845 : [ 28 digital images ]	Box 2	Folder 8
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: rights of way, construction, materials and supplies.
HIGHLIGHTS: June 22, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children describing stage coach journey: "The night got rather cool and a great coat would have been comfortable but I did not suffer at all for the want of one and I'm inclined to the opinion that the absence of the warmth from an overcoat was all that saved me from stage sickness if so the circumstance may be given as another evidence that 'poverty is a blessing.' "The children must not be idle, they must study some, work some, and play some, they must be at something all the time." Health, possible routes out of the city for the telegraph, visit to old neighborhood (Bergen county), Staten Island. June 30, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children concerning the approaching Fourth of July: "?the only guarantee the present generation has that our free and hapy form of government will be handed down unimpaired as it came from the hands of our Patriot Fathers, to our children and our children's children is in universal education?Then let Universal Education be the Patriot's wachword?"
PLACES: New York City.;
PEOPLE: Kendall, Amos; Cornell, Mary Ann; Smith, F.O.J.; Burbank, David.;
July 6, 1845 - July 31, 1845 : [ 59 digital images ]	Box 2	Folder 9
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: routes in New York City and New Jersey, and New York to Philadelphia, materials and supplies, stock subscriptions.
HIGHLIGHTS: July 11, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children: "I think Elizabeth is quite romantic to call her Father's letters novels'?but she will find this difference between the two, novels are the coinage of missguided brains, making no instructions to truth or reality, but dealing largely in 'the fancies' while her Father's letters contain truth, plain unvarnished truth, and I hope that is the quality that induces E. to admire them." On visiting the Old Stone School House where he had gone to school 27 years ago: "Not being satisfied that I got the worth of the money that my good Father paid for my larning there, I sought to indemnify myself by obtaining some relic of the house itself so I knocked some pieces out of it's 'time honoured walls' which I shall deposit properly labilled in my museum of curiosities." July 27, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children written to "appear like a Novel to my little Rosebud."
PLACES: New York City; Ithaca.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, Mary Ann; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Smith, F.O.J.; Kendall, Amos; Cornell, E.B.; O'Reilly, Henry.;
August 2, 1845 - September 30, 1845 : [ 84 digital images ]	Box 2	Folder 10
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: Utica line, instruments, materials and supplies, river crossing, insulation for wires, magnets Steamship Great Britain Family correspondence.
HIGHLIGHTS: August 10, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children: "?I must pay you the compliment of being quite a financier?you must keep a keen eye on your tenants and make them 'Pony up' -- does not Potter trade in something that you want if so try to get something out of him, take candy if you can get nothing else, Perry would soon learn to eat candy if he dont already know how?" August 17, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children discussing health and fruit, and improvements to telegraph instruments: "I am making other improvements that I have full confidence will be successful by business superintending my work getting materials, planning and draughting for new improvements writing my letters and accts. keeps me fully employed I don't get half the time to read that I should like to devote to it, things look well and will come out right in the end." September 19, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann and children describing telegraph exhibit at State Fair in Utica: "I had about 2000 visiters a room 30 by 40 crowded from morning till night. The wonder with all was how I stood it, to talk so much and so long as I did in explaining the telegraph to such a multitude."
PLACES: New York City; Utica, N.Y.;
PEOPLE: Smith, F.O.J.; Cornell, Mary Ann; Butterfield, John; Messenger, S.; Kendall, Amos; Cornell, E.B.; Vail, Alfred; Rogers, H.J.; Cornell, Alonzo B.;
October 1, 1845 - October 16, 1845 : [ 40 digital images ]	Box 2	Folder 11
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical issues, instruments, materials and supplies, routes Family correspondence.
HIGHLIGHTS: October 5, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children: "?my old hat crown was most out, and a hole in my pants and some buttons off and my shoes riped down the side, but that is nothing my heart is sound and my head clear?" October 15, 1845. Ezra Cornell to C.G. Page, discussing improvements in instrumentand magnet designs: "I am unconcious of having done anything wrong in the matter, and am very sorry if you have the impression that I would wrong you in the slightest degree, even were it in my power, I have done nothing and would do nothing that I should not be willing that you should do by me, I act from principle founded upon justice to all men."
PLACES: Utica; New York City.;
PEOPLE: Faxton, Theodore; Smith, F.O.J.; Cornell, Mary Ann; Wood, O.S.; Kendall, Amos; Butterfield, John; Page, C.G.;
October 18, 1845 - October 31, 1845 : [ 42 digital images ]	Box 2	Folder 12
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: patent rights, instruments, New York, Albany & Buffalo line, materials and supplies, construction of lines, finances Ithaca schools.
HIGHLIGHTS: October 30, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell and children: "Your going to church I approve as I do your doings in general, I think however the churches are not as usefull as they would be if they would teach their diciples?to practice upon the precepts laid down by Christ. Do unto others, as you would that should do unto you, Love your neighbour as your self, Let him who is free from sin cast the first stone, &c &c &c." Bible quotations (proverbs) concerning husbands and wives.
PLACES: New York City; Ithaca.;
PEOPLE: Page, C.G.; Wells, Henry; Wood, O.S.; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Cornell, Mary Ann; Kendall, Amos.;
November 1, 1845 - November 9, 1845 : [ 43 digital images ]	Box 2	Folder 13
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: instruments, materials and supplies, technical issues, patent rights, Buffalo to Lockport line in operation Family correspondence Fall Creek tunnel.
HIGHLIGHTS: November 6, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell: "If you go to Dryden, you and Otis and Norman and perhaps one or two other young philosophers might get up a Philosophical Club, and spend your winter evenings profitably? ?the serenade at Unkle Js must have been interesting. Dryden is a great place for musick, but such musicians make poor phylosiphers. I had rather you would study phylosiphy than musick in that school." November 5, 1845. Ezra Cornell to E.B. Cornell: "I can't at the present time tell when I shall be at home, nor where I shall spend the winter. The Phil. Co. wants me to stay and keep the charge of working their line. The New York, Albany & Buffalo Co. want me, and offer $2000 for me to take charge of their line and the N.Y. and Boston Co. want me to take theirs, and will do as well by me as either, and I don't know yet which will get me. I want to go where I can be of the most service to the general enterprise." November 12, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell: "?I am not shure but I shall contrive some way by which I could kiss you by telegraph. How would you like to be bussed by lightning? It would seem odd no doubt, but there is no telling what will be done yet, these are the times of strange and marvelous things?"
PLACES: New York City; Ithaca.;
PEOPLE: Wood, O.S.; Faxton, Theodore; Cornell, Mary Ann; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Monroe, C.;
November 10, 1845 - November 20, 1845 : [ 42 digital images ]	Box 3	Folder 1
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: electricity new lines (Lockport and Buffalo, Washington and Philadelphia).
PLACES: Ithaca; Lockport, N.Y.; Washington, D.C.;
PEOPLE: Renwick, James; Cornell, E.B.; Kendall, Amos; Wood, O.S.; Smith, F.O.J.; Sage, H.W.;
November 22, 1845 - November 30, 1845 : [ 43 digital images ]	Box 3	Folder 2
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence Family correspondence.
HIGHLIGHTS: November 23, 1845. Ezra Cornell: "My section of the Tel extends to Somerville New Jersey about 70 miles by the rout of the wires." November 30, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell: "I want you to be diligent in your studies, for you will soon be wanted for something else. I am going to have a telegraph from Ithaca to Auburn and you may be wanted to take one of the stations. So you see it is important that you should improve the time well, while you have a chance to go to school."
PLACES: Ithaca; Lockport; Washington, D.C.; New York City.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, Alonzo B.; Kendall, Amos; Smith, F.O.J.; Wells, Henry ;
December 2, 1845 - December 13, 1845 : [ 58 digital images ]	Box 3	Folder 3
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines, patent rights.
HIGHLIGHTS: December 7, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell: "The duty of the mother outweigh the affections of the wife, that is a heavenly emplanted virtue in the breast of woman. I am bound to make a thousand dollars out of that operation [Ithaca to Auburn telegraph] but this I say to you in confidence and don't want it to go further at present."
PLACES: New York City.;
PEOPLE: O'Reilly, Henry; Faxton, Theodore; Kendall, Amos; Carter, Samuel P.; Goell, A.C.; Eddy, James; Smith, F.O.J.; Wood, O.S.;
December 14, 1845 - December 22, 1845 : [ 53 digital images ]	Box 3	Folder 4
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines, finances, materials and supplies Family correspondence.
HIGHLIGHTS: December 14, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell: "There is nothing I have to reflect on that gives me more satisfaction than the fact that my life is insured for the benefit of my Dear Wife and children."
PLACES: New York City.;
PEOPLE: Kendall, Amos; Goell, A.C.; Wood, O.S.; Butterfield, J.; Smith, F.O.J.; Eddy, James; O'Reilly, Henry.;
December 24, 1845 - December 31, 1845 : [ 46 digital images ]	Box 3	Folder 5
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, conflict with Vail and others, question of Ezra Cornell's employment, stock subscriptions offered to Ithaca businessmen.
HIGHLIGHTS: December 30, 1845. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell: "I thank you for your wish of a 'merry Christmas' and can inform you that I made it merry with work."
PLACES: New York City; Ithaca.;
PEOPLE: O'Reilly, Henry; Wood, O.S.; Vail, Alfred; Kendall, Amos; Faxton, Theodore.;
Correspondence :: Ezra Cornell Correspondence :: 1846-1847
January 1, 1846 - January 24, 1846 : [ 39 digital images ]	Box 3	Folder 6
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, patent rights, stock subscriptions.
HIGHLIGHTS: January 10, 1846. Samuel F.B. Morse to Ezra Cornell: "At 12 o'clock on Monday and the same on Tuesday at 10 o'clock?you will strike the letter F -- -- in the same way from Fort Lee to Philadelphia and also to N York."
PLACES: New York City.;
PEOPLE: Kendall, Amos; Smith, F.O.J.; Morse, Samuel F.B.; Wood, O. S.; Mooers, Henry.;
January 27, 1846 - February 23, 1846 : [ 47 digital images ]	Box 3	Folder 7
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, personal conflict, establishment of new lines, stock subscriptions in Ithaca.
HIGHLIGHTS: February 8, 1846. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell admonishing him for revealing elements of slothful behavior. February 9, 1846. Ezra Cornell to the Editor of the Herald concerning disputed invention of the telegraph. February 22, 1846. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell calculating in real dollars the lifetime costs of drinking alcohol and using tobacco: "I am very glad that the temperance reform has reached Fall Creek."
PLACES: New York City; Ithaca.;
PEOPLE: Eddy, James; Beebe, Jeremiah S.; Wood, O.S.; Atwell, Winthrop; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Faxton, Theodore.;
February 24, 1846 - March 18, 1846 : [ 52 digital images ]	Box 3	Folder 8
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines, Ithaca subscribers "Cornelia" temperance movement in Ithaca letters to Alonzo with advice and counsel on education and responsible living.
HIGHLIGHTS: March 1, 1846. Description of telegraph lines and bridges.
PLACES: New York City; Ithaca; Boston.;
PEOPLE: Smith, F.O.J.; Atwell, Winthrop; Eddy, James; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Carter, Samuel P.; Cornell, E.B.; Faxton, Theodore; Livingston, Charles.;
March 20, 1846 - March 30, 1846 : [ 50 digital images ]	Box 3	Folder 9
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines, Ithaca stock subscriptions.
HIGHLIGHTS: March 30, 1846. E.B. Cornell from Ithaca: "We are now enjoying the Blessings and comforts of revivle of religion in Ithaca - the reverend Mr. John Moffett is here Delivering a Course of lectures on American Literature & pouring forth his Eloquent Irish Soul in the Pulpit every other Evening the Cthouse was cramed full to overflowing yesterday."
PLACES: Boston; New York City; Utica; Ithaca.;
PEOPLE: Faxton, Theodore; Cornell, Franklin C.; Wood, O.S.; Eddy, James; Park, J.D.; Cornell, E.B.; Smith, F.O.J.;
April 1, 1846 - April 29, 1846 : [ 42 digital images ]	Box 3	Folder 10
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines.
HIGHLIGHTS: April 29, 1846. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell: "I left the city of NY last eve With the floating Palace Hendrick Hudson. I brought up with me half a dozen flowering trees. I think you had better set them in your nice little dooryard."
PLACES: Boston; New York City; Albany; Utica.;
PEOPLE: Smith, F.O.J.; Carter, Samuel P.; Wood, O.S.; Faxton, Theodore; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Cornell, Mary Ann.;
May 1, 1846 - May 12, 1846 : [ 28 digital images ]	Box 3	Folder 11
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, establishment of new lines.
PLACES: New York City; Utica.;
PEOPLE: Faxton, Theodore; Cornell, E.B.;
May 15, 1846 - May 31, 1846 : [ 33 digital images ]	Box 3	Folder 12
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies Beebe importunes Ezra Cornell for money.
PLACES: Ithaca; New York City.;
PEOPLE: Faxton, Theodore; Eddy, James; Beebe, Jeremiah S.; Cornell, E.S.;
June 3, 1846 - June 16, 1846 : [ 38 digital images ]	Box 3	Folder 13
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, finances, establishment of new lines.
PLACES: Albany; Boston; New York City.;
PEOPLE: Smith, F.O.J.; Cornell, E.B.; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Faxton, Theodore.;
June 17, 1846 - June 29, 1846 : [ 37 digital images ]	Box 3	Folder 14
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, establishment of new lines.
PLACES: New York City; Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; Ithaca; Aurora, N.Y.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, E.B.; Kendall, Amos; Cornell, E.B.; Smith, F.O.J.; Eddy, James.;
July 1, 1846 - July 9, 1846 : [ 32 digital images ]	Box 3	Folder 15
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, establishment of new lines.
PLACES: New York City; Albany.;
PEOPLE: Eddy, James; Wood, O.S.; Cornell, E.B.;
July 10, 1846 - July 21, 1846 : [ 26 digital images ]	Box 3	Folder 16
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, establishment of new lines.
PLACES: New York City; Poughkeepsie.;
PEOPLE: Smith, F.O.J.; Faxton, Theodore; Cornell, E.B.; Livingston and Wells.;
July 25, 1846 - August 4, 1846 : [ 39 digital images ]	Box 3	Folder 17
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, establishment of new lines.
HIGHLIGHTS: August 3, 1846. F.A. Brown to Ezra Cornell: "I regret to hear Smith is not more successful than he is on the Boston line. Poor fellow, I am sorry for him, those loafers on the Philadelphia line will now be able to exult over his adversity."
PLACES: New York City; Ithaca; Buffalo.;
PEOPLE: King, George W.; Wood, O.S.; Bristol, John S.; Cornell, E.B.; Faxton, Theodore.;
August 7, 1846 - August 31, 1846 : [ 67 digital images ]	Box 4	Folder 1
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines, stock subscriptions, E.B. Cornell seeks employment, contention with Faxton about the Albany line.
HIGHLIGHTS: August 31, 1846. F.O.J. Smith to Ezra Cornell: "I am sorry to learn from various sources of your having frequently made me the subject of much unfavorable conjecture and remark with men in my employ, as well as with others, in connexion with a female with whome you boarded in New York. Now I ask no man to become the keper of my morals or character?"
PLACES: Ithaca; New York City.;
PEOPLE: Faxton, Theodore; Eddy, James; Wood, Benjamin; Cornell, E.B.; Brown, F.A.; Wood, Phebe; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Smith, F.O.J.;
September 6, 1846 - October 9, 1846 : [ 30 digital images ]	Box 4	Folder 2
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines, proposed line between Washington, D.C. and New Orleans, price per transmission.
HIGHLIGHTS: October 7, 1846. Incidence of vandalism of the New York line.
PLACES: Ithaca; New York City.;
PEOPLE: Smith, F.O.J.; Eddy, James; Bullock, A.B.;
October 11, 1846 - October 17, 1846 : [ 30 digital images ]	Box 4	Folder 3
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, proposals for establishment of new lines, finances.
HIGHLIGHTS: October 15, 1846. Telegraph stock, shares, dividends.
PLACES: Ithaca; Hudson, N.Y.;
PEOPLE: Brown, F.A.; Kendall, Amos; Bullock, A.B.; Cornell, E.B.; Eddy, James.;
October 18, 1846 - October 30, 1846 : [ 41 digital images ]	Box 4	Folder 4
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines, complication of communication among stations in New York State.
HIGHLIGHTS: October 20, 1846. Negotiation of stock transfers (Ithaca Telegraph Company).
PLACES: Ithaca.;
PEOPLE: Brown, F.A.; Faxton, Theodore; Eddy, James; Smith, F.O.J.; O'Reilly, Henry; Wood, Phebe; Speed, J.J.;
November 1, 1846 - November 4, 1846 : [ 25 digital images ]	Box 4	Folder 5
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: magnetic clocks, patent application, articles of agreement.
PLACES: Ithaca.;
PEOPLE: Speed, J.J.;
November 5, 1846 - November 23, 1846 : [ 47 digital images ]	Box 4	Folder 6
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines (Detroit to Milwaukee).
HIGHLIGHTS: November 9, 1846. Instructions to employee Curtis from Ezra Cornell on operation of telegraph wires: "Order must be obeyed right or wrong. It is the only way to preserve harmony in the working of the line." November 19, 1846. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell: "I have had quite a notion lately of learning to write on the telegraph and should like your advice on the subject?for if there is anything to be made by it I should like to have my share."
PLACES: Ithaca; New York City.;
PEOPLE: Eddy, James; Speed, J.J.; Kendall, Amos; Faxton, Theodore; Cornell, D.B.;
November 23, 1846 - December 15, 1846 : [ 44 digital images ]	Box 4	Folder 7
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines (Toronto, Binghamton).
HIGHLIGHTS: December 6, 1846. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell: "To be frank with you I have my doubts whether it would be for your interest to engage in the telegraph business even were you qualified to do it properly, but you are not thus qualifide?" December 15, 1846. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell: "I was quite surprised to see that you wrote so well on the telegraph with the little chance you have had to learn. I have no objection to your learning to thus write if you will not let it attract your attention from your studdies."
PLACES: Ithaca; New York City; Auburn, N.Y.;
PEOPLE: Eddy, James; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Faxton, Theodore; Bullock, A.B.; Goell, A.C.;
December 15, 1846 - January 12, 1847 : [ 56 digital images ]	Box 4	Folder 8
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, establishment of new lines (Elmira, Corning, Bath), Magnetic Telegraph Company personnel problems.
HIGHLIGHTS: December 20, 1846. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell: "?I should prefer that you would choose a rural occupation, and become an intelligent scientific farmer. The time is not distant when such farmers will be more respected and they will be more useful than Kings or Princes." n.d. Faxton to his operators concerning quality of transmissions: "On the 9th of September last the line of Telegraph was put in operation from New York to Buffalo, working through 8 offices?Its operation appeared to be very perfect?" January 9, 1847. Amos Kendall to Ezra Cornell: "Since I wrote you in reference to the side lines in New York, I have been requested by Prof. Morse not to make the arrangements proposed, including the renewal of your contract upon the Binghamton route."
PLACES: Ithaca; Albany; Chicago; Auburn.;
PEOPLE: Speed, J.J.; Allen, Oliver E.; Beebe, Jeremiah S.; Cornell, E.S.; Kendall, Amos; Wood, Phebe; Wood, O.S.; Speed, J.J.;
January 14, 1847 - February 17, 1847 : [ 63 digital images ]	Box 4	Folder 9
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: establishment of new lines (plans for Toronto to Quebec, Quebec to Halifax, Toronto to Buffalo, Toronto to Detroit), patent rights, instruments, finances, magnets, Speed and Tillotson corresponding about telegraph to compete with Morse's Michigan's potential as an agricultural state family news from Michigan.
HIGHLIGHTS: February 17, 1847. Theodore Faxton to Ezra Cornell: "I recommended Mr. Cornel for that place as a suitable and competent man, he was employed on the strength of that recomendation?I had recommended a man who was entirely unfit for the business and has spent more of his time for the 3 months in his own business than in that of the company? I felt not "elated" but ashamed and confounded at my own want of judgement in recommending a man who could so soon place me in a wrong position before the Board."
PLACES: Michigan; Ithaca.;
PEOPLE: Kendall, Amos; Speed, J.J.; Smith, F.O.J.; Wood, O.S.; Tillotson, D.T.; Wood, Phebe; Faxton, Theodore.;
February 20, 1847 - February 28, 1847 : [ 41 digital images ]	Box 4	Folder 10
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: notices of new lines in operation (Philadelphia & Pittsburgh, first of Atlantic, Lake and Mississippi), management of lines, attempts to sell stock in Chicago, patent rights, establishment of new lines (Milwaukee and Detroit).
HIGHLIGHTS: February 20, 1847. Ezra Cornell to D.T. Tillotson: "The exisiting lines are doing a first rate business?the Ithaca & Elmira & Auburn line is doing much more business than was expected would be furnished by those places, and will be a paying line."
PEOPLE: O'Reilly, Henry; Tillotson, D.T.; Brown, F.A.; Smith, F.O.J.; Speed, J.J.;
March 2, 1847 - March 14, 1847 : [ 43 digital images ]	Box 4	Folder 11
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: conflicts, subscription sales in Milwaukee and Detroit, establishment of new lines, finances, patent rights.
HIGHLIGHTS: March 8, 1847. Proposal of new venture from John Norton to Ezra Cornell, involving communication with Nova Scotia by visual telegraph (Eastern telegraph project).
PEOPLE: Smith, F.O.J.; Tillotson, D.T.; Speed, J.J.; Cornell, E.B.; Norton, John W.;
March 20, 1847 - April 19, 1847 : [ 72 digital images ]	Box 4	Folder 12
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: subscription sales in Michigan, Chicago and Wisconsin, establishment of new lines, rates, routes Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company visual telegraph.
HIGHLIGHTS: March 31, 1847. C.F. Johnson to Ezra Cornell, discussing Eastern telegraph project and use of visual telegraph signals over long distances. April 10, 1847. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell: "?have a book in reach for every leisure moment." April 17, 1847. Telegraph messages to and from Ezra Cornell. April 19, 1847. M.B. Wood to Ezra Cornell discussing family news and possible employment when telegraph is constructed in Michigan.
PLACES: Ithaca; New York City.;
PEOPLE: Tillotson, D.T.; Speed, J.J.; Norton, John W.; Smith, F.O.J.; Johnson, C.F.; Beebe, Jeremiah S.; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Cornell, E.B.; Wood, M.B.;
April 21, 1847 - May 4, 1847 : [ 47 digital images ]	Box 4	Folder 13
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: subscription sales, O'Reilly contract dispute, patent rights, lines (Troy & Montreal) visual telegraph.
HIGHLIGHTS: April 29, 1847. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell: "?we were out last evening on an experiment, Merrit 12 miles west of Boston on a (hill) and I was 10 miles East of Boston on another, and the result was OK notwithstanding the clouds were thick enough to obscure the full moon, and terra firma was thinly veiled with fog. I have a fine lot of telescopes. I have one with which I can see the Mountains in the Moon?" May 2, 1847. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell discussing telegraph business and proposing idea of telegraph lines outside of this country, in Cuba, Jamaica, and other islands.
PLACES: Boston.;
PEOPLE: Brown, F.A.; Johnson, C.F.; Speed, J.J.; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Wood, O.S.; Wood, M.L.; Smith, F.O.J.;
May 7, 1847 - May 29, 1847 : [ 39 digital images ]	Box 4	Folder 14
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: instruments, O'Reilly contract dispute, new lines (Troy & Canada Junction) Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company visual telegraph: exploration of coast of Maine for sites.
HIGHLIGHTS: May 29, 1847. Ezra Cornell to D.T. Tillotson: "We find people who on the start laughed at the folly (as they called it) of building telegraphs saying they would find nothing to do, who now furnish daily business for the line, and clamour the loudest if the line is out of order for a few hours so that they cannot be served at the moment." Regarding the telegraph in Canada: "See the difference, the Canadians are quarreling for the stock of a line that will never have half the business that the Erie & Michigan line will, while on the later it is dificult to get the necessary stock subscribed to build it." Telegraph lines (New York, Albany & Buffalo; New York & Boston), new lines (Erie & Michigan), finances.
PLACES: Maine; Montreal.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, E.B.; Speed, J.J.; Smith, F.O.J.; Wood, M.L.; Wood, O.S.; Tillotson, D.T.; Kendall, Amos;
June 1, 1847 - June 10, 1847 : [ 36 digital images ]	Box 4	Folder 15
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: visual telegraph: obstacles to the visual telegraph in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.
PLACES: Maine; Halifax.;
PEOPLE: Speed, J.J.; Tillotson, D.T.; Dunham, J.; Wood, M.L.; Cornell, E.B.; Park, J.D.;
June 13, 1847 - June 22, 1847 : [ 40 digital images ]	Box 4	Folder 16
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: line extended from Boston to Portland, proposed line (Quebec & Halifax - Cornell contracted for first section), O'Reilly contract dispute observations in Maine for visual telegraph.
HIGHLIGHTS: June 21, 1847. British North American Electric Telegraph Association to Ezra Cornell thanking him for assisting in instruction of operators and offering him the contract for crossing the St. Lawrence.
PLACES: Maine; Blue Hill, Me.; Grand Manan Island.;
PEOPLE: Tillotson, D.T.; Dunham, J.; Speed, J.J.; Wood, M.L.; Thatcher, J.D.;
June 22, 1847 - June 23, 1847 : [ 24 digital images ]	Box 5	Folder 1
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: distribution of lines to Smith and Kendall meteorological observations in Maine in preparation for a visual telegraph, Maine to Nova Scotia.
PLACES: Maine.;
PEOPLE: Brown, F.A.; Speed, J.J.;
June 24, 1847 - June 27, 1847 : [ 37 digital images ]	Box 5	Folder 2
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence meteorological observations in Maine in preparation for a visual telegraph, Maine to Nova Scotia.
PLACES: Maine.;
June 27, 1847 - July 7, 1847	Box 5	Folder 3
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: subscriptions for western lines meteorological observations in Maine in preparation for a visual telegraph, Maine to Nova Scotia Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.
PLACES: Maine; Michigan; Milwaukee; Montreal.;
PEOPLE: Speed, J.J.; Brown, F.A.; Wood, M.B.; Tillotson, D.T.; Wood, O.S.; Cornell, E.B.; Cornell, Betsy Ann; Park, J.D.;
July 8, 1847 - July 20, 1847 : [ 61 digital images ]	Box 5	Folder 4
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: patent rights, establishment of new lines Montreal Telegraph Company British North American Electric Telegraph Association.
HIGHLIGHTS: July 8, 1847. O.S. Wood to Ezra Cornell from Montreal: "I do not regret getting away from here as there is a fearful contagion raging here among the emigrants and many of the citizens now have the Typhus Fever. Should you conclude to come here keep upon the upper deck as much as possible and not visit the emigrants den of filth. I have been but once to visit the sheds and shall not go again very soon. Between 30 & 40 die daily at the sheds between the lines & canal." July 11, 1847. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell: "I have this morning returned from Vermont having made a tour through the entire length of Vermont between the Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains, soliciting subscriptions of stock for the Troy and Canada Junction Telegraph and have met with as much success as I could hope for. I have had a publick meeting and adressed the people on the subject in 9 different villages, and I feel assured that I have converted the unbelieving to the true Magnetic faith."
PLACES: Ontario; Quebec; Milwaukee; Michigan; Vermont; Chicago.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, Alonzo B.; Cornell, E.B.; Brown, F.A.; Tillotson, D.T.; Wood, M.B.; Speed, J.J.;
July 21, 1847 - August 14, 1847 : [ 63 digital images ]	Box 5	Folder 5
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: patent rights, rights of way and permissions, Canadian lines.
HIGHLIGHTS: July 25, 1847. Account of a trip from Ithaca to Ypsilanti, Michigan.
PLACES: Michigan; Kingston, Ontario; Montreal; Chicago; Quebec.;
PEOPLE: McRea, W.C.; Speed, J.J.; Wood, O.S.; Thatcher, J.D.; Wood, M.L.; Smith, F.O.J.;
August 15, 1847 - August 21, 1847 : [ 29 digital images ]	Box 5	Folder 6
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: patent rights.
PLACES: Milwaukee.;
PEOPLE: Tillotson, D.T.; Selden, Samuel L.; Speed, J.J.; Rice, H.F.;
August 21, 1847 - August 25, 1847 : [ 42 digital images ]	Box 5	Folder 7
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: disputes concerning western lines, Canadian lines Montreal Telegraph Company.
PEOPLE: Speed, J.J.; Wood, O.S.; O'Reilly, Henry.;
August 26, 1847 - September 2, 1847 : [ 46 digital images ]	Box 5	Folder 8
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: disputes concerning western lines, Canadian lines.
HIGHLIGHTS: August 27, 1847. Circulars by H.B. Ely denying Ezra Cornell's right to erect telegraph lines on the Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee line: "My attention has been called to the movements of Mssrs. Speed, Cornell, and others connected with them?And in order to correct any misapprehension or erroneous impression in the minds of the public?Mr. O'Reilly and his associates have made no arrangement with Mssrs. Speed, Cornell and company in relation to the line.
PLACES: Milwaukee; Albany.;
PEOPLE: Smith, F.O.J.; O'Reilly, Henry; Collins, William R.; Wood, M.L.; Ely, H.B.;
September 3, 1847 - September 11, 1847 : [ 55 digital images ]	Box 5	Folder 9
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: disputes concerning western lines, Canadian lines, response to and effects of Ely's circular, patents Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company (printed address to subscribers) Atlantic, Lake and Mississippi Telegraph Range.
HIGHLIGHTS: September 8, 1847. M.L. Wood to Ezra Cornell: "The bold assertion that O'Reilly has the exclusive right to put in opperation Morse's Telegraph upon this line has taken the subscribers rather aback and created much distrust and anxiety for the safety of their investment." September 11, 1847. Byron Kilbourn to Ezra Cornell and J.J. Speed: "I have been notified that you have not the exclusive rights to erect a line of the Telegraph from Buffalo to Detroit?" Printed appeal from citizens of the western states: "That the Magnetic Telegraph, being the only known agent that annihilates space in transmitting intelligence, should be established between the commercial emporium of the nation and the commercial centre on the Pacific."
PLACES: Montreal; Milwaukee; Albany; Columbus; Detroit; Vermont; Quebec; Ithaca.;
PEOPLE: Tillotson, D.T.; Speed, J.J.; Cornell, E.B.; Wood, M.B.; Smith, F.O.J.; Wood, M.L.; Kilbourn, Byron.;
September 13, 1847 - September 27, 1847 : [ 81 digital images ]	Box 5	Folder 10
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, disputes concerning western lines, Canadian lines, response to and effects of Ely's circular.
HIGHLIGHTS: September 13, 1847. Samuel F.B. Morse to Ezra Cornell: "Yours is received with its enclosures. The outrageous conduct of O'Reilly and his associates is to me inexplicable, on any other construction than determined and persevering fraud. I am not prepared to make the arrangement you propose. By my arrangement with Mr. Smith he is bound to make me good in this controversy with O'Reilly. It became by that agreement his affair & not mine, and I cannot see why I should put money due out of my hands?" September 19, 1847. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell with advice, instruction, and entreaties concerning the latter's study habits.
PLACES: Quebec; Montreal; Chicago.;
PEOPLE: Wood, M.L.; Speed, J.J.; Smith, F.O.J.; Wood, M.L.; Cornell, Alonzo B.;
September 28, 1847 - October 6, 1847 : [ 50 digital images ]	Box 5	Folder 11
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, disputes concerning western lines, Canadian lines Troy Turnpike and Rail Road Company permission.
PLACES: Chicago; Detroit.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, E.B.; Park, J.D.; Speed, J.J.; McRea, M.C.;
October 7, 1847 - October 14, 1847 : [ 49 digital images ]	Box 5	Folder 12
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, disputes concerning western lines, Canadian lines, Troy & Canada Junction line Montreal Telegraph Company.
HIGHLIGHTS: October 8, 1847. Ezra Cornell to D.T. Tillotson: "For Hevens sake push on that work. Off with your coat and at it, let us have action as well as talk. The line must be at work from Buffalo to Milwaukee before the 1st of Jan next." October 11, 1847. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell: "Your account of the Fair represents a meager affair. I am sorry there is no more spirit in the Farmers of Tompkins. I shall have to go at farming again and steer them up. "I understand that Mr. Eddy wants you to go into the Telegraph business for him. I am surprised at this, at any rate I trust you don't entertain this small potatoe Telegraph Operation of his for a moment. When I wish you to go into the Telegraph business I can put you in some respectable position in the business, but I want you to attend to your studdies and qualify yourself for some respectable position in Society."
PLACES: Montreal; Troy, N.Y.; Middlebury, Vt.; Burlington, Vt.;
PEOPLE: McRea, W.C.; Speed, J.J.; Wood, M.L.; Wood, M.B.; Tillotson, D.T.; Cornell, Alonzo B.;
October 15, 1847 - October 18, 1847 : [ 46 digital images ]	Box 5	Folder 13
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, western lines, Canadian lines British North American Electric Telegraph Association.
PLACES: Milwaukee; Detroit.;
PEOPLE: Bristol, John S.; Cornell, E.B.; Tillotson, D.T.; Speed, J.J.; Johnson, C.F.;
October 19, 1847 - October 20, 1847 : [ 46 digital images ]	Box 5	Folder 14
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, western lines, Canadian lines British North American Electric Telegraph Association.
PLACES: Detroit; Montreal.;
PEOPLE: Speed, J.J.; Cornell, E.B.; Wood, M.B.;
October 21, 1847 - October 28, 1847 : [ 48 digital images ]	Box 6	Folder 1
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines (Detroit, Chicago & Milwaukee line, Troy & Canada Junction line), materials and supplies, Irish workers negotiations with British North American Electric Telegraph Association.
PLACES: Vermont.;
PEOPLE: Livingston, Charles; Wells, Henry; Speed, J.J.; Tillotson, D.T.; Whitney, H.H.; Cornell, E.B.; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Wood, M.L.;
October 29, 1847 - October 31, 1847 : [ 40 digital images ]	Box 6	Folder 2
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines (Erie & Michigan line), instruments, materials and supplies sickness in Michigan.
HIGHLIGHTS: October 29, 1847. Ezra Cornell to D.T. Tillotson, concerning western lines: "I am using all my wits - my industry and my friends, to get the material and get it forwarded to you, and I hope you will use corrisponding exertion to collect the subscriptions and forward the work there." O'Reilly conflict. October 30, 1847. Formal letter of protest concerning Ezra Cornell's work on Canadian lines;.
PEOPLE: Speed, J.J.; Tillotson, D.T.; Wood, Phebe.;
November 1, 1847 - November 7, 1847 : [ 47 digital images ]	Box 6	Folder 3
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines (Troy & Canada Junction line, Erie & Michigan line, Canadian lines), materials and supplies conflict in Quebec with British North American Electric Telegraph Association Johnson's telegraph invention.
HIGHLIGHTS: November 5, 1847. Zook and Barnes to Ezra Cornell concerning House's Printing Telegraph.
PLACES: Canada.;
PEOPLE: Wood, M.L.; Speed, J.J.; Cornell, E.B.; Johnson, C.F.; Tillotson, D.T.;
November 8, 1847 - November 12, 1847 : [ 49 digital images ]	Box 6	Folder 4
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, construction of lines (Erie & Michigan line, Troy & Canada Junction line), objections to lines passing people's properties, O'Reilly conflict.
HIGHLIGHTS: November 11, 1847. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell on delays in receiving materials: "We are flat on our asses for want of some glasses?"
PEOPLE: Speed, J.J.; Cornell, E.B.; Tillotson, D.T.;
November 13, 1847 - November 19, 1847 : [ 44 digital images ]	Box 6	Folder 5
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines (Troy & Canada Junction line, Erie & Michigan line), materials and supplies, Canadian lines Montreal Telegraph Company Ezra Cornell's ill health.
PLACES: Vermont.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, E.B.; Bristol, John S.; Speed, J.J.; Wood, M.L.;
November 20, 1847 - November 30, 1847 : [ 52 digital images ]	Box 6	Folder 6
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: Canadian lines, construction of lines (western lines), materials and supplies Ezra Cornell's ill health Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.
PEOPLE: Speed, J.J.; Griffin, David; Wood, M.B.; Cornell, E.B.; Bristol, John S.; Tillotson, D.T.; Wood, Otis E.;
December 1, 1847 - December 6, 1847 : [ 57 digital images ]	Box 6	Folder 7
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines (western lines and line through Vermont), O'Reilly conflict, materials and supplies, Canadian lines, stock subscriptions.
HIGHLIGHTS: December 4, 1847. J.J. Speed concerning his wounded knee: "My knee is still sore, and the doctor says I must keep quiet. Yesterday he put on some serpents or as he called them leeches, and they sucked out a great deal of blood - today it is a little better." December 5, 1847. J. Haviland to Ezra Cornell from Detroit: "On Monday last this city was put in communication with Ypsilanti & the line works well. It seems to be completely insulated & a battery of 10 cups is sufficient & perhaps will answer for ten miles further to Ann Arbor." Rates, materials and supplies, O'Reilly's line, Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company. December 6. 1847. G.W. Benedict to Ezra Cornell with rate proposal for Troy & Canada Junction and Montreal & Troy Telegraph Companies. December 6, 1847. J.J. Speed: "I had a letter from Cornell today, dated at N. York the 25th. He has been sick, since the first of Nov?I learn from my wife that Cornell's wife had a baby about those days, and he must have been anxious to get home."
PEOPLE: Speed, J.J.; Benedict, G.W.; Cutter, Isaac H.; Haviland, J.; Cornell, E.B.; Brown, F.A.; Faxton, Theodore.;
December 7, 1847 - December 11, 1847 : [ 54 digital images ]	Box 6	Folder 8
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines (western lines, Canadian lines), materials and supplies, stock subscriptions (problems in collection).
HIGHLIGHTS: December 9, 1847. H. Wells & Company to Ezra Cornell concerning Ezra Cornell's finances: "Your ill health has certainly got you in a fog about your money matters & if you will come down here we will talk the matter over?" December 10, 1847. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell: "What are your notions respecting N.Y. and Erie line? When, and where, can we get enough subscribed to build it?" December 11, 1847. E.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell concerning competition from O'Reilly's line. December 11, 1847. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell, quoting letter to Speed from Smith: "Our object before was to annihilate House - we did it - we will now try what is left of O'Reilly down the Ohio - North and West. I leave him to your tender mercies - But the day of compromise has gone by - do or die is the motto for us now."
PEOPLE: Beebe, Jeremiah S.; Speed, J.J.; Tillotson, D.T.; Wells, Henry; Wood, M.B.; Cornell, E.B.; Jackson, Tower; Parker, Jason.;
December 12, 1847 - December 17, 1847 : [ 43 digital images ]	Box 6	Folder 9
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines (western lines, delays and shortage of wires), finances, materials and supplies.
HIGHLIGHTS: December 15, 1847. L. Morrell to Ezra Cornell discussing feed for livestock.
PLACES: Detroit; Chicago.;
PEOPLE: Speed, J.J.; Faxton, Theodore; Bristol, John S.; Morrell, L.; Wood, M.B.; Tillotson, D.T.; Cornell, E.B.;
December 18, 1847 - December 22, 1847 : [ 44 digital images ]	Box 6	Folder 10
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines, finances, materials and supplies, western lines, Canadian lines, stock subscriptions.
PLACES: Buffalo; New York; Quebec; Chicago; Vermont; Detroit; Montreal.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, E.B.; Speed, J.J.; Wells, Henry; Cutter, Isaac H.; Tillotson, D.T.; Haviland, J.; Wood, O.S.;
December 23, 1847 - December 27, 1847 : [ 54 digital images ]	Box 6	Folder 11
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines, finances, materials and supplies, western lines, stock subscriptions, disputes over western lines Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.
HIGHLIGHTS: December 23, 1847. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell from Chicago: "You speak of trying to get wire from Buffalo to Cleveland. Had we better not finish this end? I have repeatenly written you that it is utterly impossible to collect our subscriptions until we get the line down?" December 24, 1847. E.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from Erie: "?there is no probability of getting any more wire shipped to Detroit this winter as all the harbours are closed up tight along the lake, the sleighing is good now from Buffalo to this place and the wire might be carted cheap?"
PLACES: Milwaukee; Chicago; Buffalo; Erie, Penn.; Detroit; Vermont; Troy, N.Y.; Michigan.;
PEOPLE: Tillotson, D.T.; Speed, J.J.; Cornell, E.B.; Haviland, J.; Morse, Samuel F.B.; Dunham, J.; Wood, Benjamin; Wood, M.B.;
December 28, 1847 - December 31, 1847 : [ 50 digital images ]	Box 6	Folder 12
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines, finances, materials and supplies, western lines, office operations.
HIGHLIGHTS: December 28, 1847. B.B. French, President of the Magnetic Telegraph Company to Ezra Cornell regarding shares issued as dividend payments and current operations of eastern lines.
PLACES: Troy; New York City; Michigan; Chicago; Vermont.;
PEOPLE: French, B.B.; Haviland, J.; Speed, J.J.;
Correspondence :: Ezra Cornell Correspondence :: 1848-1850
1848	Mapcase II-8	Folder 1
TOPICS: J.J. Speed discussing telegraph routes and business. Sketched map of telegraph routes on reverse.
January 1, 1848 - January 8, 1848 : [ 45 digital images ]	Box 6	Folder 13
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines, finances, materials and supplies, western lines, stock subscriptions.
PLACES: Vermont; Troy; Chicago.;
PEOPLE: Tillotson, D.T.; Speed, J.J.; Pinkham, F.W.; Beaumont, R.J.; Morse, Samuel F.B.; Cornell, E.B.; Smith, F.O.J.;
January 9, 1848 - January 12, 1848 : [ 49 digital images ]	Box 6	Folder 14
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines, finances, materials and supplies, western lines.
PLACES: Chicago; Vermont.;
PEOPLE: Speed, J.J.; Robertson, Mary C.; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Cornell, E.B.; Wood, Benjamin.;
January 13, 1848 - January 18, 1848 : [ 59 digital images ]	Box 7	Folder 1
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, western lines, Canadian lines British North American Electric Telegraph Association Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.
HIGHLIGHTS: January 15, 1848. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell: "I like the business exceedingly well and the more I have to do the more pleasant it is for me."
PLACES: Chicago; Vermont; Milwaukee.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, Alonzo B.; Speed, J.J.; Tillotson, D.T.; Vail, Alfred.;
January 19, 1848 - January 23, 1848 : [ 52 digital images ]	Box 7	Folder 2
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, western lines, Canadian lines British North American Electric Telegraph Association Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.
PLACES: Chicago; Vermont; Milwaukee.;
PEOPLE: Allen, Oliver E.; Speed, J.J.; Tillotson, D.T.; Wood, M.L.;
January 23, 1848 - January 31, 1848 : [ 52 digital images ]	Box 7	Folder 3
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: technical matters, materials and supplies, western lines, Canadian lines, rates Buffalo and Canada Junction Telegraph Company.
PLACES: Vermont; Montreal; Burlington, Vt.; Troy; Buffalo.;
PEOPLE: Haviland, J.; Wood, Phebe; Cornell, E.B.; Wood, M.B.; Allen, W.D.;
February 1, 1848 - February 8, 1848 : [ 45 digital images ]	Box 7	Folder 4
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: finances, construction of lines (in Vermont and the west), Canadian lines, disputes concerning western lines.
HIGHLIGHTS: February 2, 1848. B.B. French to Ezra Cornell from Washington: "Receipts of our line last month about $6000! Give you dividend soon." February 5, 1848. George Vail to Ezra Cornell concerning Morse Telegraph stocks and rights. February 6, 1848. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell: "I shall put you in the Montreal Office. I now think you are qualified to perform the duties promptly and with accuracy. It will be a very important station."
PLACES: Vermont; Troy; Milwaukee.;
PEOPLE: French, B.B.; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Cornell, John H.; Vail, George; Smith, F.O.J.; Cornell, E.B.; Wood, Benjamin; Haviland, J.;
February 9, 1848 - February 22, 1848 : [ 58 digital images ]	Box 7	Folder 5
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: finances, construction of lines, western lines, rates, materials and supplies, stock subscriptions, disputes concerning western lines family cemetery.
HIGHLIGHTS: February 16, 1848. J. Haviland: "I see that Mr. O.R. is pushing his line to Chicago and that Springfield has subscribed $8000!!! What do you think of that? February 18, 1848. AA. Mann to Ezra Cornell: "I learn that Col. Speed will not purchase the DeWitt farm at your place. I am therefore at liberty to received a proposal from you if you desire to purchase. The lowest price will be the sum as agreed to by Col. Speed, $6000."
PLACES: Dryden, N.Y.; Ithaca; Montreal; Vermont; Buffalo.;
PEOPLE: Wood, Benjamin; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Wood, M.B.; Griffin, Emily; Curtis, N.T.; Haviland, J.; Speed, J.J.; Mann, A.A.;
February 23, 1848 - March 7, 1848 : [ 51 digital images ]	Box 7	Folder 6
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: finances, construction of lines, western lines, Canadian lines, patent rights, rates, dividends, materials and supplies draft of a contract between Speed, Ezra Cornell, and Smith.
HIGHLIGHTS: March 5, 1848. E.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell: "The Fredonians are much delighted with the idea of being connected with all Creation?Our room was literaly thronged with spectators all the afternoon yesterday beholding with astonishment the greatest wonder of the age."
PLACES: Montreal; Vermont; New York City.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, E.B.; Kendall, Amos; Faxton, Theodore; Smith, F.O.J.; Benedict, G.W.; Morse, Samuel F.B.; Allen, W.D.; Haviland, J.; Bristol, John S.; Speed, J.J.;
March 9, 1848 - March 31, 1848 : [ 86 digital images ]	Box 7	Folder 7
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: finances, construction of lines, western lines, Canadian lines, materials and supplies, disputes concerning western lines and conflict with O'Reilly Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.
PLACES: Erie; Montreal; Detroit; Buffalo; Michigan.;
PEOPLE: Allen, W.D.; Speed, J.J.; Tillotson, D.T.; Wood, M.B.; Griffin, David; Cornell, E.B.; O'Reilly, Henry; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Buell,W.C.;
April 2, 1848 - April 13, 1848 : [ 43 digital images ]	Box 7	Folder 8
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: finances, construction of lines, western lines, materials and supplies, disputes concerning western lines and conflict with O'Reilly, stock subscriptions for a New York southern tier line, Canadian lines, New York & Erie Line British North American Electric Telegraph Association.
PLACES: Massachusetts; Milwaukee.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, E.B.; Speed, J.J.; Tillotson, D.T.; Allen, Oliver E.; Wells, Henry.;
April 16, 1848 - April 30, 1848 : [ 85 digital images ]	Box 7	Folder 9
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: finances, construction of lines, western lines, materials and supplies, stock subscriptions, disputes concerning western lines and conflict with O'Reilly, disputes concerning Canadian lines Montreal Telegraph Company British North American Electric Telegraph Association.
HIGHLIGHTS: April 18, 1848. Instructions for operating the Michigan lines. April 29, 1848. Wire from H.B. Ely to E.B. Cornell: "Three times now have the wires of the Line of the Buffalo and Erie come in contact with those of the Lake Erie Line so as to prevent ours working. I have therefore to request you immediately to remove your line wherever it runs either above or below ours."
PLACES: Montreal; Vermont; Troy; Detroit; Jefferson (Watkins Glen), N.Y.; Havana (Montour Falls), N.Y.;
PEOPLE: Speed, J.J.; Haviland, J.; Rice, H.F.; Cornell, E.B.; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Howland, Charles W.; Allen, W.D.; Humphrey, William R.; Kendall, Amos; Hale, Henry; Ely, H.B.; Bent, George.;
May 1, 1848 - May 12, 1848 : [ 45 digital images ]	Box 7	Folder 10
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: finances, construction of lines (Halifax to Boston), western lines, materials and supplies, disputes concerning Canadian lines British North American Electric Telegraph Association.
HIGHLIGHTS: May 9, 1848. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell: "I do not care about staying here any longer than till there is a place for me some where in America, or at least out of Canada."
PLACES: Detroit; Montreal; Massachusetts; Ohio; Vermont.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, E.B.; Kendall, Amos; Speed, J.J.; Reed, Augustus; Wells and Company; Haviland, J.; Cornell, Alonzo B.;
May 14, 1848 - May 23, 1848 : [ 59 digital images ]	Box 7	Folder 11
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: finances, construction of lines, western lines, materials and supplies, stock subscriptions, Canadian lines.
PLACES: Massachusetts; Detroit; Ohio.;
PEOPLE: Haviland, J.; Tillotson, D.T.; McFarland, John H.W.; Beebe, Jeremiah S.; Cornell, E.B.; Allen, Oliver E.; Dunham, J.; Wood, M.B.; Cobb, Emory.;
May 24, 1848 - May 31, 1848 : [ 59 digital images ]	Box 7	Folder 12
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: finances, construction of lines, western lines, materials and supplies, stock subscriptions, Canadian lines "transcriptions of telegraph talk."
PLACES: Salem, N.Y.; Aurora, N.Y.; Milwaukee; Illinois; Ohio; Connecticut.;
PEOPLE: Morgan, E.G.; Edwards, E.; Wells, Henry; Speed, J.J.; Beebe, Jeremiah S.; Jackson, Tower; Cornell, E.B.; Allen, Oliver E.;
June 1, 1848 - June 12, 1848 : [ 57 digital images ]	Box 7	Folder 13
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: finances, construction of lines, disputes concerning western lines, materials and supplies, stock subscriptions, Canadian lines.
HIGHLIGHTS: June 6, 1848. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell from Detroit: "Wilson is fighting the Pirates in good stile, but I much doubt his ability, or any one else, to get the Stock taken for us from Chicago to St. Louis. O'Reilly has a tribe of agents travelling all over the West, setting up meetings and talking to all who will listen to them in favor of their piratical schemes."
PEOPLE: Speed, J.J.; Wilson, William Duane; Cornell, Alonzo B.; McFarland, John H.W.; Morgan, E.G.; Humphrey, William R.; Beebe, Jeremiah S.; Cornell, E.B.;
June 12, 1848 - June 21, 1848 : [ 48 digital images ]	Box 7	Folder 14
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: finances, western lines, materials and supplies, stock subscriptions, Canadian lines.
PLACES: Detroit; Illinois; Montreal.;
PEOPLE: Speed, J.J.; Curtis, N.T.; Wood, O.S.; Cutter, Isaac H.; Wilson, William Duane; Tillotson, D.T.; Ely, Charles.;
June 23, 1848 - July 3, 1848 : [ 67 digital images ]	Box 7	Folder 15
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: finances, stock subscriptions, disputes concerning western lines, materials and supplies, Canadian lines, New-York & Erie line Connecticut & Vermont Telegraph Company Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.
HIGHLIGHTS: July 1, 1848. Statement of costs, Detroit to Buffalo.
PLACES: Massachusetts; Jefferson (Watkins Glen), N.Y.; Montreal.;
PEOPLE: Speed, J.J.; Kendall, Amos; Smith, F.O.J.; Wood, O.S.; Allen, Oliver E.; Griffin, David.;
July 4, 1848 - July 14, 1848 : [ 72 digital images ]	Box 8	Folder 1
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: construction of lines, western lines, stock subscriptions, materials and supplies, Canadian lines, Troy & Canada Junction line, finances New-York & Erie Telegraph Company Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.
PLACES: Troy; Vermont; Montreal; Quebec; Buffalo.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, E.B.; Speed, J.J.; Tillotson, D.T.; Allen, Oliver E.; Cutter, Isaac H.; Smith, F.O.J.; Hale, Henry; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Livingston, Caroline.;
July 15, 1848 - July 19, 1848 : [ 60 digital images ]	Box 8	Folder 2
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances, construction of lines, western lines, Canadian lines, New-York & Erie line Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.
HIGHLIGHTS: July 17, 1848. J. Dunham to Ezra Cornell: "I am anxious to inform you of the happy change that has taken place on our line within a few days past. Since Alonzo came to Buffalo matters & things have assumed a very tone?His suggestions were concise but very comprehensive & just what was needed in our state of confusion."
PLACES: Buffalo; Sandusky, Ohio; Troy.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, Alonzo B.; Speed, J.J.; Tillotson, D.T.; Dunham, J.;
July 19, 1848 - July 23, 1848 : [ 36 digital images ]	Box 8	Folder 3
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances (Wells & Company), construction of lines, Troy & Canada Junction line, New-York & Erie line, Erie & Michigan line.
HIGHLIGHTS: July 22, 1848. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from Buffalo: "Allen received a letter from Mr. Speed this morning dated July 16th saying he had the wire all up?but thought it was broken in several places towards Detroit & he thought the wire would be ok by tonight?I will notify you instantly when the 'glorious connection' is made." July 23, 1848. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell: "I am glad to hear also that the editors begin to perceive an improvement in their reports, but I hope you will not be too much flattered with their puffs - the satisfaction of being right and doing right is ample reward for the little extra exertion required to accomplish so desirable an object, and those least worthy generally succeed in getting the most news paper glory - so that sensible men pay but little attention to such endorsements. Take such evidence & O'Reilly is the Lion in Telegraphing - a perfect Lightning King but take fact for evidence and he dwindles to the position of a perloiner of other peoples fame and property." Also work and education.
PLACES: Buffalo; Montreal; Troy.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, Alonzo B.; St. John, T.O.; Wood, O.S.; O'Reilly, Henry.;
July 24, 1848 - July 31, 1848 : [ 60 digital images ]	Box 8	Folder 4
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, stock subscriptions, Connecticut & Vermont line (Bennington to Bridgeport), Erie & Michigan line, New-York & Erie line.
PLACES: Buffalo; Ithaca.;
PEOPLE: Kendall, Amos; Allen, Oliver E.; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Cornell, E.B.; Tillotson, D.T.;
August 1, 1848 - August 16, 1848 : [ 47 digital images ]	Box 8	Folder 5
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, Connecticut & Vermont line, New-York & Erie line, Troy & Whitehall line, Canadian lines Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.
PEOPLE: Speed, J.J.; Tillotson, D.T.; Cutter, Isaac H.; Cornell, Alonzo B.;
August 17, 1848 - August 26, 1848 : [ 42 digital images ]	Box 8	Folder 6
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, Erie & Michigan line, New-York & Erie line.
PEOPLE: Cornell, Alonzo B.; Morgan, Grant; Speed, J.J.; Minor, Charles S.; Tillotson, D.T.; Cornell, E.B.;
August 27, 1848 - August 30, 1848 : [ 41 digital images ]	Box 8	Folder 7
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: Troy & Whitehall line, Erie & Michigan line, materials and supplies.
PLACES: Buffalo.;
PEOPLE: Speed, J.J.; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Morgan, E.G.; Tillotson, D.T. ;
September 1, 1848 - September 7, 1848 : [ 60 digital images ]	Box 8	Folder 8
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, Erie & Michigan line, Canadian lines.
PLACES: Milwaukee; Cleveland.;
PEOPLE: Tillotson, D.T.; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Kendall, Amos; Speed, J.J.;
September 8, - September 12, 1848 : [ 48 digital images ]	Box 8	Folder 9
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: stock subscriptions, New-York & Erie line, finances, materials and supplies, construction of lines, Connecticut & Vermont line.
PEOPLE: Cornell, E.B.; French, B.B.; Bristol, John S.; Tillotson, D.T.; Cutter, Isaac H.;
September 13, 1848 - September 22, 1848 : [ 65 digital images ]	Box 8	Folder 10
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: Erie & Michigan line, finances, Connecticut & Vermont line, stock subscriptions, New-York & Erie line, Canadian lines, materials and supplies.
PLACES: Massachusetts; Cleveland.;
PEOPLE: Wood, M.B.; Morry, Le Roy; Allen, Oliver E.; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Wood, O.S.; Tillotson, D.T.; Speed, J.J.;
September 23, 1848 - September 30, 1848 : [ 56 digital images ]	Box 8	Folder 11
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: finances, materials and supplies, New-York & Erie line, Erie & Michigan line, construction of lines, Connecticut & Vermont line.
HIGHLIGHTS: September 20, 1848. Patent Office to Ezra Cornell: "Your application for letters patent for an alleged improvement in insulating telegraphic wires has been examined and rejected for want of novelty." September 26, 1848. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell: "The arguement in the O'Reilly injunction suit is postponed until the 3rd Monday in Oct. to give time to learn the grounds of the Kentucky decision. I have just had a talk with Gov. Seward on the subject and he says the whole matter looks well." September 30, 1848. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell: "I have just learned that the Pirates have got their lease renewed for a month. They are certainly a hard animal to tree."
PEOPLE: Cornell, Alonzo B.; Bristol, John S.; Tillotson, D.T.; Beebe, Jeremiah S.; Allen, Oliver E.; Speed, J.J.;
October 2, 1848 - October 9, 1848 : [ 56 digital images ]	Box 8	Folder 12
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, Canadian lines, finances, New-York & Erie line, Erie & Michigan line.
HIGHLIGHTS: October 8, 1848. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from Cleveland: "Business is rather dull just now owing to the depression of the produce market?"
PLACES: Montreal; Quebec; Cleveland.;
PEOPLE: Wood, O.S.; Cutter, Isaac H.; Faxton, Theodore; Bristol, John S.; Whitney, H.H.; Cornell, E.B.; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Norton, J.W.;
October 10, 1848 - October 19, 1848 : [ 59 digital images ]	Box 8	Folder 13
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, Connecticut & Vermont line, Erie & Michigan line, finances, construction of lines, Canadian lines, Troy & Whitehall line.
HIGHLIGHTS: October 11, 1848. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell: "In politicks the Free soilers brag the most but I have the utmost confidence that Old Zach will carry the county of Tompkins & State of N.Y. and hope he will sweep the stakes in Ohio." October 12, 1848. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell from Detroit: "?I wanted their thousand dollars to silence some of the men who are bawling about their pay for poles & board bills; but I can fight them off as I have done. I hardly think they will cut our poles down, altho they threaten to do so, and I think they have actually cut the wire a number of times?"
PEOPLE: Cornell, Alonzo B.; Speed, J.J.; Cornell, E.B.; Bristol, John S.;
October 20, 1848 - October 28, 1848 : [ 54 digital images ]	Box 8	Folder 14
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, auxiliary lines, finances, Erie & Michigan line, stock subscriptions, New-York & Erie line, construction of lines, Canadian lines, O'Reilly conflict.
HIGHLIGHTS: October 24, 1848. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell: "Yesterday I staked off the ground on the hill for an orchard. I want to get 1000 apple trees agrowing."
PLACES: Detroit.;
PEOPLE: Speed, J.J.; Cutter, Isaac H.; Tillotson, D.T.; Cornell, E.B.; Bristol, John S.; Wood, O.S.;
October 28, 1848 - November 1, 1848 : [ 24 digital images ]	Box 8	Folder 15
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: stock subscriptions, materials and supplies, Erie & Michigan line, Connecticut & Vermont line, finances.
HIGHLIGHTS: October 29, 1848. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell: "I think during election we shall pretty nearly if not quite have our hands full to attend to election news and our regular business also?"
PLACES: Buffalo; Cleveland.;
PEOPLE: Speed, J.J.; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Cornell, John H.; Smith, F.O.J.;
November 2, 1848 - November 8, 1848 : [ 21 digital images ]	Box 8	Folder 16
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, Connecticut & Vermont line, construction of lines, New-York & Erie line.
HIGHLIGHTS: November 5, 1848. E.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell: "I think it a pretty hard case that after a person earns money it is such hard work to get it. I don't want to complain but I feel as though I ought to have my pay just as promptly as any of the hands."
PLACES: Ithaca.;
PEOPLE: Allen, Oliver E.; Cornell, E.B.; Bristol, John S.;
November 9, 1848 - November 14, 1848 : [ 45 digital images ]	Box 8	Folder 17
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: New-York & Erie line, materials and supplies, Erie & Michigan line, finances, Ithaca & Auburn line, Canadian lines.
HIGHLIGHTS: November 9, 1848. Letter from John H. Cornell to Ezra Cornell proposing that he carry on the pottery business in Ithaca. November 10, 1848. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell from Cleveland: "Allow me to congratulate you on two important events, first the election of old Zack, and second, but not less important, the fact that we have this day worked through for the first time from Detroit to Buffalo as well as we ever worked from here to Buffalo - the Erie & Michigan line is now complete with thirty poles to the mile and every cap on and works as beautifully as any line ever did?"
PLACES: Albion; Detroit; Cleveland; Fredonia, N.Y.; Newburgh, N.Y.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, Alonzo B.; Cornell, John H.; Faxton, Theodore; Tillotson, D.T.; Speed, J.J.; Dunham, J.; Cornell, E.B.; Wood, O.S.;
November 15, 1848 - November 23, 1848 : [ 76 digital images ]	Box 8	Folder 18
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: New-York & Erie line, construction of lines, finances, materials and supplies, Speed's new caps, Canadian lines, Ithaca & Auburn line, Connecticut line, Erie & Michigan line.
HIGHLIGHTS: November 16, 1848. F.O.J. Smith to Ezra Cornell concerning insulators, telegraph conflicts, Henry O'Reilly, and Theodore Faxton. November 23, 1848. J.J. Speed in Detroit to Ezra Cornell: "The wolverines have been keeping Thanksgiving today and have consequently done but about half the usual amt. of business. "I see that Judge Monroe of Kentucky has ordered the Marshall to cut down O'Reilly's poles - is not that a new remedy in law? I wish we had a Judge Monroe here."
PLACES: Detroit; Chicago.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, E.B.; Cornell, John H.; Bristol, John S.; Allen, Oliver E.; Smith, F.O.J.; Dunham, J.; Speed, J.J.; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Wood, O.S.; Backus, A., Jr.; Jackson, Tower.;
November 24, 1848 - November 30, 1848 : [ 60 digital images ]	Box 9	Folder 1
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: finances, stock subscriptions, materials and supplies, New-York & Erie Telegraph Company.
HIGHLIGHTS: November 29, 1848. D.T. Tillotson to E.B. Cornell: "The office at Jefferson was opened today, and the two Lakes kiss each other by 'Lightning'."
PLACES: Cleveland; Ithaca; Fredonia.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, Alonzo B.; Speed, J.J.; Smith, F.O.J.; Wood, Phebe; Risley, William; Beebe, Jeremiah S.; Tillotson, D.T.;
December 1, 1848 - December 13, 1848 : [ 67 digital images ]	Box 9	Folder 2
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, disputes concerning western lines.
HIGHLIGHTS: December 4, 1848. Samuel F.B. Morse to Ezra Cornell: "You cannot complain that I have been hard with you, as surely I am not to blame for the unprincipled conduct of those pirates who are leaving no stone unturned to rob me in every way. Please send me the number of miles you and Speed have erected I wish it to oppose to O'Reilly's boast." December 10, 1848. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell on the settlement of the O'Reilly controversy. December 12, 1848. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell on the financial resolution of the O'Reilly controversy.
PLACES: Detroit; Michigan; Montreal.;
PEOPLE: Allen, Oliver E.; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Speed, J.J.; O'Reilly, Henry; Smith, F.O.J.; Cornell, E.B.; Cornell, John H.; Wood, M.B.; Wood, O.S.; Morse, Samuel F.B.;
December 14, 1848 - December 29, 1848 : [ 57 digital images ]	Box 9	Folder 3
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, disputes concerning western lines, finances, stock subscriptions, proposed lines, construction of lines.
HIGHLIGHTS: December 14, 1848. Horace Palmer to Alonzo B. Cornell concerning women, "theatres," and lost love. December 18, 1848. Douglass Boardman to Ezra Cornell: "The operator at Jefferson was directed by some one to teach no one the art of Telegraphic writing while at Jefferson. Believing this to be against the future interests of the Company I directed him to teach any one all he knew about it and no member of the Company would object." December 20, 1848. J.H. McFarland to Ezra Cornell: "The New York Albany and Buffalo Line refuse to send coms orginating on our line & addressed to points on that line unless we pay their tariff." December 21, 1848. H.C. Gilbert to Ezra Cornell: "The language of your letter of the 18th is really astonishing & unreasonable."
PLACES: Cleveland; Ithaca; Auburn, N.Y.; Detroit.;
PEOPLE: Tillotson, D.T.; Palmer, Horace; Bristol, John S.; Speed, J.J.; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Boardman, Douglass; MacFarland, J.H.; Gilbert, H.C.; Cornell, E.B.; Wood, M.L.; Wilson, William Duane; Wood, Otis E.;
December 31, 1848 - January 7, 1849 : [ 74 digital images ]	Box 9	Folder 4
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances, western lines, stock subscriptions, conflict with O'Reilly's lines, patent rights.
HIGHLIGHTS: December 31, 1848. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell: "I see the cholera is approaching the Lakes on every side, both east and south. It is now in Cincinnatti & all the way up the Miss. now." December 31, 1848. Jane Cornell to Ezra Cornell: "Ezra I believe you belong to the "Sons of Temperance" and if so I will inform you that there has been a society organized in Albion called "Daughters of Temperance" and that Phebe and I have joined and like it first rate." January 2, 1849. Jane Cornell to Ezra Cornell: "?I have nothing to dress in on that occasion, that is I have no dress that will answer to appear on the stage in. All the young ladies will appear in silk or merino and as I have nothing but a delaine that I have had above a year, I thought that I would write you the circumstances and trust to your generosity in helping me procure one."
PLACES: Cleveland; Albion.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, Alonzo B.; Cornell, Jane; Allen, Oliver E.; Speed, J.J.;
January 8, 1849 - January 24, 1849 : [ 68 digital images ]	Box 9	Folder 5
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances, western lines, conflict with O'Reilly's lines, stocks, patent rights cholera.
HIGHLIGHTS: January 17, 1849. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell: "We must have a line from St. Louis to Fort Independence, and ultimately to the great Commercial Emporium on the Pacific, at the bay of San Francisco. If the 'gold diggins' are what they are cracked up to be, there will be a city at San Francisco of more than one hundred thousand inhabitants in less than ten years, Whitneys RRoad will be built and the telegraph along side of it."
PLACES: Detroit; Cleveland.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, Alonzo B.; Speed, J.J.; O'Reilly, Henry; Tillotson, D.T.;
January 25, 1849 - February 9, 1849 : [ 63 digital images ]	Box 9	Folder 6
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances, western lines, proposed line (Cuba), disputes concerning western lines, O'Reilly's proposed lines cholera gold fever.
HIGHLIGHTS: January 27, 1849. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell: "The people are not, in this part of the country, a quarter so much excited about the Cholera as the Gold fever."
PLACES: Detroit; Cleveland.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, E.B.; Wood, O.S.; O'Reilly, Henry; Speed, J.J.; Bristol, John S.; Hoyt, Byron B.; Nutter, J.; Tillotson, D.T.; Cornell, Alonzo B.;
February 10, 1849 - February 28, 1849 : [ 76 digital images ]	Box 9	Folder 7
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances, new lines, patent rights, western lines, Connecticut & Vermont line gold fever.
PLACES: Massachusetts; New York City; Detroit; Montreal.;
PEOPLE: Bristol, John S.; Bulkley, Charles S.; Beebe, Jeremiah S.; Tillotson, D.T.; Speed, J.J.; Smith, F.O.J.; Wood, O.S.;
March 2, 1849 - March 20, 1849 : [ 67 digital images ]	Box 9	Folder 8
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances, western lines, conflict with O'Reilly's lines, new lines, stocks.
HIGHLIGHTS: March 10, 15, and 17, 1849. J.J. Speed's experiments and speculations concerning telegraph science.
PLACES: Detroit; New York City; Ithaca; Fredonia.;
PEOPLE: Bristol, John S.; Smith, F.O.J.; Briggs, Amos; Speed, J.J.; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Dunham, J.; Cobb, Emory.;
March 20, 1849 - March 31, 1849 : [ 42 digital images ]	Box 9	Folder 9
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances, western lines.
HIGHLIGHTS: March 28, 1849. J.J. Speed on telegraph technology and Morse's patent.
PLACES: Fredonia; Detroit.;
PEOPLE: Tillotson, D.T.; Speed, J.J.; Park, J.D.; Cornell, Jane; Pew, W.P.;
April 2, 1849 - April 18, 1849 : [ 42 digital images ]	Box 9	Folder 10
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances, western lines, conflict with O'Reilly's lines, Erie & Michigan line.
HIGHLIGHTS: April 13, 1849. J.J. Speed's experiments and speculations concerning telegraph science. April 15, 1849. Jane Cornell to Ezra Cornell: "Mary has left of doctoring with a Botanic Doctor, and is taking Myres Sarsaparilla Dandelion & Wild-cherry extract?"
PLACES: Detroit.;
PEOPLE: Speed, J.J.; Cornell, Jane; Briggs, Amos; Cornell, E.S.; Cornell, John H.;
April 19, 1849 - April 30, 1849 : [ 45 digital images ]	Box 9	Folder 11
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances, western lines, conflict with O'Reilly's lines, new lines.
HIGHLIGHTS: April 23, 1849. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell: "O'Reilly now refuses to take coms from us to go South from any place where they have an office. Shall we refuse to take coms from them going West? If anything is left to my discretion I give you notice now, that my propensities are decidedly for war." Also, April 23, 27, 28, 30, 1849: J.J. Speed's speculations concerning telegraph science. April 29, 1849. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell on temperance.
PEOPLE: McFarland, J.H.; Wood, O.S.; Speed, J.J.;
May 1, 1849 - May 18, 1849 : [ 66 digital images ]	Box 9	Folder 12
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances, western lines, rates, conflict with O'Reilly's lines, Canadian lines.
HIGHLIGHTS: May 6, 1849. J.J. Speed's speculations concerning telegraph science.
PEOPLE: Speed, J.J.; Beebe, Jeremiah S.; Hicks, Charles C.; Allen, Oliver E.;
May 19, 1849 - June 4, 1849 : [ 55 digital images ]	Box 9	Folder 13
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: finances, western lines, stock subscriptions, conflict with O'Reilly's lines, Canadian lines.
HIGHLIGHTS: May 19, 1849. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell: "?our operators here had been supoened to give evidence in relation to private business sent over the line." May 28, 1849. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell: "?as I have got Fall Creek, I shall have to stay at home and attend to it, and you will have to become Captain General of the lightning." June 6, 1849. Ezra Cornell to D.T. Tillotson: "?after talking with O'Reilly a short time, Mann said he became convinced that they wished him to engage in a swindling operation to fleece his neighbours & friends?"
PLACES: Milwaukee; Ithaca; Indiana; Ohio.;
PEOPLE: Speed, J.J.; Jackson, Tower; Lee, John J.S.;
June 5, 1849 - June 10, 1849 : [ 83 digital images ]	Box 9	Folder 14
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, finances, stock subscriptions, western lines, conflict with O'Reilly's lines.
PLACES: Connecticut; Ohio.;
PEOPLE: Speed, J.J.; Beebe, Jeremiah S.;
June 23, 1849 - July 2, 1849 : [ 36 digital images ]	Box 10	Folder 1
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, stock subscriptions, Cleveland & Cincinnati line, New-York & Erie line, St. Louis line, O'Reilly conflict, finances Ithaca & Auburn Telegraph Company.
HIGHLIGHTS: June 30, 1849. Samuel F.B. Morse to Ezra Cornell: "If you have suffered from the outrageous rascalities of the O'Reilly pirates in any degree, I have suffered tenfold more, but there will soon be an end of their machinations if there is any force in law or justice."
PLACES: Cleveland; Milan, Ohio; Ithaca.;
PEOPLE: Wade, J.H.; Speed, J.J.; Allen, Oliver E.; Tillotson, D.T.; Spencer, D.D.; Bristol, John S.; Morse, Samuel F.B.;
July 4, 1849 - July 12, 1849 : [ 45 digital images ]	Box 10	Folder 2
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: Connecticut & Vermont line, proposed lines, stock subscriptions, materials and supplies, new western lines Ithaca & Auburn Telegraph Company.
HIGHLIGHTS: July 4, 1849. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell: "?Ithaca has a plank road from Hotel to Inlet, one mile, great for Tompkins Company ? a dozen has been planed ? but have all evaporated in a few set speaches at public meetings ? but our Ithaca plank road makes a fine track for the 4th of Julyers to try their nags on." Also Ezra Cornell's experiments with line connections.
PLACES: Ithaca; Detroit.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, Alonzo B.; Tillotson, D.T.; Bristol, John S.; Faxton, Theodore; McGowan, S.W.; Speed, J.J.; Hotchkiss, S.W.; Beebe, Jeremiah S.;
July 13, 1849 - July 26, 1849 : [ 33 digital images ]	Box 10	Folder 3
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: finances, stock subscriptions, materials and supplies, new lines.
HIGHLIGHTS: July 13, 1849. J.J. Speed in Detroit to Ezra Cornell: "You have warned me in the past to avoid experiments: but I am making one more. I have got a Mrs. Sheldon to take the office at Jackson and am going to get your sister Mrs. Wood to take the Albion office: both are abundantly qualified to do the business better than any boy, or man, that we can afford to pay in those places. If the ex works as well as I have every confidence to believe it will, I will put a woman in the offices at Ann Arbor, Marshall, & Battle Creek?." July 15, 1849. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell explaining the working of a telegraph line. July 20, 1849. S.W. McGowan to Ezra Cornell discussing possible new lines in northern New York and difficulties in selling subscriptions.
PLACES: Detroit; Cleveland; Ithaca.;
PEOPLE: Speed, J.J.; Cornell, Alonzo B.; Wood, M.L.; Tillotson, D.T.; Faxton, Theodore; Bristol, John S.; McGowan, S.W.; Jackson, Tower.;
July 27, 1849 - August 9, 1849 : [ 46 digital images ]	Box 10	Folder 4
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: materials and supplies, new lines in Ithaca area (Waterloo, Seneca Falls, Aurora), reconstruction of Ithaca & Elmira line, stock subscriptions, finances.
HIGHLIGHTS: July 29, 1849. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell concerning travel between New York and Ithaca, telegraph line operations, Ithaca & Owego railroad, Sodus Canal, and purchase of Fall Creek property: "I think after this year I shall give up the Telegraph business to you and Col. Speed and I will turn my attention to the improvement of the property." August 6, 1849. J.J. Speed in Detroit describing the effect of the cholera epidemic in the west (mid-west), progress on the Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Cincinnati lines, and finances.
PLACES: Ithaca; Detroit.;
PEOPLE: Cornell, Alonzo B.; Speed, J.J.; Kendall, Amos; Beebe, Jeremiah S.; Tillotson, D.T.; Jackson, Tower.;
August 11, 1849 - August 23, 1849 : [ 40 digital images ]	Box 10	Folder 5
TOPICS: Telegraph business correspondence: Ithaca & Elmira line, New-York & Erie line, Connecticut & Vermont line, stock subscriptions, materials and supplies, finances.
HIGHLIGHTS: August 21, 1849. J. H. Wade in Milan to Ezra Cornell reporting on the progress of the Cleveland & Cincinnati line, and the effect of cholera in the region. August 21, 1849. S.W. Hotchkiss in Galena to Ezra Cornell reporting on progress of new lines in Illinois and Wisconsin and the O'Reilly conflict.
PLACES: Ithaca; Cleveland; Galena, Ill.;
PEOPLE: Bush, I.L.; Tillotson, D.T.;

Guide to the Ezra Cornell Papers, 1746-1888

Collection Number: 1-1-1

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections Cornell University Library

© 1995 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library

CHRONOLOGY

Guide to the Ezra Cornell Papers,
1746-1888

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library