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.
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
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
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.
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
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
Collection is open.
Many of the documents in the Ezra Cornell Papers have been digitized and are available on-line. Links are provided within this guide. Some items have been added to the collection since digitization so not every letter in a folder of digitized material may be online.
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).
Ezra Cornell Papers, #1-1-1. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
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.
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.
35 digital images
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."
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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.
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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?"
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July 15, 1841. Letter to the Trustees of the village of Ithaca concerning complaints about Ezra Cornell's bull.
79 digital images
1842. Ezra Cornell to the editor of the
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. 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.
68 digital images
February 10, 1843. 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. 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. 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. 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. and children concerning superiority of Northern farmers, praise of Southern land, Southern idleness, details of route walked, and gold mines.
62 digital images
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. 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."
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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. 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. 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."
51 digital images
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."
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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. 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. 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. 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.
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August 18, 1844. 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. and children discussing the bustle (women's fashion) and giving detailed directions to Mary Ann concerning her trip to Washington, D.C.
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November 24, 1844. 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.
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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. 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. and children sending New Years wishes and messages to Mary Ann, Alonzo, Frank, Elizabeth, and Oliver Perry to accompany books for each of them.
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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?"
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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?"
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June 22, 1845. 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. 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?"
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July 11, 1845. 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. and children written to
"appear like a Novel to my little Rosebud."
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August 10, 1845. 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. 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."
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October 5, 1845. 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."
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October 30, 1845. 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.
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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?"
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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."
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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."
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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."
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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."
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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."
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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
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."
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March 1, 1846. Description of telegraph lines and bridges.
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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."
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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."
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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."
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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?"
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October 7, 1846. Incidence of vandalism of the New York line.
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October 15, 1846. Telegraph stock, shares, dividends.
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October 20, 1846. Negotiation of stock transfers (Ithaca Telegraph Company).
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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."
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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."
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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."
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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."
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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."
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March 8, 1847. Proposal of new venture from John Norton to Ezra Cornell, involving communication with Nova Scotia by visual telegraph (Eastern telegraph project).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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."
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July 25, 1847. Account of a trip from Ithaca to Ypsilanti, Michigan.
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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.
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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."
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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.
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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."
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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;.
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November 5, 1847. Zook and Barnes to Ezra Cornell concerning House's Printing Telegraph.
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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?"
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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."
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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."
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December 15, 1847. L. Morrell to Ezra Cornell discussing feed for livestock.
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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?"
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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.
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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."
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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."
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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."
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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."
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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."
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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."
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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."
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July 1, 1848. Statement of costs, Detroit to Buffalo.
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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."
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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.
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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."
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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?"
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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?"
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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."
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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?"
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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."
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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?"
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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."
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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'."
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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.
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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."
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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."
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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."
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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."
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March 10, 15, and 17, 1849. J.J. Speed's experiments and speculations concerning telegraph science.
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March 28, 1849. J.J. Speed on telegraph technology and Morse's patent.
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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?"
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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.
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May 6, 1849. J.J. Speed's speculations concerning telegraph science.
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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?"
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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."
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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August 25, 1849. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"You have a young brother here about 3 days old. He is a fine fellow and will soon want a situation in a Telegraph office."
September 8, 1849. Theodore S. Faxton to Ezra Cornell concerning settlement of Ezra Cornell's accounts with the New York, Albany & Buffalo Telegraph Company.
September 10, 1849. S.W. Hotchkiss to Ezra Cornell from Sheboygan concerning new lines under construction in the west, competition from O'Reilly, and the effects of the cholera epidemic.
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September 17, 1849. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell, diagrams and description of new "switch" he had developed which would allow transmitting of messages over long distances without rewriting (connecting circuits). 2nd letter, same date, concerns progress on new western lines (Cleveland & Cincinnati, St. Louis).
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September 20, 1849. Beach Brothers to Ezra Cornell inquiring as to arrangements for transmission of news messages for
September 20, 1849. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell concerning prospects looking good for new western lines, O'Reilly conflict, and connecting circuits.
September 23, 1849. Phebe Wood to Ezra Cornell:
"I think that I shall like tellegraphing if I have good instruments. I wish you would come and see us. I could now appreciate some instructions in regard to electricity."
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October 1849. George B. Prescott's answer to the bill of complaint by Ezra Cornell.
October 7, 1849. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell, regarding Speed's new circuit connector:
"You say work the telegraph as it is, and not allow myself to chase Jack-O-Lanterns. I answer yes, if I cannot make the public believe that my Jack-O-Lantern is a real bonafide lighthouse - and induce them to pay me their money to help build it."
October 9, 1849. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell reprimanding him for closing his telegraph office early on an election night:
"This will not do and if it cant be reformed we will have some turnouts."
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October 20, 1849. D.T. Tillotson to Ezra Cornell reporting on survey of Chenango Valley. October 20, 1849. E.D Benedict to operators connected with Cleveland and Pittsburgh line detailing a
"system of doing business in regular order, and promptly, at the same time giving each and every office a fair and equal chance."
October 27, 1849. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell describing continued experiments with his switch.
October 29, 1849. Ezra Cornell to D.T. Tillotson discussing Ithaca area lines (Waterloo and Elmira), operations of House line and Bain telegraph lines in the east, and the business of the New-York & Erie line.
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November 4, 1849. E.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell discussing the potential of the Cincinnati, Wheeling, & Pittsburgh line and his view of Speed's switch as an important improvement in telegraph operations.
November 15, 1849. Letters of condolence from H.C. Buell and W.W. Marks to Alonzo B. Cornell on the death of his sister Elizabeth.
November 24, 1849. Phebe Wood to Ezra Cornell, expressing sympathy on Elizabeth's death and discussing the success of women telegraph operators:
"John writes me that Jane intends going to learn the tailors trade but I think she would do better to learn to telegraph. I hear that they employ ladies in ops east."
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December 18, 1849. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell discussing finances, results of his work in Ohio, and future plans for lines to the west.
December 22, 1849. Ezra Cornell to Board of Directors of Hudson River Railroad Company proposing a reciprocal arrangement for the right to erect poles along the railroad line from New York to Poughkeepsie and for free passage of his men in return for telegraph services for railroad business.
December 25, 1849. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann and children, from Peekskill:
"I wish you all a Merry Christmas, a Merry, Merry Christmas, and I hope old Santa Claus wont be so verry busy as to pass by?without even droping in to catch a glance of those bewitching merry eyes, of my darling Mary or the cherub smiles of my baby Boy?."
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January 5, 1850. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"We miss our dear Elizabeth verry much from our family circle our recollections of her innocent mirth, and cheerful good nature with hopes for her eternal happiness is our only consolation - and her sudden departure should admonish us all to be ready for a like event, and may we all in the end meet her in happiness."
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January 28, 1850. T.W. Hotchkiss to Ezra Cornell from Milwaukee concerning finances, progress on Wisconsin lines, and the pirates.
January 29, 1850. T. F. Allen to Ezra Cornell giving account of his attempts to raise subscriptions for a line from Towanda to Owego.
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February 25 and 29, 1850. Proposition by Ezra Cornell to New York and Erie Railroad Company.
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April 20, 1850. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:
"I am very sorry to hear that you are so strained in your money matters. Though it is not very much to be wondered at considering from whence you expect money."
April 1850. Letters from Speed describing possible improvements to telegraph technology, and a method of preventing steam boilers from exploding.
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May 18, 1850. Statement describing the operations of the New York telegraph station, including transcriptions of messages and comment on illicit use of the line.
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May 27, 1850. Letter from Speed describing possible improvements to telegraph technology.
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July 17, 1850. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell:
"If the experience of the past is any criterion for the future, the grim specter
poverty will always stand staring me in the face. At all events I have to meet his ugly visage daily?"
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October 2, 1850. Miscellaneous telegraph transcriptions, including account of Utah Indians/Snake Indians battle.
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November 30, 1850. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell:
"I have generally looked on the bright side of the picture, and believed the good time was coming; but since you was here, I have been more discouraged than I have ever been before. The debts unpaid at F, and the bitter curses heaped upon the Telegraph?"
December 5, 1850. Jeremiah S. Beebe to Ezra Cornell:
"The constant habit of smoking in the office keeps me sick at the stomach, and has frequently driven me to the street. It is much more like a bar room of a small tavern than a place of business."
December 5, 1850. Charles Robinson to Ezra Cornell:
"I understand (Mr. Beebe) has written you about the office being like a bar room - I deny this. I should not, were it not through respect to you, allow Mr. Beebe in the office as he is often under the influence of liquor?"
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December 9, 1850. J.J. Speed to Stephen Munn:
"The Telegraph controversy between the Morse Patenters and others has been postponed from time to time or decided against the Morse Patents?"
December 24, 1850. O.S. Wood to Ezra Cornell on Ithacaland, the DeWitt Farm, and the family.
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1848-1851. Extracts from O'Reilly's letters to Delano.
January 21, 1851. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell discussing telegraph office operations, the possible dishonesty of an operator, and business with Hotchkiss.
February 4, 1851. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell concerning business with Faxton.
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February 24, 1851. Ezra Cornell to J.J. Speed discussing Speeds experiments and proposing that a consolidation of lines be considered.
February 28, 1851. D.T. Tillotson to Ezra Cornell:
"I am getting very short for want of money. My rects. are light & what I have recd. I have been paying up old debts with. I want some clothes very much but can't get them. It is now nearly 2 years since I commenced working for you & for the first 6 months I have hardly recd. a cent & not much for the rest of the time."
March 4, 1851. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell from Detroit:
" I do not know but the cursed rascals will use us up at last. It is absolutely certain that some one is purposely interrupting our lines. It is utterly impossible for so many things to happen by accident without any apparent cause."
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March 18, 1851. C.M. Ingersoll to Ezra Cornell from Newburgh regarding payment of operators.
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April 18, 1851. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell from Detroit reporting on western lines (Zanesville & Wheeling, Zanesville & Pittsburgh) and possible agreements with railroads.
May 3, 1851. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell concerning the insurance sold by Alonzo.
May 13, 1851. Report of the Ithaca Falls Company.
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July 16, 1851. J. C. Woodruff to Ezra Cornell:
"The stockholders of your company are very much dissatisfied with your management from beginning to end, and are clamorous for a change in its management. Ithaca charges all its misfortunes upon you, and I do not see but you must stand Godfather to them all, fix it as you will. We have a line of telegraph that ought to pay well - substantially built - well arranged, and yet running into debt every day, and becoming a reproach and bye word among telegraphers and laymen?. In short, there is one general complaint - one outcry, and it is evident to me, that though you understand telegraphing well, you either have too much business in hand, or are short of capacity and concentration to manage such a line?.
"We stockholders lack confidence in your ability to do anything with it, and the people lack confidence in the line?."
July 8, 1851. S.W. Hotchkiss to Ezra Cornell from Madison reporting of the reorganization of the Milwaukee, Galena & Chicago Telegraph Company under the name of the Northwestern Telegraph Company.
July 13, 19, 1851. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell concerning financial arrangements and operations of western lines.
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July 28, 1851. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell concerning finances and management of western lines.
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August 27, 1851. L.C. Woodruff to Ezra Cornell expressing support of leasing the New-York & Erie line to Ezra Cornell.
September 6, 1851. Mckinney Irion to Ezra Cornell from Wolf River, Tennessee:
"My neighbour Mr. McNeal has received some of your beautiful wheat and I am so pleased with it causes me to ask the kind favour of you to send me a small quantity?."
September 16, 1851. Ezra Cornell to Amos Kendall:
"My courage is fast failing. I have worked hard and incessently for the last nine years at the Telegraph business, practicing the most rigid economy, and I am now worse off than when I began. At the time I first embarked in the business I was worth five thousand dollars in real estate which rented for enough to support my family. Now that same real estate is encumbered with a mortgage for money invested in the telegraph business and I am in debt some $15,000 besides for cost of construction of the various lines, and I cannot get the first cent from any of them toards paying interest on what I owe, aside from this is the various claims of patentees for account of patent.
"?My wife well knows my ability to support my family by labour if properly directed. She feels that I have followed the Telegraph quite long enough, and that it would be for our interest to abandon it in toto and all claims upon it, and direct my energies in some more productive channel.
If I had been successful in the business I should not think of an appeal of this kind, but under the circumstances I think I have a claim to my devotion to the interest of Prof. Morse and his great invention entitles me to some concideration tin the settlement of this question of patent."
September 25, 1851. J.J. Speed:
"I can say now with great sincerity that I am used up - nothing under heaven but
hope & that rather small?All I can say is I will keep trying & if I do not see a better prospect in 6 months, I will abandon the whole thing & try to get some squatters right in Oregon or elsewhere. Yours, busted all to hell, J.J. Speed Jr."
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October 5, 1851. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell:
"I think Faxton is trying to make an arrangement with the OR line to get their bus & give them half of his. As soon as he does so I will make a bargain with the House folks and give them & Bain our Eastern business this side of NY, and the NY bus until you get so you can do it?"
October 6, 1851. J.J. Speed to Directors and Stockholders of New-York & Erie Telegraph Company reporting on telegraph lines and the business they are doing, the problem of brimstone caps, and recommendations for improving the line and business.
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December 21, 1851. John S. Bristol to Ezra Cornell expressing condolences on the death of Ezra Cornell's son Ezra.
1851. Petition for renewal of Patent for "Cornell's improved pipelayer."
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January 15, 1852. Ezra Cornell to J.J. Speed reporting the sale of the New-York & Erie line:
"I shall soon get the N.Y.&E. in good shape, and get up a good feeling, and I must have a chance at the western business."
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February 10, 1852. Ezra Cornell to Edmond Coffin of Tarrytown, New York:
"If your self and friends should still be desirous of securing the facilities of an office at Tarrytown either with or without branches extending to your dwellings, I should be hapy of an interview with you on the subject."
February 15, 1852. Ezra Cornell to Orrin S. Wood:
"In regard to my affairs, it is difficult for me to place an estimate upon them. I may be worth an hundred thusand dollars if I live a year or two longer or I may not be worth a cent - it all depends upon the manner in which the Telegraph war which has raged so fiercely in the states the past three years is ended?I however do not despair my confidence is as firm as ever in the future of my enterprises?"
Also Ithaca real estate, Ithaca's growth.
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March 20, 1852. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell discussing western business and Speed's proposal of a printing telegraph.
March 22, 1852. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell:
"What say you to making one desparate effort to retrieve the past, and provide for the future by going to California & building a line?."
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April 7, 1852. Transcripts of letters from Ezra Cornell to J.J. Speed:
"I was never so poor in my life as now, I am barely able to supply the necessaries of life. This position weighs heavily on my spirits, and I must get relief soon or it will drive me crazy. I have not contributed a dollar to the support of my family in two years, they suffer for the ordinary comforts of life. Smith and Kendall are both as heartless as adamant and as selfish as the devel."
April 27:
"My clothes are getting so ragged I am ashamed of my appearance?I learn this evening that my wife has presented me with another daughter and I feel guilty of abusing the best of women by not being with her during her confinement, but my embarassments, poverty & sickness altogether has prevented?"
May 7:
"This trial has exposed the fact to the satisfaction of my mind that Morse did not invent the local circuit, and that he first learned it from Davies invention which was on exhibition in London when Smith & Morse arrived there."
April 16, 1852. Ezra Cornell to J.J. Speed concerning New-York & Erie Company, and including technological suggestions.
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April 27, 1852. Ezra Cornell to J.J. Speed:
"I regard Smith's treatment towards us, in giving O'Reilly the control of the territory in question, as the most shabby character?"
April 27, 1852. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell including comment on the company and speculations on telegraph science.
April 30, 1852. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"I can disern a streak of light, the clouds of adversity appear to be braking, and the sunshine of hope glimmers through the fractured darkness."
May 4, 1852. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"As you requested I have secured your appointment as Agent of the New York Mutual Life insurance Co."
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May, 1852. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell on "facsimile telegraph."
May 25, 1852. Ezra Cornell to J.J. Speed:
"I arrived in N.Y. to day found your letter with facsimilie message, and it was not so bad a specimen?. Don't get excited, and don't neglect the E & M Line, keep that agoing?"
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June 14, 1852. List of lines of the New-York & Erie Telegraph Company, cities and miles.
June 1852. J.J. Speed's experiments and speculations concerning telegraph science.
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June, July 1852. J.J. Speed's experiments and speculations concerning telegraph science.
June 27, 1852. reflecting on years of marriage.
July 4, 1852. Ezra Cornell to Jeremiah S. Beebe pleading that he refrain from drinking to avoid losing his employment:
"
Total abstinance is the only rallying cry under which victory issure ."
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July 10, 1852. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell:
"Wood has just come in and I read him your letter. He says you can crawl through a small hole with a whole skin than any other live man."
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September 3, 1852. Speed's experiments and speculations concerning telegraph science.
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October 15, 1852. Ezra Cornell to J.H. Wade:
"If I could have my choice, I should prefer that my name should be immortalized by its connection with some
good deed , by alleviating the sufferings of humanity."
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December 27, 1852. Ezra Cornell's plan to bury telegraph cable.
1852. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"I am homesick, and can't write, I want to go home and stay there. I am sick of telegraphing, sick of business - sick of everything except my wife and I wish I could live with her, but I can't, I have got into the scrape and must stick to it manfully until I can work out."
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January 6, 1853. Speed/Faxton contract.
January 16, 1853. Ezra Cornell to J.J. Speed:
"O'Reilly sent round to me yesterday to borrow $10, which I did not have?"
Ithaca.
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March 7, 1853. describing a trip from Ithaca to Indianapolis via Cincinnati.
March 20, 1853. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"Hard cider is fast retreating before the colums of the 'cold water army.' The Sons & Daughters of temperance are marching on to a sure and glorious victory."
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April 24, 1853. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"The history of Telegraph has therefor been a history of wars, and there are many of those contests unsettled?"
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July 21, 1853. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell from Chicago:
"There are some six hundred to a thousand Odd Fellows in the city from other parts of the state and they are having a celebration - a procession this P.M."
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September 19, 1853. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:
"I?write again to ask what kind of employment you could give me and where would it and so forth if I should abandon the Idea of going to the gold diggins. My mind has been so unsettled since Maria's Death that I could hardly tell what I was going to do."
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November 5, 1853. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell:
"I think it probable that O'R has got [?] & may give us some trouble, in consequence of not carrying out his darling project of a grand consolidated Company, making him Pres't with a salary of five thousand dollars."
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December 1, 1853. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"This is destined to be a great city. Chicago has now a population of over 50 thousand population and this will double and quadruple as rapedly as that of any other city of the union."
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December 6, 1853. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"I have had some tooth ache this P.M. in an old snag that was left some ten years ago, when I went to Ithaca at midnight with Dennis McCoy the Irishman to hold my head. You may recollect the history of that terable night. Dr Miles (I think) pulled on it 3 times with his entire strength, and as offin the irons broke loos. The fourth pull broke the tooth taking the tooth with one prong out, and a piece of the jaw with it."
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January 5, 1854. describing a train trip to the west:
"I received an invitation from Mr. Tubbs to go to the 'Grand Concert of Madame Sontag' who was to appear for the first time on the Cleveland 'boards' -- I accepted, the house was crowded, and the audience have marked evidence of their satisfaction. The pieces were Italian and French excepting 'Home Sweet Home' which was so distorted by artistic skill that it made me nervous."
Ezra Cornell's account of the origins of the Cornell-Speed partnership in the telegraph business.
January 8, 1854. Mary Ann Cornell to Ezra Cornell recounting her trip via steamer and stage to Syracuse for a wedding.
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January 27, 1854. Mary C. Robertson to Ezra Cornell:
"Jane says Brother E.B. is in the lottery business some this winter which surprises me very much. I don't know but its honorable business in N.Y. State."
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March 5, 1854. describing a journey west, and plans for the farm in Ithaca.
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March 19, 1854. Mary Ann Cornell to Ezra Cornell:
"?I most sincerely hope that you will finally succeed in geting together enough of this worlds goods so that you can finally make up yuir mind to settle down on some nice spot and enjoy the comforts of 'home sweet home' with your family. Oh, how happy I should be if it could be so, my dear little do
you know the many lonely hours I have passed in your twelve years of absence from home, the cares and anxieties of home all resting on me and the still more anxious care for one I loved dearer than life itself?"
March 24, 1854. Amos Kendall to Ezra Cornell:
"I regret to learn that you and Mr. Wade do not get along amiably. These quarrels kill the telegraph; and no sooner is one quieted than another springs up."
March 26, 1854. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"I rejoice that the Great State of N.Y. has granted her sons at last the justice, though tardy, of a prohibitory liquor law; it will save the rising generation if it does not rescue those who are already on the?plain of inebriacy."
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April 9, 1854. from Chicago, describing conditions aboard a crowded train, and the benefits of wholesome air.
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June 1, 1854. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"This act of perfidy of Speed & W[ade] will lead to new combinations, whether the plans they had formed will all mature, or whether the frosts of treachery may not nip some of them in the bud remains to be seen, I should not be surprised if the latter was the fact."
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June 27, 1854. Amos Kendall to Ezra Cornell:
"I am disposed to act with you in carrying out, as far as we can, the arrangements of June 1853 and in punishing the conspirators by whom both you and my principal [S.F.B. Morse] have been betrayed and defrauded."
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July 18, 1854. J.J. Speed to J.H. Wade concerning the sale of western lines.
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July 27, 1854. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell from Detroit concerning underground telegraph, family news and health, and instructions to Ellen on the care of the children in Ezra and Mary Ann's absence.
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August 20, 1854. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann from Indianapolis reporting on his health and discussing the treatment received for his condition.
August 27, 1854. Ezra Cornell, Mary Emily Cornell, Mary C. Robertson and M.B. Wood to Mary Ann Cornell from Albion sharing family news.
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September 2, 1854. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann from Detroit:
"It is very sickly about Albion for such as have defective constitutions or shattered health, and many deaths have occurred?"
Family news.
September 3, 1854. Amos Kendall to Ezra Cornell reporting on telegraph business in New York and possible consolidation of lines.
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September 8, 1854. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann from Michigan City:
"Speed and Wades effort at my distruction by their diabolical sale to the enemy has proved a signal failure on their part, and will produce them a harvest of curses from the verry men who were to reap the golden apple of their treachery."
Ezra Cornell's health, telegraph business, and reflections upon his persevering and succeeding in the business despite Mary Ann's father's advice to pursue other things.
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September 22, 1854. E.B. Sadler to Ezra Cornell concerning F.O.J. Smith's claims.
September 24, 1854. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann from Michigan City:
"I wish you was here with me, I am not as well used when alone as when you are with me, I dont get as good a room, nor as clean a bed, I dont get called to my meals as early or by as pleasant a messenger, and at table I have to wate longer before being wated upon. All those ills are incident to being alone every one of which would banish before the magic presence of a woman.".
Attempts to persuade Mary Ann and Emma to join him and discussion of the advantages of traveling during the winter.
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October 6, 1854. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann from Chicago concerning family news from Michigan, telegraph business, and New York politics with reference to "fusion."
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October, 20, 1854. George Curtiss of the New York, Albany and Buffalo Telegraph Company to Ezra Cornell requesting that a meeting be held to discuss a permanent Western connection.
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December 14, 1854. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell discussing finances and Ithaca real estate holdings.
December 15, 1854. Amos Kendall to Ezra Cornell concerning telegraph business and the actions of the House people.
December 17, 1854. Franklin C. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:
"I am going to school this winter to try to finish my education so that I can be of some help to you. Next time you write to me I want you to tell me what you want me to go at in the spring for I want to begin to make some calculation on it."
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January 21, 1855. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"Speed evident regrets his treachery toards me and proffers his services, to aid me in any way that I can suggest and at any time that his services can be available. I rarely get cheated twice by the same person."
January 30, 1855. Ezra Cornell to Franklin C. Cornell:
"I hope if you decide to go to school that you will make up your mind to spend your time profitably, remember that knowledge is power."
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March 10, 1855. from Albion:
"Last saturday one of the cars got thrown off the track in which was four of my men, one of them was so injured that he died yesterday. He leaves a wife, who will soon have an heir."
March 15, 1855. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"Tell mother & Emma that I look at their daguerratype frequently and think it is the prettyest picture."
March 17, 1855. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"?it was a California show, going to California, a panorama of an over land trip to California where you can 'see the Eliphant for two dimes'?"
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March 31, 1855. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"?I have a sharp corner to work out of, that Ely judgment is 3471.88. I have got permission to draw on Mr. Chester for $2,500?"
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April 12, 1855. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"He may escape as there is not one in twenty who have been vaccinated that take the small-pox on exposure."
April 22, 1855. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"Calista was on her way to Windsor Canada to teach in a school of fugitives. They are sent to Canada as teachers by some society who have the educational welfare of the blacks in Canada under their keeping."
April 29, 1855. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"I see a lot of boys in front of my window gambling with pennies. I hope my boy Perry is better engaged."
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May 13, 1855. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"Homeopathy seems to do verry well when there is nothing the matter. It is so nice to take but when I am sick it seems to require the old ugly doses of the 'old butchers' to cure me."
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June 7, 1855. Mary Ann Cornell to Ezra Cornell describing unsatisfactory family conditions in Ithaca:
"I wish if money is plenty at the west that you would send me some, as Alonzo is so hard up that I can't get any of him, and I can't well get along without some?I think Ithaca will not hold me long if they go west to live, if your business keeps you there, there is nothing in Ithaca worth living for, and I wish you would sell everything you own here?but if you do come here and try living as I have this thirteen years and then you would be able to judge something about it."
June 10, 1855. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"I will pay your expenses out, that is to say, if you can get some body to advance your expenses out I will refund the money."
June 15, 1855. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"The next great question of the Day is the Know Nothing convention at Phil. that is of great political moment, not because of its Hindooism but because there is some hundreds of ordinarily inteligent men from all sections of the country and they may be persueded to reflect to some extent the feeling of their several communities feelings on the great issue of the day, liberty, or slavery. The Telegraph announces a split in the convention on that question -- this is a favourable sign, it shows that the concience of the north is being quickened, and may be regarded as the death knell to Southern Slave drivers, and Northern dough faces."
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July 7, 1855. Ezra Cornell to E.W. Chester describing his railway accident in which his arm was broken and mutilated.
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August 8, 1855. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell from Detroit:
"I came to De this morning to attend meeting leaving mother at Al. Our meeting has resulted in an agreement with House folks to consolidate, they taking $350,000 and we $150,000, we putting in the E&M line, and they putting in the House line 920, the Lake Erie line 600, the House & Morse Patent, and all other interest they have in the west?"
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October 18, 1855. Mary Ann Cornell to Ezra Cornell:
"I think you will recollect of giving me fifteen dollars before you left home. I have used it very prudently?and it is all gone but fifty cents."
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November 18, 1855. Mary Ann Cornell to Ezra Cornell:
"I have never heard of so many suden deaths as I have this fall. It teaches us a powerful lesson on the uncertainty of human life."
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January 4, 1856. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"I reached here at 7:30, after the coldest night ride I ever recollect of having since stage coachs went out of fashion. I sat next to the stove all night, and my feet suffered with cold."
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January 21, 1856. on the raising of daughters and deportment of young women.
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March 2, 1856. on the raising of daughters and deportment of young women.
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May 12, 1856. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell, giving her additional stock in the Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company.
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June 29, 1856. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"?had a lovely passage to Detroit, arriving at 3 P.M. yesterday, One of those floating Hotels is the greatest luxury of the hot season and nothing could have rendered the sojourn of a day on the 'Rock' more pleasant except your company and Emma's & Mary's."
July 4, 1856. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"The anniversary of Our Independence is being celebrated in various ways but not so as to attract any special notice. I feel more interest just now in knowing how it is being celebrated in Kansas. That has become the second battle ground of freedom, and the day that secures freedom for Kansas will become notable in the annals of history, as the second birthday of freedom."
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July 20, 1856. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"Mary and Jane went to Methodist [church], and H[iram] to the Spiritualist, and Phebe railed about it, and says she don't want any of her friends to call and see her who will go to a Spiritual meeting, so goes the world - and so it always went. Oh! dear me, will it ever be better?"
August 20, 1856. Ezra Cornell's letter to the
"As for the Pope, I am to old to be frightened by his shadow, and am quite sure his shadow or Substance will do less harm to the liberties of my country than will a party, who seek to acquire political power by exciting religious bigotry in the minds of their duped followers."
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September 21, 1856. Rebecca Chace to Ezra Cornell on presidential elections.
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November 30, 1856. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"I have begged $110 for the sufferers in Kansas the past 3 days by heading the subscription myself with $10. I got B.G. Ferris $5 & H. Dow $5, the balance from Republicans--I shall pay it to the National Kansas Committee at Chicago."
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January 22, 1857. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"I went with at the urgent request of a friend last night to converse with the
spirits, He being a firm believer, and having had satisfactory confabs. The Spirit who conversed with me, the medium said was that of my Grandfather Reuben Barnard, who attempted to answer questions that I asked, but as no one of a dozen questions was answered right, I came to the conclusion that it was not the spirit of my Grand Father for he was a man of great truth, and would not answer questions in this shabby manner."
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February 23, 1857. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"I am sorry to hear that Jane is no better, it is a state of partial insanity, growing out of a morbid religious excitement, it is a religion without reason, reason should be the basis of religion?"
February 27, 1857. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"I am planning for the removal to the farm. There is much to do, to get things fixed, but it will be a nice place, and your mother is already pleased as every else appears to be. I can tell you that we intend to have the best farm in Western NY.
"What do you think of my going out with the transatlantic cable? It will be the best opportunity that has ever been presented to test some verry important experiments in telegraphing?"
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March 8, 1857. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell detailing the purchases of cattle and other agricultural staples for the Ithaca farm.
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May 13, 1857. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"As to names, I am not decided yet what it shall be, 'Forest Home' I like but don't want to rob F.O.J.S. 'Cascadilla' is good but is so Old that it has lost all the sweetness of originiality, 'Mount Evergreen' Seems discordant 'Forest City Farm' is too long 'Forest Retreat' don't respond in harmony to the proper chords, 'Cascadia' is short and appropriate, 'Cornelia' is the name that Gov Seward gave my old place at fall Creek, and I like it pretty well, 'Caterac Farm' would not be inappropriate considering that the farm is bordered by cataracks on its north & south sides - 'Fairview' would be a name expressive of the facts. 'Mount Prospect' would also be expressive - I should like an Indian name if I could hit upon the right one, but I have not yet practiced in the red skin dialect. As Ithaca & Ulisses are names borrowed from Homer, Illiad or Odessa perhaps it would not be inappropriate to resort to Homer for still another name. So we will pass on and wate for a name."
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June 26, 1857. Ezra Cornell to E.W. Chester describing the damage caused by a flood in Ithaca.
July 1, 1857. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from New York:
"There is another grand gathering of Telegraphy in town?I suppose it is an attempt on the part of the WU Co. or some one else to form a 'grand confederation'?"
"How do you like the name of 'Forest Park' --How does mother like it?"
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October 12, 1857. M.B. Wood to Ezra Cornell discussing finances, western lines, and national politics, including his response to the Dred Scott decision.
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October 20, 1857. Ezra Cornell to Dr. S.E. Shepherd describing some of his Ithaca property and proposing its use for a water cure establishment.
November 30, 1857. Ezra Cornell to the President and Directors of the New York, Albany & Buffalo Telegraph Company on behalf of the Directors of the New York and Western Union Telegraph Company offering the sale of their lines.
December 19, 1857. E.W. Chester to Ezra Cornell concerning formation of coal oil company.
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February 12, 1858. Henry O'Reilly to Ezra Cornell requesting any documents and papers he may have connected to the establishment of the telegraph for a collection O'Reilly was arranging.
February 28, 1858. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann with news of his travels, telegraph business, and the various responses his "RR Moddle" received.
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March 21, 1858. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"The Western Union is doing better this winter than we expected it would. We had made up our mind to be contented if we got through the winter without running in debt, but we shall make something?. With a little increase in these dividends and prompt payment by NY&E I hope to get along and pay my debts, but still the amt. I owe the NY,A & Bu Co. $10,000 worries me more or less?."
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May 28, 1858. Phebe Wood to Ezra Cornell:
"I recieved your letter and read it more in sorrow than anger. Now how a man who never wrote a letter in his life without misspelling some of his words can have the brass to ridicule others is more than I can see?if I applied to my wife for information or kept some one running to the dictionary as often as you do no doubt I would spell better?"
Also: discussion of the Rulloff murder case.
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August 30, 1858. Ezra Cornell to the President of the Republican County Convention naming Alonzo B. Cornell as Ezra Cornell's substitute for the position of delegate from Ithaca and speaking of the importance of the coming election and counseling "wisdom and harmony in the deliberation and action of the convention."
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December 6, 1858. Ezra Cornell to Peter Cooper giving an account of his experiences with submarine telegraph cables.
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January 19, 1859. Jas. W. Haight to Ezra Cornell concerning stuffing animals for Ezra Cornell.
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February 16, 1859. Ezra Cornell to John H. Cornell concerning family genealogy with details concerning the families of Elijah Cornell and Eunice Barnard.
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March 28, 1859. Jane Cornell to Ezra Cornell announcing her plans to be married.
April 19, 1859. B.P. Johnson of the New York State Agricultural Rooms to Ezra Cornell concerning the Ithaca Farmers Club and its library.
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April, 1859. O.S. Wood to Ezra Cornell providing an account of the telegraph industry's development and his role in it.
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August 22, 1859. describing his business prospects in coal oil business.
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February 17, 1860. Hiram Sibley to Ezra Cornell from Washington:
"I have been here for three weeks urging a bill through congress in aid of a line to California. By writing at once to any member of Either House with whom you may have influence, you may [?] in measure the value of which to our company."
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March 11, 1860. from Washington:
"Last Tuesday being the Presidents reception night?I called up at the White house, shook hands with 'James the Usurper,' circulated through the gaudy apartments and throng until the crowd became too dense to be pleasant when I returned to the hotel."
Description of Washington conditions and political scene.
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June 26, 1860. Samuel Stone to Ezra Cornell:
"Your generous letter of [ ] inst bringing with it your draft of $100 donated for the benefit of the suffers of the terrible tornado of 3rd inst."
July 21, 1860. Ezra Cornell to Franklin C. Cornell describing a train and steamer journey from Ithaca to Montreal:
"The Thousand Islands however were arranging themselves one after another in raped succession, claiming their tribute of admiration, and we fully enjoyed the freshness of morning vigor, and paid the willing tribute to their surpassing lovelyness."
July 28, 1860. Henry Ingersoll to Ezra Cornell concerning presidential election:
"?that you are well posted in political prospects. I feel a deep interest in how will N.York cast her electoral vote - believing and hoping that it will be given for Lincoln & Hamlin?"
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October 22, 1860. Circular letter from Otis E. Wood:
"It is with no little pain that I announce to you my determination to quit the farm?" [in Etna].
October 22, 1860. Ezra Cornell's printed form:
"I have had blanks prepared for the purpose of having the Agricultural Statistics of the County of Tompkins taken this Fall, to show the crop of the growth of the year of 1860."
October 23, 1860. J.J. Speed to Ezra Cornell thanking Ezra Cornell for his gifts of books and the Cornells' visit, and describing the welcome accorded the Prince of England in Portland. October 27, 1860. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:
"We are now having a series of political mass meetings in this section of country, the Hon. John P. Hale is stumping the state for Old Abe. I heard him last wednesday, we expect to give him a rousing majority in this state - Douglas stock is down low and still declining."
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January 1861. Letters from Paul J. Cornell to Ezra Cornell discussing Cornell family genealogy and stating the position of the South versus the North regarding slavery and states' rights.
January 8, 1861. Ezra Cornell to Paul J. Cornell discussing Cornell family genealogy and slavery.
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January 20, 1861. Ezra Cornell to I.R. Elwood:
"The great question of the day is, have we a National Government? I have always thought we had, I think we have still."
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February 21, 1861. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"Tuesday I was coming down Broadway just before 3 P.M., and the gathering crowd along that popular thoroughfare reminded me that the Prest Elect was to arrive in the city at 3 and triumverate through Broadway to the Astor, I therefore turned into the Musuem when I reached that curiosity shop and got a window commanding the Astor from which I could notice the progress of the Nations Hope from Chamber Street to the Astor. At that distance I saw Mr. Lincoln alight from his carriage and enter his hotel, from which he soon after immerged through a window on the second story?and made a short speech to 25 acres of mottled humanity below. I could not hear a word that he uttered, but the convulsive jerks of his head, and bobing of his body indicated an earnestness of speech, and called forth the wildest shouts of applause from the solid mass of admirers below. As Mr. Lincoln has not called on me I have seen nothing more of him. Mr. L held receptions at the Astor at the city hall, but I regarded it as undignified for a New York farmer to mingle with the bulls, bears, & dead rabbits of this metropolis, I therefore must excuse myself from any description of the scene."
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April 22, 1861. Paul J. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:
"Your predictions, concerning our state, I am ashamed to confess, are?to be realized for the disunionist have or are about to?our good old state into this unholy war against our wishes & better judgment, it is hard for us to fight against the star spangled banner, that which our fathers suffered, bled, dide and won for our enjoyments. The negrows are volunteering there servises all over the state to fight against the north, thay are not made to do so, for thay say the abolissionist doo dem moor harm than they do good?"
May 2, 1861. Ezra Cornell to Paul J. Cornell discussing the political and moral nature of the outbreak of the Civil War.
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June 4, 1861. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"The death of Douglass which we have just heard will be regretted by the Nation at this critical juncture. If he had poped off before hatching his Squatter Soverign herricy his death would have been a National blessing."
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January 10, 1862. O.H. Perry Cornell to Ezra Cornell and Mary Ann Cornell:
"I write to ask forgiveness for one or two rather quick speeches in my last letter and to ask you to write to me at least if nothing more for I have done nothing as yet that I deserve to be thus treated by you, to be sure I married very young but Dear Parents Louise is more than twice worthy of me she is good and she is pure and all you can say is she is poor."
January 13, 1862. [Barnard] to Ezra Cornell:
"Father?wished me to write down what he knew in regard to the impresment of American Seamen he says in 1804 he sailed with Timothy Barnard when on the South side of Long Island (in sight of it) the Brittish Frigate Combarine boarded them and took their mate whose name was Cunningham?"
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March 10, 1862. Ezra Cornell to O.H. Perry Cornell:
"I will receive you and your wife as members of the family and trust to the future to determine the wisdom of my decision. I advise you to prepare to move out to the Danby farm which I have possession of on the 1st of Apl next."
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March 23, 1862. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"I am sorry to hear that Frank maintains ill feelings towards Perry. I want to see this feeling dispated, and see you treat each other like brothers."
March 27, 1862. O.S. Wood to Ezra Cornell, telegram:
"Grandfather died at five this evening. Funeral day after tomorrow at one."
March, 1862. Draft of a speech by Ezra Cornell to New York State Assembly.
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April 22, 1862. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"Our appropriations are all right yet, and I think will remain so, but it is something like a band of robbers dividing spoils to get any thing. To see the way new or yearling members are kicked & cuffed about in those scrambles extants vows from many that they will never be caught at Albany again as a Member."
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n.d. Ezra Cornell's itinerary for trip to Europe.
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November 1, 1862. J. Curd to Ezra Cornell from Lexington, Kentucky discussing the Confederate presence in Kentucky and the impact on his life and farm:
"Well, you may say the Confederate troops were at my door for they were encamped in my front lot for more than a month fifteen hundred or two thousand, just because I was known to be an unconditional union man they tormented me nearly out of my life?"
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November 12, 1862. J. M. Haight to Ezra Cornell discussing payment for a collection of stuffed birds in cases.
November 17, 1862. H.J. Raymond to Ezra Cornell discussing state politics, possibility that Cornell's name will be thought of as Speaker in the New York State Assembly, and reporting news of the war.
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1862. Listing and description of soldiers sent from London (one Prussian, two Germans, four Hungarians, one Polish).
January 4, 1863. Capt. Isaac S. Tichenor to Ezra Cornell concerning policies followed in promoting officers.
January 7, 1863. Phebe Wood to Ezra Cornell and Mary Ann Cornell concerning war news, family news, and including a photo album from "Santa Claus."
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January 19, 1863. W. Irving Wood to Ezra Cornell from Army hospital in Alexandria, Va. describing where he is and where he has traveled with the Union Army.
January 26, 1863. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from Army camp in Louisiana, about 12 miles above Vicksburg describing life in the camp and discussing the family and farm he left in Illinois:
"There has been a great deal of trouble about our getting our mails since we left Jackson Tenn, Nov, and in fact about the amount of what do get that we can depend upon is mouldy bread, musty bacon body lice and curses from drunken officers?"
January 26, 1863. H.W. Sage to Ezra Cornell concerning Ezra Cornell's interest in Sage's Ithaca real estate:
"If I lived at Ithaca & could find one man without fear of his own shadow, to join me, I would undertake to make all that valley properly valuable -- I know it can be done and I know that you comprehend the ways -- & have the means, to do it?"
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February 9, 1863. F.H. Moor to Ezra Cornell from Boston offering his services in preparing a plan for the proposed Cornell Public Library.
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February 20, 1863. Arad Joy to Ezra Cornell from Ovid requesting Ezra Cornell to have a bill introduced for appropriating lands to the New York State Agricultural College.
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March 2, 1863. Ezra Cornell to F.M. Finch concerning the design of the library building and suggesting that all architects from Ithaca be given an opportunity to submit plans for "an edifice from which the rays of light and knowledge was to eradiate to her present and future generations."
March 2, 1863. M.B. Wood to Ezra Cornell discussing national politics.
March 2, 1863. Paul J. Cornell to Ezra Cornell about conditions in North Carolina
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March 11, 1863. D. B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from camp at Providence, La.:
"You may rest assured Brother that I will never turn my back to the enemies of our country. I enlisted as a private and sought no higher position but our Lt. Col?.appointed me colour bearer. I felt proud of the confidence he placed in me but would rather he had not appointed me to that position yet inasmuch as it his pleasure
I would not express the least wish or word to the contrary, and I know that I will never disgrace that proud emblem of liberty?
"?we are here inactive and are as the saying is spoiling for a fight, we are anxious to be doing something that will tell towards crushing out this rebelion, we have never yet as a regiment had the privelege of facing the foe?
"I shall feel more reconciled to the fate that may await me as a soldier, since I have the assureance that in case I fall you will attend to the wants of my family - yet I cannot think otherwise than that I shall return to them - I only fear that the 95th regt. will never have an opportunity to prove their superiority to their number of rebles?"
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April, 1863:
"Received of E. Cornell seventy three dollars for support of families of Colored Volunteers of Albany County."
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April 16, 1863. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from encampment in the Union Army.
April 17, 1863. M.B. Wood to Ezra Cornell:
"We are watching with great anxiety to hear of Charleston being taken by our forces and are preparing for a big jollification on receipt of the news. We have a big national flag ready to raise that cost us $36 in NY city."
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May 1, 1863. W.O. Wyckoff to Ezra Cornell describing life in the Union Army.
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May 24, 1863. W.O. Wyckoff to Ezra Cornell describing life in the Union Army.
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August 3, 1863. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell including a meticulous account of his participation in the Battle of Vicksburg and his near fatal injury suffered in the assault:
"I received my wound on the 19th of May at the first charge on the works in the rear of Vicksburg, our Brigade charged on what was called Fort Hill. ?my position was colour bearer and I had to go down a small ravine which was in the hillside?I was struck directly under and about 3/4 of an inch from my left eye --I did not fall, nor did the colours go down?I then went and lay down behind a fallen tree expecting to bleed to death?the ball had apparently struck the limb of a tree and was comeing diagonaly down as it passed through my hat rim over my left temple, it passed through the roof of my mouth cutting an ugly gash on the inside of my right cheek and lodged at the angle of my jaw shattering it severely."
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October 2, 1863. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell describing life in a convalescent hospital in Illinois.
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October 12, 1863. M.B. Wood to Ezra Cornell describing a battle.
October 18, 1863. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell describing life in a convalescent hospital in Illinois.
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November 29, 1863. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell describing life in a convalescent hospital in Illinois.
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December 31, 1863. Benjamin Cornell to Ezra Cornell describing camp life and re-enlistments.
January 6, 1864. J.P.S. Briant to Ezra Cornell:
"The accompanying Pistol and ammunition was captured from a Rebel officer at the Storming of 'St. Mary's Hights,' Fredericksburgh?. As these mementos of the 'Slave Holders Rebellion' will be prized in after times, I take pleasure in placing them in your hands for presentation to the Farmers Club of Tompkins County for preservation."
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January 13, 1864. Ezra Cornell to F.M. Finch:
"I have five children, it would not benefit them to give them more than $100,000 each, thus less than half is disposed of?The Library will probably absorb $60,000, but supposing it to go to $75,000. What shall I do with the balance? I hope to do much good with it, but I really don't know how to dispose of it in a will so as to do the good with it that I should desire to do."
January 15, 1864. F.M. Finch to Ezra Cornell:
"Your remarks with reference to a will have
staggered me. Your reflections have carried you into a region where mine had not entered."
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January 30, 1864. William Glenny letter describing life and Army politics in camp near Germania Ford, Virginia.
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February 6, 8, 1864. William Glenny letters describing life and Army politics in camp in Germania Ford, Virginia.
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February 11, 1864. Douglass Boardman to Ezra Cornell describing a
February 14, 1864. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from convalescent hospital where he is a nurse:
"If I were doing any thing to help crush the rebellion I would not murmer, but to have been shot in the way I was, and that too within three minutes after getting in sight of the Devils for the first time, and then not being premitted to go back to the field when I could actualy do more duty than four such men as they have been sending back who have recovered (or rather partialy recovered) from the various ills contracted in camp life, I tell you it is rather chilling."
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February 18, 22, 24, 1864. William Glenny letters describing life and Army politics in camp near Germania Ford, Virginia.
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February 26, 1864. William Glenny letter describing life and Army politics in camp near Germania Ford, Virginia.
February 28, 1864. Franklin C. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:
"Perry moved last week his stock that he left to danby looks hard I don't think I ever saw a lot of calves that looked worse than his do?"
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March 3, 10, 1864. William Glenny letters describing life and Army politics in camp near Germania Ford, Virginia.
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March 12, 1864. William Glenny letter describing life and Army politics in camp near Germania Ford, Virginia.
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March 21, 1864. William Glenny letter describing life and Army politics in camp near Germania Ford, Virginia.
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April 13, 1864. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:
"From present appearances there will be no lack of capital to carry the thing through and I do hope you will not allow yourself to get into a position which will cause you the least uneasiness financially. You have worked hard and have secured a fortune?I really hope you will conclude to make your subn. $300,000 instead of $500,00."
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April 26, 1864. W. Irving Wood to Ezra Cornell from camp near Alexandria, Virginia:
"We left Annapolis at 6 A.M. the 23rd inst. we passed through Washington at noon yesterday & was reviewed by Genl. Burnside & the President as we passed, and we made a good appearance but it was very hard work after marching for two days & the night before we laid out through a drenching ravine & had marched 10 miles through the mud besides fording a stream that morning. Quite a number of men died yesterday on the road. Our corps now has 4 divisions the forth is of colored troops."
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May 13, 1864. Petition by members of New York State Senate to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton:
"The undersigned respectfully request a pass for Hon. Ezra Cornell to go within the lines of our Army to render assistance to the wounded."
May 18, 1864. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:
"I am going out into the State of Missouri recruiting for the 29th Ill. Colored Regt."
May 20, 1864. John W. Brown to Ezra Cornell describing at length activities in and battles of the Union Army.
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May 21, 1864. W. Irving Wood to Ezra Cornell describing battles near Spottsylvania.
May 29, 1864. John W. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from New Orleans describing his capture and wounding in a war skirmish:
"Probley you have sean the account of the capchur of the Gun Boat Signal No. 8 the one that I was on."
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June 25, 1864. Mrs. Paul Cornell (Keturah M.) to Ezra Cornell from Portsmouth, N.C. describing her losses in the war.
July 11, 1864. Paul J. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from Portsmouth, N.C. requesting loan from Ezra Cornell to reestablish himself in business in the South, possibly by speculating in cotton.
July 19, 1864. John W. Cornell to Ezra Cornell describing conditions in a naval hospital in Chelsea, Mass.
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July 20, 1864. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from camp near Memphis, Tenn.:
"My health is very good & the condition of my jaw's as such that I can eat any rations but hard tack, & I much prefer field to Hospital duty."
July 20, August 1, 1864. J.H. Millspaugh to Ezra Cornell requesting his assistance in starting a photography studio in Ithaca, and making use of a room in the library building.
July 23, 1864. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from camp near Memphis, Tenn. requesting his assistance in obtaining a commission in the Veteran Reserve Corps.
July 24, 1864. John G. Apgar to Ezra Cornell informing him of the death of his nephew W. Irving Wood from his wound received in battle:
"He was buried on Arlington Hights on the farm formeraly owned by Gen. R. E. Lee at present commanding the Rebel Army his and all other graves are properly marked and a record kept so that if the friends wish to they can remove the body in the fall?"
July 28, August 3, 1864. Albert H. Chace to Ezra Cornell requesting advise and aid in opening an upholstery business.
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August 11, 1864. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from Camp at St. Charles, Ark.
August 27, 1864. B. Cassedy of the Office of the Commissioners of Emigration to Ezra Cornell concerning laborers for the building of the library.
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September 5, 1864. C.S. Lozier, M.D. to Ezra Cornell concerning a scholarship to the New York Medical College for Women.
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October 3, 1864. "Ella" in New Hampshire to Ezra Cornell:
"?I am gifted with what my teachers say, an uncommonly beautiful voice for singing, and being passionately fond of music, I have tried hard to get the means to purchase me an instrument, a Melodeon, is what I have always wished for. My parents have not the means to help me, and having no one else in this wide world to ask assistance of, it gave me encouragement to ask you, an entire stranger, when I read of your generosity. O! kind Sir, if you will enclose me one hundred dollars?"
October 7, 1864. Henry A. Ward to Ezra Cornell describing various fossils he is interested in selling.
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October 24, 1864. P. J. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from Portsmouth, N.C. describing his life and business ventures in the South.
October 28, 1864. Wilbur F. Crummer to Ezra Cornell from Pleasant Valley, Ill.:
"I see you have given $50,000 for a public Library to be formed in Ithica N.Y. now can you give a poor wounded invalid soldier, who is closely confined to the house, some few books or magazines to read through the coming winter? I love to read, but am to poor to buy the works I should like to read. The hours pass off slowly when I have nothing to read?the smallest favor will be thankfully received."
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November 18, 1864. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from camp at St. Louis, Mo. describing marches and his interest in purchasing farmlands near Sedalia, Mo.
December 16, 1864. Amos Brown to Ezra Cornell from Havana discussing the People's College and asking Ezra Cornell that he consider building his college in Havana or Ovid.
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December 17, 1864. W.F. Crummer to Ezra Cornell from Pleasant Valley, Illinois:
"The package of books you were so kind in sending me have, after some delay, arrived in safety and I hasten to acknowledge the receipt of the same and to thank you a thousand times for the books?I anticipate a great deal of profit and pleasure in the perusal of them."
December 18, 1864. W. Kelly to Gov. Fenton concerning New York State Agricultural College:
"A most generous offer of endowment has recently been made by a distinguished citizen of this State, on condition that the Legislature shall make a liberal grant from the income of the public lands, and shall authorise the removal of the Institution to Ithaca Tompkins County.
"It is understood that this subject will be brought before the Legislature at its present session. Whatever has a bearing on the advancement of the art of agriculture is entitled to the best consideration of the Legislature."
December 26, 1864. Geo. Geddes to Ezra Cornell:
"?Our Senator White will tell you how deeply I feel in regard to this matter. So let me say go in for the whole fund -- and make the best University -- teaching all useful knowledge."
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January 15, 1865. Ezra Cornell to F.M. Finch:
"You will recv. an invitation to attend a meeting of eminent men, friends of education, at Albany?to inaugurate the movement for our Agricultural College, and a University at Ithaca?
"I have modified my proposition so that it proposes to donate $500,000, for the erection of a college at Ithaca on condition that the state will endow the institution with the entire land grant fund?
"Assuming that Beers is satisfied that the Peoples College is a failure through Cooks refusal to carry out his promised aid, and that he will now go in for our project as I am told many of the Peoples College Trustees will, we want him to come also."
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January 25, 1865. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo Cornell:
"We had a respectable meeting and harmonious action -- Greely was with us and
is with us . If the Peoples College dont move soon it must get out of the way and let us pass?"
January 27, 1865. Ezra Cornell to F.M. Finch:
"In reference to the College Movement I am sorry that Ithaca was not represented by any of its invited guests, this is an indifference unworthy the importance of the subject?
"The enterprise expands from an Agricultural College, to a University of the first magnitude -- such as we have to go to Europe now to find. Agriculture and mechanic arts being among its leading objects. The annual income of our strongest (Columbia) College is $65,000, from that our other colleges in this state have incomes of $20,000. $10,000. $8,000, and down to $5,000 per ann. If our plans are successful, I feel confidence in being able to lay a financial basis which will give us an anual permenant income of $100,000. That to be expended at Ithaca yearly for all time to come is the material question to which our citizens are supremely indifferent, cant attend a public meeting when invited to promote such an object. May the Lord be merciful to them and grant them future prosperity and happiness.
"If my life is spared, and prosperity continues I shall be able to make a broad mark on the future prosperity of Ithaca. I shall promise
less than I shall perform. If we secure this congressional college fund I am confident that we can make Ithaca the seat of learning in America?"
January 28, 1865. S.B. Howe to Ezra Cornell:
"Capt. D. Tarbell C.S. was taken prisoner by the rebels Sept. 21st 1864 and is now confined in the military prison at Danville Va. He writes that several officers have been exchanged of late by special application; and wishes me to address yourself and Hon. Mr. Schuyler upon the subject of getting the like favor himself?He is very grateful for the interest you have heretofore shown on his behalf and is sanguine that you can be instrumental in releasing him from his present `living death'."
January 29, 1865. E.G. Goddard to Douglass Boardman from Michigan discussing the use of land scrip and the assistance he could give to Ezra Cornell in the matter of locating and purchasing lands.
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February 1, 1865. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo Cornell concerning Col. Jewett's collection:
"I see you dont appreciate stones. If we have a college or University we shall have to procure a cabinet of Natural History and this as far as it goes is the best in the state and best in the world of the history of the N.Y. rock.
"College matter looks more hopeful, but I shall not go into fits to induce the state to accept $500,000 of my money."
February 8, 1865. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell from Albany:
"Cornell University introduced and in hands of Committee of Senate Joint, Literature & Agriculture. Regents have sent a committee to Havanna to pump Cook. Brown says they wont raise any thing with all the pumping they can do."
February 11, 1865. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell from Albany discussing progress of the University Bill.
February 12, 1865. Ezra Cornell to F.M. Finch from Albany concerning oil business, appropriation of profits, report on People's College, the progress on the University Bill and list of possible names for the board of trustees.
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March 7, 1865. John Harald to Ezra Cornell:
"?and immediately I wrote to our Members of Assembly to favor the passage of the "Cornell University" bill, in very pressing terms."
March 9, 1865. John Stanton Gould to Ezra Cornell:
"I am ashamed my dear sir to see any hesitation of haggling in the acceptance of your princely gift which I am sure contains the [?] of priceless blessings to our State."
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March 11, 1865. W.A. Woodward to Ezra Cornell:
"I should feel delighted to have my name connected in the humblest way with the Cornell University. The question "Canst thou send lightnings that they may go and say unto thee, Here we are" see Job 38:35 is solved in our day to a good purpose. It is a happy thought thus to telegraph one's name to posterity, to be able to say to future ages "Here we are." while the lightnings are sent abroad from this institution through its pupils."
March 12, 1865. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"The discussion of the C.U. bill in Com of whole brought out a stronger manifestation of feeling in its favor than was known to exist in Senate."
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March 18, 1865. F.M. Finch to Ezra Cornell:
"On my return I was in the train thrown from the track near Susquehannah. We were running forty miles an hour and struck a broken rail. The two rear cars were thrown from the track down an embankment & ours dragged over the ties against a wood pile & yet we escaped. Some evil angels hang over my visits to Albany."
March 20, 1865. Ezra Cornell to W.A. Woodward:
"It is the telegraph that endows the University?It is my desire to secure still further endowments so that the institution shall at no time be embarassed by want of means, and shall at all times be able to command the best talent in America or in the world. I have one or two hundred thousand dollars more in prospective, and shall hope in a few years to gather around the enterprise another million."
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March 29, 1865. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"Tremain addressed the committee two hours yesterday PM in favor of C. University -- made a splendid argument. Comt adjourned to 3 1/2 this PM to hear oposition. This delay of time is outrageous. It may defeat us."
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April 1, 1865: F.M. Finch to Ezra Cornell:
"This week I received a telegram from Senator White threatening to drop the bill if a delegation did not appear. I think five or six will be there. I have spared Boardman with great difficulty: I must now do his work & mine too but I have told him to stay till the last minute you desire."
April 7, 1865. Elizabeth Blackwell to Ezra Cornell:
"My attention has been called to a newspaper paragraph which mentions your wish to form a Medical College for Women. As I have been for twenty years deeply interested in the medical education of women; and as, with my colleagues, I am now engaged in raising $100000 for this object, I feel a profound interest in your philanthropic purpose?"
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April 23, 1865. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"The Genesee College swindle is bad enough, but it will be worse for that college than for me?. Several members urged it to be stricken out and the amount to be divided among the members to pay for passing the bill without the amendment -- Others said $15,000 to members would secure the passage of the bill -- Others thought $10,000 would do it -- Still others thought $250. It seems to be conceded that we never had a more corrupt Assembly than the one now in session. The University bill has no stains beyond what appears on its face."
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May 11, 1865. Mariah Booth to Ezra Cornell from Nevada City, Colorado Territory recounting travels west from Wisconsin and experience with gold mining.
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May 18, 1865. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell:
"I sent to you at the Astor House a batch of introductory letters to Professors in Columbia Yale & Harvard and hope you received and used them."
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June 12, 1865. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell commenting on the establishment of the Cornell University Library and suggesting titles and books.
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July 21, 1865. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell:
"I spent a little time at Harvard University a few days since and though too weak to explore much, got some new suggestions on certain points."
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October 5, 1865. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell regarding the planning of Cornell University:
"In a few weeks I hope to present you with a report wh. shall be of service. I mean to visit New York New Haven & Cambridge to have a quiet confidential talk with Mr R[?] & leading scientific men to [?] their having absolutely the best men they know with some sketch of their characteristics. But the Presidency. How about Gov. Andrew? He has declined Antioch College. Why may not we secure him if he is desirable? But above all do not let the Observatory depart far from your thoughts. Take no thought for the building. When may I telegraph the Associated Press that you have contracted for by far the largest telescope in the world for the Cornell University? I ache to do it. I cannot help thinking that it would be easier & simpler to take the Yale or small hall system or a modification of it."
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October 9, 1865. Ezra Cornell in response to a request for a loan:
"I declined the loan as I have now to borrow money for my own use."
October 10, 1865. John W. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:
"I send you the Rawligh paper Journal of Freedom whitch gives the procedens of the Niggro Convention?"
October 15, 1865. M.B. Wood to Ezra Cornell:
"I feel that I am fast loosing all ambition to do anything more of service to the world. ?Robinson has been down to the oil regions & has petroleum on the brain. ?That [Deborah] should come here on a visit and in less than two months break friendship with Mary & James family and get into a general Row all round is outrageous & scandalous to say the least. I have taken no part in the bickerings myself, but you ought to hear Phebe blow her out once in a while, she can do it 'as if written in a book.'"
Also undigitized letter to Hon. Lucius Robinson, Oct. 27, 1865 regarding the purchase of 100,000 acres of the college land script with Western Union stock
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December 25, 1865. discussing "Santa Clause" and Ithaca.
1865. Handwritten draft by Ezra Cornell discussing the Cornell University legislation, the conditions of his $500,000 gift, the nature of the University, the financing of the University, and the selection of its trustees and president.
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January 16, 1866. John W. Cornell to Ezra Cornell describing a Hatteras, North Carolina schooner wreck. Portrait.
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February 12, 1866. Ezra Cornell to G.W. Hotchkiss describing the legislation and funding of Cornell University:
"I enclose the copy of a bill, exempting from taxation certain lands, held by states, colleges &c for Educational purposes."
February 12, 1866. Draft of "Ezra Cornell's Address to the Board of Trustees of Cornell University At Albany February 1866" describing financing, founding, and arrangements for the University.
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February 22, 1866. F.M. Finch to Ezra Cornell proposing disposition of Cascadilla Place, and suggesting plans for Cornell University and the Cornell Public Library:
"But even if your judgment will not carry you as far as this at least I do think that Cascadilla Place should begin the University even if ultimately all the other buildings should be on the North side of the creek."
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March 14, 1866. Draft report of the Committee on Buildings.
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March 17, 1866. John Stanton Gould to Ezra Cornell:
"When I learn whether your views correspond with mine in relation to the religious teaching at the University, I will write to you my ideas with regard to a few other fundamental matters connected with the plan of the University."
May 25, 1866. Draft of a letter by Ezra Cornell:
"I expect thus to appropriate the balance of my life, and the labors which I have selected, the building up of a first class University, will afford an abundant field. If, however the loyal men of the State should aquiesce in the partiality of my neighbors, and call upon me to discharge the delicate and responsible duties of Governor, I may feel bound to yield to their wishes, and should do my best to discharge the duties honestly and conscienciously."
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April 13, 1866. Ezra Cornell to Henry Wells:
"Your grounds at Aurora also afford a beautiful and healthy location for such an institution. ?I shall venture a suggestion. It is this, that instead of building a Female Seminary at Aurora, which would be but one of an hundred like institutions scatered over our state, and which though it flourished while you lived, and it was fostered by your care and judgment, might soon dwindle and droop when your fostering hand was withdrawn by death, built at Ithaca, "The Wells female department of the Cornell University" and thus aid us to engraft female education in America."
Also iterates the financial arrangements pertaining to the founding of Cornell University.
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May 15, 1866. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell discussing building plans.
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May 21, 1866. Geo. Geddes to Ezra Cornell:
"I have received a letter from Mr. Selkreg informing me that the men of Tompkins Co. will present your name to the Union Convention this fall for the office of Governor?"
May 22, 1866. Henry Wells to Ezra Cornell:
"?I was still under the necessity of differing with you in your opinions regarding the connection of a female department to your University; in a few words I will say that the object of this institution is to make one of higher standard than those refered to in your letter & prepare young ladies to be wives & mothers to educate the rising generation who are to take our places & influence & direct the destinies of a great nation, feeling and appreciating a mothers influence attending through a whole life, has induced me to begin an institution to promote a higher standard to moral & intilectual culture than has yet been attained by the ordinary village & town institutions to which you allude, this has been a dream of my life?. I will then have an institution that will educate American girls to fulfil the duties & take the possition that a kind Providence has assigned to the
better half of our race in this broad land & woman then can fulfill her mission without going to the polls or entering the areana of politicks."
May 25, 1866. Thomas Hillhouse, New York State Comptroller, to Ezra Cornell:
"?I am hopeful that as you have a greater interest in the formation of a permanent and ample endowment for the Institution than any other individual, we may agree on some plan under which you can become the purchaser of the scrip held by the State, with such provision as to the disposal of the proceeds as will conform with what I conceive to be the requirements of law."
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June 9, 1866. Ezra Cornell to Thomas Hillhouse, State of New York Comptroller detailing Ezra Cornell's proposed use of the land scrip.
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July 4, 1866. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell:
"I have heard of a new candidate for the Presidency of the University -- a Massachusetts judge of high standing. I confess that I would prefer some such man to a clergyman."
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August 4, 1866. Thomas Hillhouse to Ezra Cornell, receipt for bonds for the purchase of land scrip owned by the State.
August 4, 1866. from Albany:
"The struggle is over at last and I have just mailed 200 pieces of land scrip to Mr. Woodward and have written him that we will start for the west by Tuesday the 14th?
"I will however say that at last I have got it to suit me, [and] fully controll all the land scrip for four years whither I take and locate the whole or not. Cook or the Peoples College, and other colleges are powerless to trick or trouble it. I now feel for the first time that the destiny of the Cornell University was fixed, and that its ultimate endowment would be ample for the vast field of labor it embraces, and if properly organized for the developement of truth, industry and frugality it will become a power in the land which will controll and mold the future of this great state, and carry it onward and upward in its industrial developement, and support of civil and religious liberty, and its guarenty of equal rights and equal laws to all men."
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August 24, 1866. Ezra Cornell to T.G. Alvord from Eau Claire, Wis.:
"I have just returned from a trip of three days in the pineries of the Chippawa sleeping two nights in such rude camp as we could construct of pine bows by the application of half an hours labor. Yesterday morning we were aroused from our slumber by the howling of a pack of wolves of a dozen or more counting by the noise and varying voices. They remained with us an hour and then mooved slowly on untill their howl was lost in the distance.
"?I have not time to write to Senator White. Please show this to him, and say that this land operation is going to be a success. It requires skill, hard work and capital, but all those it shall have, and the present and future youth of our State shall enjoy the blessings that shall flow from a richly endowed Institution of learning."
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September 18, 1866. Ezra Cornell to Theodore Townsand:
"?I then found that the land scrip would only sell for about fifty cents per acre in the large quantity offered, and I further proposed to purchase the scrip of the state, select good lands and locate the scrip thereon and sell the land as opirtunity offered, giving to the "Cornell University" all the profits arising from the sale of land, thus realizing two or three dollars per acre as we hope to do instead of fifty cents per acre by the sale of the scrip.
The Legislature accepted this proposition, and passed an act last session authurising the comptroller to sell the scrip to me on such conditions. In my agreement with the comptroller for the purchase of the scrip, I am to give him a mortgage on the land located as colateral security for the performance of my agrrement to pay the profits arising from the sale of the land over to the University, or to assign to the comptroller the Register certificate for the same purpose."
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October 31, November 4, 1866. Horace Greeley to Ezra Cornell concerning his resignation from the Board of Trustees of Cornell University.
November 6, 1866. W.A. Woodward to Ezra Cornell from New York concerning a proposal to connect a Medical College about to be established in New York City with Cornell University.
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November 24, 1866. William Kelly to Ezra Cornell:
"I write to congratulate you upon the election of our friend Senator White to the Presidency of the Cornell University, and to express my sincere gratification that we are to have the benefit of his intelligence, experience and energy in that responsible position."
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November 30, 1866. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell:
"I have thought much since arriving home upon the possible extension of time by the recent Act of Congress. We ought not to procrastinate to anything like the extent allowed by the law but we might put off the reception of students and the beginning to pay professors salaries for
a year and be, I am inclined to think, in much better position for it?"
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December 24, 1866. John Stanton Gould to Ezra Cornell discussing Cornell University's postponement of opening, and possible faculty members.
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January 24, 1867. F.M. Finch to Ezra Cornell concerning Cornell University and Cornell Public Library.
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February 9, 1866. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:
"Military fame & Glory is a fine thing for a well clad back & a full belly, but it is of less account to a hungry man than a lb of pork or a peck of beans."
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February 17, 1867. Ezra Cornell to Eunice Cornell:
"My Dear Grand Daughter. Your little letter came duly to hand and I was very glad to hear from you, and grand Ma was also very glad to hear from. I shall be very glad when I get through with the business here so I can go home and see you and your little brothers, and have you and them go with me up on the hill to see how the workmen get along with the building of the Cornell University where I hope you and your brothers and your cousins and a great many more children will go to school when they get large enough and will learn a great many things that will be useful to them and make them wise and good women and men. I want to have girls educated in the University as well as boys, so that they may have the same opportunity to become wise and useful to society that the boys have. I want you to keep this letter until you grow up to be a woman and want to go to a good school where you can have a good opertunity to learn, so you can show it the President and Faculty of the University to let them know that it is the wish of your Grand Pa, that girls as well as boys should be educated at the Cornell University."
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February 1867. Draft of an address from Ezra Cornell to the Trustees concerning the planning for and building of the University and financial conditions.
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March 16, 1867. Hiram Sibley to Ezra Cornell:
"I went to Washington had an interview with Mr. Seward and the Russian Minister. They both agree that the Company done right in Suspending the work But Still think the line will be needed for Political reasons."
March 16, 1867. H.W. Sage to Ezra Cornell:
"Can you attend Church at Beeches tomorrow morning -- sit with me?I want to talk with you about several matters & shall feel obliged for such an interview -- If your wife's with you bring her"
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March 27, 1867. T.N. Rooker to Ezra Cornell:
"Dont forget about the missing documents in regard to the Library Dedication."
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April 26, 1867. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"White went to Buffalo last night, undecided yet which building to put up next."
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May 12, 1867. Mary Ann Cornell to Ezra Cornell:
"Mary writes she wants some money very much. I don't know why she always applies to me for money for I have none for her, nor any way to get any that I know of."
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May 26, 1867. Mary Ann Cornell to Ezra Cornell:
"I thought I would improve the dreary hours of this gloomy day in writing. Today commences the last quarter of the moon and if we have a rainy week this week, we may look for three weeks more rainy weather after that, according to the old calculations for the weather. This is a very lonesome day indeed and I don't know but I shall have the blues before night."
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July 20, 1867. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell from Gloucester, Mass.:
"I am often at Boston and spent Wednesday & Thursday at Cambridge, at Commencement, where they seem much interested in the Cornell University and called me out for a speech at the public dinner which I gave them?"
July 27, 1867. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell from Gloucester, Mass.:
"Day before yesterday I spent delightfully with Prof. Agassiz?. I had long conversations with him regarding the merits of different candidates for Scientific Professorships. He was very full and explicit.
"He gave me very full information regarding collections. He thinks highly of the Newcomb Collection of shells at San Francisco and the Carpenter Collection at Montreal. I promised to send him the paper which you sent me for his judgement."
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August 5, 1867. Frank H. Bradley to Ezra Cornell concerning the development of a department of Natural History at Cornell University.
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September 12, 1867. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell:
"Even if the difference in the lines of the two buildings is not detected at once it seems to me that the erection of a central building will bring it out. We are building for centuries and should not subject ourselves to the charge of stupidity from those who come after us. Now you had your way about the site -- yield to the majority in regard to this slight matter of the level. Your every wish regarding the contemplated institution has the sacredness of a command with me since your devotion to the great object has become so manifest, but I earnestly hope that you will concede this point. Every college so far is in the main an architectural failure. Do not let us risk the same failure by disturbing the continuation between the leading features of our plan as I feel we shall do by this difference of grades & architectural lines. Don't do it."
Letter also discusses military education and faculty.
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September 23, 1867. Ezra Cornell to the Trustees of the Cornell University reporting on construction of first two buildings, building fund, finances, building plans, land scrip fund, and use of land scrip.
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October 26, 1867. O.S. Wood to Ezra Cornell from Milwaukee:
"Mr. Robertson?travelled with a man from the Chippewa Country from whom he learned that your agents in the land business are not considered sound?He said that it seemed to be the general impression in that section that the choice lots were not taken for you."
October 26, 1867: Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell:
"I have been corresponding with Harris of Monroe Co. & with others regarding the Prof'ship of Agriculture?I am strongly inclined toward him.
"I am also corresponding with the West Point authorities & others regarding a Prof. of Civil Engineering & military tactics."
November 7, 1867. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"I was some better yesterday and am still better today, but the Dr. says the action of the liver is not yet quite right. I think in the course of next week I shall be fully well again, and have passed a fit of sickness which I have in a measure been expecting and dreading the past 3 mo."
November 8, 1867. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"I am decidedly better today and have just returned from a ride up to Cascadilla Place with Hon. Geo. D. Beers. Windows mostly in the building and scratchcoat will be on all the walls tomorrow."
November 9, 1867. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell:
"Hearing that you have been confined to your house by illness I feel quite guilty to think that I have neither been to see you nor written you?Now my dear friend let me beg and beseech you to take care of yourself. I don't think you realise how much depends upon you. In Heaven's name take things easily. Put the work on us younger fellows. Don't travel nights anymore, don't expose yourself to cold, don't ride in the front cars. If any man has earned a right to quiet and comfort you are that man.
"I learned the other day?that there is an opportunity to sell our remaining scrip at a good price. Let me urge you to do it?What we most want is a larger income now. Had we such an increase as that would give, we could at once take the lead?"
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November 25, 1867. W. Newcomb to Ezra Cornell:
"Our mutual friend Colo. E. Jewett has repeatedly written to me in relation to the disposition of my Collection in Conchology to the Cornell University. My chief inducement in parting with the labor of over thirty years in collecting?is that they may have a permanent and secure resting place?. I would much prefer that it should go to my Native State of New York."
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December 6, 1867. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell:
"Now I beg of you excuse me this time. I think it vastly better on every account, in fact I think it due myself that the first address in Ithaca should be my inaugural. After that I will speak & work there as much as you please."
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December 19, 1867. Geo. S. Hastings, Private Secretary to the Governor of New York State, to Ezra Cornell concerning prices for land scrip.
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January 2, 1868. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell discussing sale of land scrip, meeting of professors in the spring, and preparation of circulars about the University.
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January 19, 1868. from Albany concerning political action on educational matters and his travels to Buffalo.
January 27, 1868. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell:
"I have secured James Russell Lowell the foremost literary man in the United States as one of our Non. Resd't Professors."
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January 29, 1868. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell:
"Again I say enlarge the list of Addresses for Circulars in every way possible. Have Finch enlarge his list of lawyers. I tell you that it is the best investment we can make. The main reason why the University of Michigan has 1500 students today, -- more than any other college in the land is that I forced through the policy of letting the people know what we could do for them."
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February 25, 1868. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell discussing the opening of the University, trustee matters, selection of faculty and architects, and construction of buildings.
March 5, 1868. William S. King to Ezra Cornell from Cornell College:
"Since Cornell University has been founded and has been receiving such munificent donations from yourself, I have though[t] how useful a twentieth part of this liberality would be in this new country, and how pleasant it would be if these two sister intitutions could look to a common Father and thereby the name of Ezra Cornell become as well and as thankfully know[n] in the west as in the east."
March 9, 1868. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:
"What about the funds for Europe which I telgraphed you about last week, but which you did not answer. White says he wants $15,000 for Books and Chemicals abroad, instead of $14,000. Will you send me the other $1000, or must he get along with the $14,000? White says if only 14,000 is sent he will have to use $1000 of his own funds. My impression is that the $15,000 had better be placed at his disposal."
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March 10, 1868. Maria Mitchell to Ezra Cornell from Vassar College regarding the admission of women to Cornell and other universities:
"?I will say some things to you which I must request?be considered
confidential in relation to the 'woman' subject. I have no fancy for the agitation on the subject?"
March 14, 1868. A.W. Cornell to Narcissa Peters:
"There is a rumour afloat that there has been a legacy left in England to the Cornells of New York and Connecticut supposed to amount to Sixty Millions of dollars."
March 15, 1868. from Washington:
"I have already got the foundation laid for a large amount of business for Photo Lathography, if we can do the work as well and cheaper than by Old processes?I have also launched a move to remove various restrictions from our college Land Scrip Entries, and to get certain importations for the Cornell University free of duty, And to get a waggon road provided for from [Brurette] Falls to Lake Superior to be paid for by a grant of pulic lands along the route?. I judge by what I see with my eyes & ears that "Andy" was thoroughly alarmed as to his situation when he got the reports of the first days proceedings of the Impeachment Court. Previously he regarded himself safe from conviction?. Andrew Johnson is a bad man, and the American people know it."
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March 24, 1868. Mina Cornell to her cousin:
"You asked me if I thought there was money coming to us. Indeed I think there is for it is not likely that Ezra Cornell would be so anxious to enquire out the relatives and desire all the information possible according to the laws of England."
April 3, 1868. E. Samson to Ezra Cornell regarding the founding of Cornell University:
"Your sentiment as expressed by Prof. White. I say
Amen to 'An institution where any person can find instruction in any study.'"
April 8, 1868. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell from Paris:
"Have tried to shake of thoughts of the University -- but -- 'Distance lends enchantment to the view' & I think of little else?. Have decided to go personally & make the purchases of Apparatus & Chemicals at Heidelberg, Darmstadt? & Berlin."
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April 20, 1868. Mariah Booth to Ezra Cornell describing homesteading and family happenings in Colorado Territory.
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April 27, 1868. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell from Paris describing his efforts to gather books and other materials for the University:
"?the election of Weaver is first rate. He is a true man. Knows what education should be & knows what we are striving to be?. I have been hard at work every day & have saved several thousand francs by prowling around the books shops of the Latin Quarter instead of buying of Agents?. If it is possible ie if it is not absolutely impossible I want the Univ. to put 5000 dollars more at my disposal?. There are elaborate models of every important organ -- an ear for example two feet long -- price 150 fr by wh. a hundred students can learn more in an hour than from text books in a month."
May 3, 1868. from Washington:
"I met Prof. Henry and Baird of the Smithsonian Institute yesterday, they hail the Cornell University with joy. Their building is nearly restored from the ravages of the fire and will soon be in full beauty and usefulness again. The Patent Office is becoming a miracle of groth and expose of inventive talent. The buildings are six or eight times larger than when I worked there in 1844 and they are more crowded now than then. There was some 17,000 patents issued last year, and will probably be 20,000 issued this year. This shows the great inventive wealth of this country."
May 3, 1868. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:
"?sorry to hear that you are sorely pressed for funds. I can hardly realize what satisfaction it can be to be wealthy and at the same time hard up, yet there are other & perhaps more simple problems that I have failed to solve."
May 3, 1868. listing the twelve rules of wealth.
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May 13, 1868. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell from Paris describing his efforts to gather books and other materials for the University, and reflecting on the University:
"I find that they are about as much at sea regarding details of instruction in Agriculture here as we are in America?. This is confidential for it would be a serious injury to me on many accounts were the impression to be spread now that I am about to remove to Ithaca. I want a good comfortable place & absolutely healthy. I will sacrifice my own comfort, health, time, property & political purposes to the Cornell University, but there is one thing I will not sacrifice & that is the health of my wife & children -- so keep my interests in mind. I don't want to buy a place. I hope to put up something to suit me by & by, but I want a decent place for?my family on the hill."
May 21, 1868. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell from Frankfort, Stuttgart, Heidelberg:
"?the Royal Agricultural College at Hohenheim which was the institution I most wished to see. [Professor Rueff] especially dwelt upon the liberty allowed students there. They study just what they please -- making out a course for themselves (You see I have underscored the points where their practice is a working out of my theory.)"
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June 21, 1868. D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell:
"I want if possible to avail myself of [the Whiting Farm] cannot you help me to accomplish it?"
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June 24, 1868. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell from London:
"As to the Prof. of Veterinary Surgery &c. Prof. Pancoast, of Philadelphia told me of a young Englishman studying at the Imperial Veterinary College at Alford. He is a fine fellow, good practically & theoretically and stands fifth in a large class which is good for an Englishman among Frenchmen."
July 3, 1868. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell from London:
"My dear Mr. Cornell I have secured Goldwin Smith late Prof. at Oxford University as our Prof. of English & General Constitutional History. I have secured James Law of Belfast as Professor of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery?. Am hard at work on the book purchases & am getting together a nobel collection."
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October 30, 1868. Burt Green Wilder to Ezra Cornell:
"There is a general feeling of insecurity among those of us who occupy the upper floors of Cascadilla, and both Pres'd White and myself have ordered Rope Ladders for escape in case of fire: but I have not thought it necessary to ask their formal cooperation in the request I now make of you: That a Fire Extinguisher of medium size be placed in the center of each of the floors -- and that a proper number of persons be instructed in their use."
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November 24, 1868. Ezra Cornell to William F. Allen describing the charter and function of Cascadilla Place and its use by Cornell University.
November 26, 1868. W.A. Woodward to Louis Agassiz regarding student labor.
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December 18, 1868. Ezra Cornell to R.R. Williams, Ithaca Fire Chief:
"I also deeply sympathize with [the firemen] in the hardships and vexation arising from the false alarm of the other evening which called them forth at midnight, and regret exceedingly that the folly of thoughtless youth should thus multiply their labors?. Please accept the enclosed hundred dollars for the firemen of Ithaca as a small token of my regard."
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January 1, 1869. from New York City describing books bought for the family, affairs in New York and Albany, and family finances.
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January 17, 1869. proposing an education/work system:
"The letters [pre 1845] however have been a source of rare enjoyment for me, and has carried me back a score of years to the period of your heroic trials, when in poverty you struggled so nobly to care for and bring up properly our dear children during the absence which a like struggle imposed on me?. Honors cheaply won are lightly esteemed."
January 30, 1869. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"Don't mention this as I don't want to get the reputation of being a stock speculator, and if it was known here that it was my stock that was sold it would have the effect to depress the market."
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February 13, 1869. Hiram Sibley to Ezra Cornell from Rome:
"Every body I see in Europe seems to regard with favor the plan & Policy Inaugurated by yourself & Prest. White and all predict a glorious future for the Cornell University. It has been a source of especial Pride & pleasure to me to witness the interest manifest by the men of learning everywhere I go in the "New University" (as they call it) to distinguish it from any one of the Old Established and to convey the idea of progress an improvement a new and better institution and better calculated to meet the wants of our growing county.
"You are aware no doubt of the immediate cause of my visit abroad. My Physicians insisted that the only way to give my little overworked Brain rest was to put the Atlantic Ocean between me and my office."
February 26, 1869. Ezra Cornell to Lucy M. Washburn on the education of women at Cornell University:
"If the question of w[h]ere girls should board was the only one we could master that, but when and to whom shall they?attend to other educational duties is the question. We have now 400 boys here, and our room so crowded that we are forced to all sorts of expedients to make room for them. We also have several hundred young men pressing for admission who we cannot yet receive for want of room. If your case is one that only involves educational facilities, you can secure what you wish at Vassar College, and leave us to experiment on the boys?. I hope to live to see a thousand young women being educated in this University, with as many or more of their brothers, and all working smoothly and in harmony for their best good, but I don't want the young women forced upon us before we are prepared to make a success of it."
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April 14, 1869. John McGraw to Ezra Cornell:
"My thoughts & purposes were these, no more no less. I started out by will to leave $30,000 to the university my second thought was to bestow it during my life and my third conclusion was that the center building would give a more ship shape look to the Hill side & allow an earlier finishing up and for the difference between say $30,000 & $50,000 I would not allow the opportunity to pass."
April 28, 1869. Phebe Wood to Ezra Cornell:
"Brother D.B. reports his health improving a little. He says he talks of going to Louisiana. I advised him to stay where he was join the Presbyterian Church and become a deacon. If he only would not have so many visions. I think he would be much better off. Poor Dan."
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May 14, 1869. Alonzo B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell from New York regarding the hiring of Scotch English or German immigrants to work as less expensive laborers at the University:
"My instructions are to select only such men as will be likely to vote right when they become voters."
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July 22, 1869. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell describing the nature of Cornell University (especially in relation to Harvard) and his goals, plans, and expectations.
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July 24, 1869. Ezra Cornell to Mattie Curran from Ithaca:
"Miss Mattie Curran There is a great reform required in the education and habits of females. Please study the subject and see what can be done for them. Respectfully yours Ezra Cornell"
July 26, 1869. Thomas N. Rooker to Ezra Cornell:
"Come away from Ithaca to the seashore for a short time. It will do you all good?. My wire window shades and wire doors are in their places and I am glad to tell you that my wife says, now that they are up and do not bother her as she thought they would, "they are the nicest things she ever had in her house." We hoist all of our windows, open our doors, and then sit down and laugh at the flies and bugs as they butt their heads against the wire cloth, trying to get in."
July 31, 1869. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell from Swampscott discussing University buildings, campus roads, faculty, and advertisement of the Agricultural and Mechanical departments:
"?we must take special pains to strengthen the Agricultural & Mechanical Departments. Other departments will be filled easily enough -- but these which by the Law of Congress are made
leading departments must be kept constantly before the people."
August 3, 1869. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell from Swampscott:
"I want to go with you to see Greely to have a talk with him about the University. It is very evident to me that the sectarian plot against us is coming to a head very fast. Their paper addresses & sermons are venomous. One of them last week contained three distinct attacks on our unchristian character."
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September 15, 1869. Cornell University "Rules for the Halls and Public Rooms."
September 18, 1869. George L. Shepard to Ezra Cornell proposing establishment of a voluntary labor plan for students unable to pay for their education.
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October 7, 1869. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell from Philadelphia:
"Am a little nervous at having received no news from the University. I have to keep it out of my mind as much as possible or I should 'strike a bee line' for Ithaca."
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October 19, 1869: Malvina Higgins to Ezra Cornell from Maryville, East Tennessee:
"Mr. Cornell will permit one who has been teacher among the Freedmen in different states, to thus tax his valuable time with a note of thanks that he does not exclude
colored persons from the benefits of his University. Seeing the universal horror with which such a suggestion is received in our schools at the south, and yet seeing that "Cornell" has become a subject of interest among the intelligent of these places far beyond my expectations, even, we can but regard this step in your institution as greater than a political victory -- and an important aid in re-construction, notwithstanding the fact that a few northern colleges have thus done. That such an institution as yours has taken this step in recognition of the brotherhood of man seems to be of special consequence just now?. It is with pleasure, that on returning to East Tennessee, where this Maryville College has struggled so hard, I am able to say that the beautiful University which graces my home has taken this step."
October 26, 1869. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann from Utica:
"I did not find the stone giant in Syracuse. He is still laying where he was found -- 13 miles out from Sy. Prest. White went out and saw him on Sunday and proposed to drive me out there yesterday but I decided that a cold ride of 26 miles would be more unpleasant to me than my visit would benefit the giant -- so I was content to hear White tell about him. They took in $1,500 Sunday as fees from vistors who flocked there by thousands to see him."
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November 18, 1869. E.C. Ward to Ezra Cornell thanking him on behalf of the Woman's Parliament for his offer of aid to Miss Manedel in the establishment of her Horticultural School for Girls:
"?allow me in the name of the Parliament to express their gratitude and appreciation of your kindly endeavors to furthur the advancement of all worthy efforts in the cause of progress and increased usefulness
everywhere , as well as for your interest in the specific work which engages the attention of Miss Manedel."
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December 27, 1869. Wesley Newcomb to Ezra Cornell from Panama:
"I have just completed packing and marking a large case of specimens the results thus far of my collecting in this place, at the Islands of Flamenco and at Taboga. At this latter place we have spent two weeks, dredging and collecting on the beach. Independent of shells I have had the good fortune to have presented me by I.B. Akin Esqr. Commercial Agent of the English Line of West Coast Steamers, some 15 or 16 specimens of pottery collected by him at considerable expense from the graves of the Incas of Peru. Colo. Jewett in his Ethnological enthusiasm values them at thousands of dollars. Such as they are, however they make not an unimportant commencement in this department and are for the University."
December 20, 1869. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell:
"It seems to me that Cascadilla is the place for the entertainment on Founders day?. If agreeable to you I would like in the morning to address the students on University life in general, reviewing the past term & making suggestions as to the future."
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January 1, 1870. John Stanton Gould to Ezra Cornell:
"The University will certainly triumph gloriously but it will have some severe fighting before the victory is won. Goldwin Smith's lecture published in the Atlantic is about as comprehensive and important a paper as I have ever seen. If school girls had not degraded the word so much I shuld say it was magnificent?"
January 7, 1870. Copy of Ezra Cornell's agreement with the Commissioners of the Land Office of New York State for the purchase of land scrip (August 4, 1866).
January 7, 1870. Ezra Cornell to Mary from Albany:
"Last eve when I reached Albany I found the W. Union operators are on a strike. This will make it necessary for me to go from here to NY?"
January 8, 1870. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann from Ithaca:
"As you and Mary disapprove my going to Albany, and as A.B. disapproves my going to N.Y to return with you, I enclose you my pass, and remain at home awaiting orders."
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January 31, 1870. Wesley Newcomb to Ezra Cornell from the Steamer Costa Rica, Bay of Panama:
"My excursion has made the University favorably known throughout the Central American States and in good time will I trust bear fruit for the advancement of it's interests."
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February 22, 1870. Resolution adopted by the Faculty of Cornell University:
"That the Secretary be instructed to inform the Executive Committee that in the opinion of this Faculty it is highly important that rooms be immediately provided and suitably furnished for the accomodation of sick students."
April 14, 1870. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell concerning Cornell University buildings, Mathematical Library, and White's Architectural Library.
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June 20, 1870. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann from Saratoga:
"There are comparatively few people here yet, the heat of summer not having been intence enough to drive the denizens of the cities and the fools from good country homes to this retreat of fashion, folly, and flirtation?. Hotels are thick and large and very many private families take boarders during 'the Season'?. I think we must utilize the 'Cascadilla Place' in the same way. Fix up the grounds and fit up and furnish the house, and open it for a Summer Hotel from July 1st to Sept. 15th. Fill it with 200 guests for that time at $3. per day would amount to $47,000 half of which would be profit. If only $10,000 per vacation could be realized from its use it would be a great help. This trip to Saratoga has opened up this subject to my mind with more fource than it has ever before been presented."
July 29, 1870. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann from Eau Claire, Wisconsin:
"Since you were here they have got two fine bridges. One over the Chippewa where the Ferry was and the other over the Eau Claire. The town has grown decidedly in the time and the R.R. will add much more to it. This addition of R.R. facilities will add to the value of our lands and increase the sales."
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August 23, 1870. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell:
"The immediate completion of the Sibley Building is of immense importance to us. We are at present utterly crippled in our department of Mechanic Arts for want of just such accomodations as the Sibley Building will give. I insist that this building now is worth two or three buildings later."
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January 17, 1871. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell:
"Keep close watch over our beloved University. Take no more risks than are absolutely necessary. Watch the monthly statements. Insist on knowing just where we are and what we can rely upon. Pardon this reiteration -- it is because I honor you and love our great enterprise. Good bye. God bless you."
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December 13, 1871. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell:
"Finch tells me that you have the draft of a bill looking to the ratification of your contract with this State by Congress. I wish you would hold on a little about that until we can confer upon it.
"Sage is probably to be here tomorrow. He aches to begin his College, evidently."
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April 2, 1872. Andrew Dickson White to Ezra Cornell regarding the sale of college lands, a contemplated resignation of the Presidency, the building of a private residence, and the long-range development of the University.
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November 20, 1872. Ezra Cornell to John Horn recalling the early development of the telegraph.
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February 16, 1873. Ezra Cornell to Hon. Nelson K. Hopkins regarding withdraw of 1025 shares of Western Union stock in accordance with contract of November 1865 and development of the University.
Also a February 19, 1873 letter from A. D. White discussing Cornell's copy of Piranesi.
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Also an undigitized letter to Hon. N. K. Hopkins, Comptroller, Sept. 16, 1873 re stocks, including Western Union. There is more conversation regarding Hopkins and stocks in October.
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April 13, 1874. Ezra Cornell to Edward Clasbeck:
"It is 30 years this month since I purchased the poles for the line between Washington & Baltimore upon which the first wires were suspended, very few had faith in the success of the enterprise at that time, Prof. Morse('s) failure to make the wires work through leaden pipes beneath the surface of the earth had shaken his faith, but the wires were on the poles by 1st May 1844, and the line got to work with remarkable success considering the clumsy instruments we had to work with. Great changes have taken place since that time, but few of us who contributed to the success of the Telegraph remain to witness the fact that it has become the most important agency in the affairs of mankind - and with those few I desire a reunion."
April 15, 1874. Ezra Cornell to John Horn describing the development of the telegraph:
"The suggestion for putting the wires on poles came to Prof. Morse and myself about the same time from reading the reports in an English work of the necessity Prof. Wheatstone found for putting his wires on poles after a failure in pipes similar to that of Prof. Morse."
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Undated letters of Emory Cobb, Henry O'Reilly, J.J. Speed, J.H. Wade, Theodore Faxton, E.W. Chester, Phebe Wood, Henry Wells, Wesley Newcomb, Goldwin Smith, Horace L. Emery, Jeremiah Beebe, Alonzo B. Cornell, Thomas N. Rooker, and others; includes letters from individuals who do not occur elsewhere in the Cornell Papers.
This undated material pertains to the telegraph industry, the Wood family in Albion Michigan, Cornell University, and includes several appeals to Ezra Cornell for aid.
Many pieces are fragments, scraps, or parts of dated letters; the undated correspondence includes calling cards, and drafts of outgoing letters by Ezra Cornell concerning several important matters of the telegraph industry, the Cornell family, and the University.
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August 13, 1837. Martin B. Wood to Elijah Cornell:
"As a matter consequent upon human life I have for a course of years studiously regarded the motions and movements of my female acquaintance for the purpose of discovering one among the multitude who possessed the requisite qualities for rendering the married life preferable to any other and of the number of ladies that have fallen within the circle of my acquaintance I feel it my imperitive duty to bestow upon your daughter Phebe, the preferance."
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January 14, 1849. Jane Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"I suppose that Father thinks about starting for California in search of Gold, tell him not to do so untill Spring and I will go with him. Mart is very strongly attracted with the
Feaver but has not started for there yet?. The people of Albion hold California meetings here two or three times a week, and there is a large company going from here early in the Spring. Do you know where Daniel is at present. I should not wonder if he was in California by this time."
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July 7, 1860. E.B. Cornell to Elijah Cornell from Ithaca discussing local news and family news, including a 'baloon assension' in Ithaca and the work he is doing for Ezra Cornell.
December 15, 1860. Benjamin Cornell to Elijah Cornell from Agricultural College in Ovid:
"I'm well at present & going to College at Ovid with Perry?. The College to where we go is intended to give a student a good thorough education in English languages & cemistry & also other branches to numerous to mention. With a practical knowledge of Agriculture. The College is large enough to accomodate 200 students. They have a farm attached to it of 600 acres to practice & experiment on."
December 18, 1860. O.H. Perry Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell from Agricultural College at Ovid:
"I received your letter this evening and was very glad to hear from you on account of the carpet for I tell you this room is enough to make the strongest man in the State of New York homesick?"
June 4, 1861. Edward S. Cornell to Elijah from Michigan Asylum discussing his health, the Asylum, and his desire to return to his farm.
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December 8, 1874. Mary Ann Cornell to E.B. Cornell:
"Ezra received your letter of the 6th this morning and requested me to answer it as he is unable to write?he is very feble indeed but we hope he will get about again soon, he has about finished the business of settleing with the University and that is a great load off his mind. I hope he will get his matters in shape so he can give more attention to geting his health restored and less to business, the boys are all doing all they can to assist him, and I hope it will all come out right."
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January 24, 1875. D.B. Cornell to J.H. Cornell from Colorado:
"Yours of 16th recieved this morning, in which you say that Brother Ezra was very much embarassed during the last year of his life & you express the fear that there will not be much left &c. I am not surprised at the information as E had wrote to me in the summer that if his R.R. project failed I would probably be better off than he would be. I was however in hopes that he would make a success of that as he had intimated to me that he should, if successful in that, then quit active business & seek the rest he so much needed & desired?
"I have had trouble with my wife more or less ever since we were married & I expect she will soon leave me. I am well assured that she expected Ezra would make a will & leave her some money independant from me & now that she has failed on that I think she will leave soon."
Also discussion of opportunities in Colorado.
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n.d. Mary Cornell to Eunice Cornell:
"I dont know what the[e] will say at my staying to Ithaca to work in the paper mill but there is a good chance [?] I can make more then I can to work at housework?"
n.d. Jane Cornell to Eunice Cornell from Michigan:
"I want to learn how to Telegraph for I think it would be a much pleasenter and more proffitable business. Phebe thinks I will be very foolish if I do not improve the opportunity. She says she will give me $2.00 per week if I will stay and help do her work and sewing, and give me a chance to learn to telegraph."
Ezra Cornell's diaries and notebooks, thirty-three in number, were kept as companion pieces to his correspondence and served a documentary and communicative function. The diaries sometimes provide a slightly different viewpoint from the one addressed in family correspondence. Topics include travel, plow business, telegraph business, farming, politics, and Cornell family history and genealogy. The letterbooks are bound copies of outgoing letters concerning the telegraph industry and the founding of Cornell University.
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Diary of 1841 trip to New England to visit mills, observe uses of waterpower, and promote Ithaca as a manufacturing center. Includes detailed description of Boston and many New England mills and factories. Daily entries in 1848 and 1851 concern telegraph business and travels through New York and New England checking and repairing lines.
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Notebook, includes financial accounts, lists of names and addresses, and copies of letters.
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Diary with daily entries from journey through the South selling plows and plow patent rights. Provides description of travel by railroad, steamboat and foot, reports on personal health and treatments, and details of meals, including "a real log cabin supper." Diary includes observations of Southern businesses and descriptions of Monticello and Mount Vernon.
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Continuation of diary of trip to the South, with descriptions of Washington, D.C., the White House, the Capitol, the Patent Office, and Philadelphia.
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Notebook from trip to the South, includes remedies for the croup and consumption, census figures for counties in North Carolina, plow business notes and accounts, details of routes traveled, and notes on Southern factories.
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Diary of Cornell as the Superintendent of the New York, Albany & Buffalo Magnetic Telegraph Company. Includes details of travel, directives given, and repairs made on lines. Diary ends with resignation submitted to Theodore Faxton.
Small scrapbook of newspaper clippings concerning the Erie & Michigan telegraph line.
Notebook, includes details on operation of visual telegraph, and notes on telegraph business concerning routes, the building of lines, finances, and supplies.
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Diary of work on New York telegraph lines. Includes details of line maintenance and operations.
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Diary of Cornell as the Superintendent of the New York & Western Union Telegraph Company. Includes details of travel, line repairs, and line overhauls.
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Dairy of work on New York telegraph lines. Includes details of travel, line repair, building of lines, conflicts with Smith, purchase of Ohio, Indiana & Illinois Telegraph Company, and other telegraph business. Also includes some family news.
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Diary of work in the telegraph business. Includes travels in New York, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan, the leasing of the Ohio, Indiana & Illinois line, and sales of telegraph stock.
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Diary of work in the telegraph business in New York and the west. Includes the consolidation with the House Company, Cornell's work as superintendent of part of the Union line (responsible for the Erie & Michigan line from Buffalo to Milwaukee and also of the circuit west of Cleveland), and a description of Hughes printing telegraph. Also includes details of travel and some family news.
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Diary and cash accounts. Includes details of visit to oil wells in Titusville, travels on telegraph business, work with the New York State Agricultural Society, and the coal oil business.
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Diary and cash accounts. Includes details of life in Ithaca where Cornell is "home all day" and involved in the Tompkins County Agricultural Society, the Farmers Club, raising sheep and cattle, and collecting agricultural statistics. Also includes travels to Washington, D.C. and attendance at Lincoln's inauguration.
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Diary and cash accounts. Includes work in the New York State Legislature, interest in agricultural machinery, and a proposal to rescue the agricultural school and start an agricultural and military school. Also includes some detail of trip to England and Europe.
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Diary of trip to England, with details of the crossing from New York to Liverpool, travels in England and herds of pedigreed shorthorns visited. Also includes an alphabetical listing of Cornells in the United States with addresses and dates.
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Diary of travels in England, herds inspected and animals purchased.
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Diary and cash accounts. Includes records of telegraph stock and various financial records. Note in back of diary to "enquire what the effect of large endowments are upon colleges in the Old World -- How many graduates do they send out, & c."
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Diary and cash accounts. Includes notes on Cornell family history and genealogy, business notes, and Western Union and Albany Agricultural Works financial statistics.
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Diary of trip to Pennsylvania to examine the coal mines near Towanda.
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Diary and cash accounts. Includes details of trip to Wisconsin to "hunt lands" and other work concerning Cornell University and college land scrip. Also includes Western Union business and financial notes.
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Diary and cash accounts. Includes notes on Cornell family history and genealogy, applicants for notary public, and collections for the University as well as business and financial information.
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Diary and cash accounts. Includes Cornell University business, Western Union statistics, and notes on Cornell family history and genealogy. Also mentions month long illness.
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Diary and cash accounts. Includes notes concerning personal finances, photo-lithography business, Western Union, Albany Agricultural Works, and Cornell University. Also describes solar eclipse viewed from Ithaca and the treatment for a liver complaint.
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Diary and cash accounts. Includes notes concerning business of Albany Agricultural Works and Western Union and notes on Cornell family history and genealogy. Also, details concerning Cornell University, including listing of where students are from, housing in Cascadilla place, and reports on Wisconsin lands.
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Diary and cash accounts. Includes business statistics of Western Union and Albany Agricultural works, railroad business and notes on Cornell family history and genealogy. Also includes details concerning a trip to the Mid-West and land grant business.
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Diary and cash accounts. Includes notes on Western Union business statistics, notes on railroad business and on Cornell University.
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Notebook of reports and notes from articles on telegraph science.
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Notebook of abbreviations used in telegraphic communication.
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Notebook with listing of Cornells with cities, states, and businesses. Also list of people to whom circulars of Cornell University were to be sent.
Financial records include bills of sale, statements of accounts, orders for equipment and supplies in connection with the telegraph industry, the establishment and operation of Cornell University, and the Cornell family.
Many forms of hand-written and printed documents are represented in this series, and include indentures, agreements, articles of association and agreement, deeds, receipts, sketches, official reports of corporations, announcements (as by railroad and telegraph companies), petitions, stock transfers, notice of legal proceedings, blueprints, small broadsides, hand-drawn maps, legislative bill announcements, lithographic drawings, drafts of speeches, hand-written copies of outgoing letters assembled for legal purposes, and many other kinds of material. Most of these pertain to Cornell's involvement with the telegraphic industry and the founding of the University; others concern New York State legislation and Cornell family matters.
Telegraph material includes printed brochures, historical writings, articles of association and agreement, reports, receipts for telegraph stock, proceedings of boards of directors for various telegraph companies, by-laws and incorporation papers, copies of the American Telegraph Magazine and Schaffner's Telegraph Companion, notices, scientific articles, legal briefs and comment on suits, charts of tariffs and charges, financial papers and other printed pieces. Stock subscriptions for the Ithaca and Palmyra Telegraph (1849) bear Ezra Cornell's annotations and lists of subscribers. In addition to the Western Union Telegraph Company, other organizations include the Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company, the Washington and New Orleans Telegraph Company, the New York and Erie Telegraph Company, the Franco-American Telegraph, the Atlantic Telegraph, International Ocean Telegraph Company, the East India Telegraph Company, the Russian American Telegraph - Western Union Extension, and several other domestic lines and companies.
Includes Cornell legal cases, including the 1872 Woodward vs. Cornell suit to recover money for services performed by W.A. Woodward for Ezra Cornell in locating public lands in Wisconsin, and the Surrogate Court's proceedings in the matter of the estate of Ezra Cornell.
Papers pertain to Ezra Cornell's will and estate, and include mortgages, warranty deeds, tax papers and documents, title abstracts, land contracts, bonds, receipts, and other papers.
Several forms of material document the chief vocations and enterprises of the life of Ezra Cornell. Newspaper clippings kept by Cornell and later by members of his family chiefly concern the telegraph industry and the founding of Cornell University. Other topics and issues featured in the clippings include the growth of American railroads, the Republican Party, local and national politics and government including Ezra Cornell's candidacy and service in the New York State Legislature, and real estate especially pertaining to the Wisconsin lands; also mining, scientific advancement, medicine, and other issues. Other material includes agricultural catalogues, maps, particularly of lines of the developing telegraph industry and Wisconsin lands; photographs of Cornell and his family; broadsides; Ezra Cornell's "ciphering "book" (1823-1860) which included financial and arithmetic lessons and calculations; the Manual of the Common Council of New York, material from the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1867, calling cards, railroad passes, the New York State Agricultural Society's medal presented to Cornell for his cattle, Cornell's ceremonial wedding socks, and a volume celebrating the Cornell Public Library. Also, biographical and genealogical materials, and printed materials concerning Cornell University.
[For genealogical information, see also Rev. John Cornell,
As well as having notes from his youth the book also contains later notes by Ezra about his fortunes and how he should spend his wealth.
Calling cards; railroad and telegraph passes; New York State Agricultural Society medal; wedding socks, 1831; leather coin purse; Cornell Public Library descriptive volume, 1866; letterheads.
Drawing of Ezra Cornell's home on the corner of Seneca and Tioga Streets in Ithaca; painting of Elijah Cornell; Chalk portrait drawing of Ezra Cornell as a young man; broadsides; scrapbook.
Printed agricultural materials including catalogues of Ezra Cornell's Short Horned Cattle, Valleyview Farm Poultry by Ezra Cornell, Albany Agricultural Works and other catalogues and broadsides; report of Ezra Cornell, President of the New York State Agricultural Society, on the Exhibition of the Royal Agricultural Society of England held at Battersea, July 1862; address delivered by Ezra Cornell to the New York State Agricultural Society in 1863.
Speech by Ezra Cornell on the Question of a Ship Canal connecting Cayuga Lake with Lake Ontario (given before the Committee of the Whole Senate of the State of New York in 1864); printed materials concerning educational institutions, including People's College; Phrenological Journal, March 1866; maps and plans concerning village of Cornell and Brunett's Falls in Wisconsin; printed materials concerning the Institute of Reward for Orphans of Patriots; other general printed materials.
Including handwritten manuscript on the life of Ezra Cornell (by himself?); scrapbook pages of clippings of articles and obituaries on the death of Ezra Cornell; memorandum and resolutions passed by the Trustees after the death of Ezra Cornell, December 1874; interview with Otis E. Wood by Prof. Charles H. Hull in 1907.
Including the Cornell University First General Announcement; copy of the Act to Establish Cornell University; In Memoriam the Death and Burial of Hon. Ezra Cornell; Report as to the condition of the Cornell University, made to its alumni, June 1883; Centennial Day Publications; Founder's Day announcements, invitations, songs, and addresses given by Andrew Dickson White, Francis M. Finch, Andrew Carnegie, and others.
Including handwritten genealogy of the Cornell Family by Ezra Cornell, and miscellaneous family papers from after the death of Ezra Cornell.
Photographs of Ezra Cornell and the Cornell and Wood families; Cornell and Wood homes; side-hill plow; piece of Cornell pottery; Cascadilla place. Also, bookplates, keepsake book presented to Mary S. Cornell by Ezra Cornell, marriage certificate of John H. Cornell and Mary Gifford (with Ezra Cornell as witness), framed autographs of Ezra Cornell.
Once on Seneca St. in Ithaca, Ezra Cornell died in this house, it burned down in 1921, now site of Ithaca Savings Bank
Ezra Cornell's 250 shares of capital stock of the Ithaca & Cortland Railroad Company (July 8, 1871)
Ithaca Journal pages relating to the death of Ezra Cornell; maps and floor plans pertaining to Ithaca, Cornell Public Library, and Cornell University; other clippings and printed materials.
Maps of Wisconsin, including Barron County and village of Cornell; Traveler's map of the Middle, Northern, Eastern States and Canada, showing all the railroad, steamboat, canal, and principal stage routes, 1849; Maps of railroad routes; maps of Minnesota, 1865 and Mackinaw City, 1857; other printed maps.
Includes a letter from 1947 from Charles H. Blair describing the knife and its use.