Nathan Belcher correspondence
About the Nathan Belcher papers
The bulk of the Belcher papers consists of letters from constituents during his two years in the U.S. House. Many of the letters deal with common constituent services, like requests for official documents, help with patent applications, and inquiries into civil service appointments. Much of the correspondence concerns the major issue of the day: the Kansas-Nebraska Act (referred to in the correspondence as the Nebraska Bill). The Act was enormously unpopular with Belcher's constituents, even as many of them expressed at least some tolerance for slavery. Other letters describe the evolving political atmosphere in Connecticut, as the Know Nothings (a far-right anti-immigration, anti-catholic, and xenophobic group) and temperance movement began to gather strength in the months prior to the 1855 elections.
Dates
- Creation: 1840 - 1865
Creator
- Belcher, Nathan , 1813-1891 (Person)
Conditions Governing Use
This collection is open for research.
About Nathan Belcher
Nathan Belcher was born in Preston, Connecticut in 1813. He was graduated from Amherst College in 1832 and trained in law at Harvard Law School. He began business in manufacturing in New London, Connecticut in 1841 and was elected to the state House of Representatives in 1846 and the state Senate in 1850. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1853, before choosing not to stand for re-election in 1855 as Know Nothings swept the polls statewide.
Extent
1 Linear Feet (2 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Letters received by Rep. Nathan Belcher from his constiuents during his service in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Arrangement
This collection has two series: Series I. Correspondence: Connecticut towns, 1840-1855 and Series II. Other states, 1853-1865. Materials are organized alphabetically by geographic location.
Subject
- United States. Congress (33rd, 1st session : 1853-1854). House (Organization)
- United States. Kansas-Nebraska Act (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the Nathan Belcher papers
- Author
- Original author is unknown. Revised and migrated into ArchiveSpace by Rose Oliveira, Lear Center Staff, and Christian Salguero, student assistant.
- Date
- unknown
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Linda Lear Center for Special Collections and Archives Repository
Connecticut College
270 Mohegan Ave
New London CT 06320 United States
860-439-2654
860-439-2686
learcenter@conncoll.edu