Muhlenberg Family Papers
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: P.G.-929.2-M952
Scope and Contents
This group of Muhlenberg family material was collected and indexed by Jesse Wagner of Reading, PA prior to its sale at Freeman's Auction in 1976 and subsequent acquisition by Muhlenberg College. Its organization mirrors the Wagner arrangement of eight bound volumes (series) organized primarily by correspondent.
Volume 1 contains a few letters from members of the earliest Muhlenbergs in North America, including Henry Melchior Muhlenberg and his sons, John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg and Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg. The bulk of the series comprises holograph speeches by Henry A.P. Muhlenberg, documents relating to his estate, correspondence to and from him relating to political matters, etc.
Volume 2 is comprised almost entirely of letters (in English and German) written to Henry A.P. Muhlenberg prior to his election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Correspondents include family members, including his father Gotthilf Henry Ernst Muhelnberg, his sisters, and in-laws; as well as other writers.
Volume 3 contains letters written by Henry A.P. Muhlenberg and his wife, Rebecca Hiester Muhlenberg. The bulk of the series dates from the period in which Henry was serving in Congress (1830-1838), while a few date from prior to their courtship and to the early days of their marriage (1805-1808).
The first half of Volume 4 primarily contains letters to and from Henry A.P. Muhlenberg and his family, including his sons Hiester and Henry, his wife Rebecca, his sisters, and various other family members including his father-in-law Joseph Hiester. The second half contains correspondence and copies of resolutions relating to Pennsylvania politics, as well as documents relating to Henry A.P. Muhlenberg's estate (1844).
Volume 5 primarily includes political correspondence of Henry A.P. Muhlenberg. Significant correspondents include John Meredith Read, Lloyd Wharton, Richard Rush, James Buchanan, John Andrew Shulze, Charles B. Penrose, and Seth Salisbury.
Volume 6 predominantly contains letters on political matters addressed to Henry A.P. Muhlenberg in the last year of his life. Significant correspondents include John Meredith Read, James Buchanan, James K. Polk, Richard Rush, Edward Abbott Penniman, and Seth Salisbury. Also included are several presidential invitations from Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Martin Van Buren, and Andrew Jackson.
Volume 7 primarily contains letters to Henry Augustus Muhlenberg, with a few draft copies of letters written by him. Correspondents include family members, including his brother Hiester, his sister Rosa Muhlenberg Nicolls, Frederick Augustus Hall Muhlenberg, and Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg Jr. This series also includes correspondence relating to the publication of Henry A. Muhlenberg's biography of General John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, including numerous letters from the publisher Carey and Hart.
Volume 8 includes a few letters between members of Henry A. Muhlenberg's immediate and extended family. The bulk of the letters pertain to political matters during the brief period during which Henry A. Muhlenberg served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives prior to his death in January, 1854.
Volume 1 contains a few letters from members of the earliest Muhlenbergs in North America, including Henry Melchior Muhlenberg and his sons, John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg and Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg. The bulk of the series comprises holograph speeches by Henry A.P. Muhlenberg, documents relating to his estate, correspondence to and from him relating to political matters, etc.
Volume 2 is comprised almost entirely of letters (in English and German) written to Henry A.P. Muhlenberg prior to his election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Correspondents include family members, including his father Gotthilf Henry Ernst Muhelnberg, his sisters, and in-laws; as well as other writers.
Volume 3 contains letters written by Henry A.P. Muhlenberg and his wife, Rebecca Hiester Muhlenberg. The bulk of the series dates from the period in which Henry was serving in Congress (1830-1838), while a few date from prior to their courtship and to the early days of their marriage (1805-1808).
The first half of Volume 4 primarily contains letters to and from Henry A.P. Muhlenberg and his family, including his sons Hiester and Henry, his wife Rebecca, his sisters, and various other family members including his father-in-law Joseph Hiester. The second half contains correspondence and copies of resolutions relating to Pennsylvania politics, as well as documents relating to Henry A.P. Muhlenberg's estate (1844).
Volume 5 primarily includes political correspondence of Henry A.P. Muhlenberg. Significant correspondents include John Meredith Read, Lloyd Wharton, Richard Rush, James Buchanan, John Andrew Shulze, Charles B. Penrose, and Seth Salisbury.
Volume 6 predominantly contains letters on political matters addressed to Henry A.P. Muhlenberg in the last year of his life. Significant correspondents include John Meredith Read, James Buchanan, James K. Polk, Richard Rush, Edward Abbott Penniman, and Seth Salisbury. Also included are several presidential invitations from Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Martin Van Buren, and Andrew Jackson.
Volume 7 primarily contains letters to Henry Augustus Muhlenberg, with a few draft copies of letters written by him. Correspondents include family members, including his brother Hiester, his sister Rosa Muhlenberg Nicolls, Frederick Augustus Hall Muhlenberg, and Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg Jr. This series also includes correspondence relating to the publication of Henry A. Muhlenberg's biography of General John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, including numerous letters from the publisher Carey and Hart.
Volume 8 includes a few letters between members of Henry A. Muhlenberg's immediate and extended family. The bulk of the letters pertain to political matters during the brief period during which Henry A. Muhlenberg served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives prior to his death in January, 1854.
Dates
- 1770-1854 (bulk 1830-1854)
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research; access by appointment
Conditions Governing Use
This material is in the public domain.
Biographical / Historical
The Muhlenberg family played a pivotal role in the religious and political life of colonial North America and the early Republic, particularly in Pennsylvania. The patriarch, Henry Melchior Muhlenberg (1711-1787) arrived in the colonies in 1742 and is responsible for the foundation of the Lutheran Church in America. Son John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg (1746-1807) served as a general in Washington's army and was a member of the First Congress. Son Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg (1750-1801) was the first Speaker of the House of Representatives. Son Gotthilf Henry Ernst Muhlenberg (1853-1815) was a noted botanist.
The bulk of this collection contains the papers of Henry A. P. Muhlenberg (1782-1844), son of Gotthilf Muhlenberg, and members of his immediate family. Henry served as a Pennsylvania representative to the U.S House of Representatives (1829-1838), was an unsuccessful candidate for governor (1835 and 1844), and served as the first U.S. Minister to the Austrian Empire (1838-1840). His correspondence spans the period between 1814 and his death in 1844, with the bulk from 1829 through 1844. Correspondents include politically significant figures of the time, including Daniel Webster, James Buchanan, and DeWitt Clinton, among many others. A significant portion deals with the contentious gubernatorial race of 1835 between Henry and incumbent Governor George Wolf, which resulted in a split of the Democratic Party.
About ten percent of the collection consists of letters between H.A.P. Muhlenberg and his wife, Rebecca (1781-1841), daughter of Pennsylvania’s fifth governor, Joseph Hiester, during Henry’s decade in Congress and term in Austria. The contents reveals discussion of social life in Washington, food, fashion, their health and that of their family, weather, Christmas, cholera outbreaks, continued emotional distress over the long-ago death of an infant daughter, and political ambition. Interspersed are references to debates over slavery and nullification, the Bank War, and the attempted assasination of President Jackson.
The latter portion of the collection contains correspondence of Henry Augustus Muhlenberg (1823-1854), son of Henry A.P. and Rebecca Muhlenberg and author of "The Life of Major-General Peter Muhlenberg: Of the Revolutionary Army" (1849). Henry Muhlenberg served in the U.S. House of Representatives from March 1853 until his death in January 1854.
The bulk of this collection contains the papers of Henry A. P. Muhlenberg (1782-1844), son of Gotthilf Muhlenberg, and members of his immediate family. Henry served as a Pennsylvania representative to the U.S House of Representatives (1829-1838), was an unsuccessful candidate for governor (1835 and 1844), and served as the first U.S. Minister to the Austrian Empire (1838-1840). His correspondence spans the period between 1814 and his death in 1844, with the bulk from 1829 through 1844. Correspondents include politically significant figures of the time, including Daniel Webster, James Buchanan, and DeWitt Clinton, among many others. A significant portion deals with the contentious gubernatorial race of 1835 between Henry and incumbent Governor George Wolf, which resulted in a split of the Democratic Party.
About ten percent of the collection consists of letters between H.A.P. Muhlenberg and his wife, Rebecca (1781-1841), daughter of Pennsylvania’s fifth governor, Joseph Hiester, during Henry’s decade in Congress and term in Austria. The contents reveals discussion of social life in Washington, food, fashion, their health and that of their family, weather, Christmas, cholera outbreaks, continued emotional distress over the long-ago death of an infant daughter, and political ambition. Interspersed are references to debates over slavery and nullification, the Bank War, and the attempted assasination of President Jackson.
The latter portion of the collection contains correspondence of Henry Augustus Muhlenberg (1823-1854), son of Henry A.P. and Rebecca Muhlenberg and author of "The Life of Major-General Peter Muhlenberg: Of the Revolutionary Army" (1849). Henry Muhlenberg served in the U.S. House of Representatives from March 1853 until his death in January 1854.
Extent
1.6 Linear Feet (8 boxes, one per "volume")
Arrangement
This collection was received as eight formerly-bound volumes that had been grouped topically or by correspondents. Processing has mirrored that arrangement.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was purchased by Muhlenberg College in 1976 from Freeman's Auction Gallery in Philadelphia. The funds were supplied by an anonymous donor.
Creator
- Title
- The Muhlenberg Family Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Compiled by Susan Falciani Maldonado
- Date
- 2023
- Description rules
- dacs
- Language of description
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Pennsylvania German Collection Repository