Series III. Hair of notable individuals
Blake, John (1753–1842) [General; agent to Penobscot Indians]
Scope and Contents
• Envelope reads: "Lock of hair of Gen. John Blake (1753–1842). Gift of Mrs. John Russel Hastings. NOT ACCESSIONED May 6, 1942" [INV.63]
• Hair is loose in envelope.
Burr, Aaron (1756–1836) [U.S. vice president]
Scope and Contents
• Hair of Aaron Burr, encased in a pendant of gold-toned metal (possibly pinchbeck, an alloy of copper and zinc resembling gold, used in watchmaking and costume jewelry), originally affixed by thread to a card that reads "Hair of Aaron Burr—cut from his head Sept. 14, 1836, the day of his death, at the Port Richmond Hotel, Staten Island, N.Y. by Miss Francis [sic] O. Edwards, daughter of Judge Ogden Edwards, who was a cousin of Burr, and resided at West New Brighton in the Dongan Manse House. Presented by A. de G. who received the same from Miss Edwards." [INV.52]
• Judge Ogden Edwards = Moses Ogden Edwards (1781–1862), whose father, Pierpont Edwards (1750–1826), and Burr's mother, Esther (Edwards) Burr (1732–1758), were siblings.
• Miss Francis [sic] O. Edwards = Frances Ogden Edwards (1813–1888)? or Frances Ogden Edwards (1812–1876), wife of William Smith Hoyt (1809–1893).
• A. de G. = collector Adelaide Milton de Groot (1876–1967)?
Carroll, Charles (1737–1832) [signer of the Declaration of Independence]
Scope and Contents
• Charles Carroll's hair in little silk purse [INV.64]
• Letter (original document accompanying lock of hair) [INV.65]
• Copy of original letter by J. H. Guenbault [INV.66]
• Translation of preceding [INV.67]
• Letter from J. H. Guenbault offering two swords and lock of hair to N-YHS [INV.68]
Clay, Henry (1777–1852) [U.S. Secretary of State]
Scope and Contents
• Envelope reads: "Lock of Henry Clay's Hair" [INV.87]
• Packet reads: [recto] "Lock of Henry Clay's hair. Washington 18. Cut off by Mrs. Geo. Wash. Barrows" and [verso] "Gift of Mrs. Gerard Post Herrick, 1958 or 9."
Gallatin, Albert (1761–1849) [U.S. Secretary of the Treasury]
Scope and Contents
• Envelope reads: [typed] "LOCK OF HAIR OF ALBERT GALLATIN, Gift of Mrs. A. Fitz Roy Anderson (née Cornelia Gallatin), January 22, 1951; [written] 'Our father's hair' labeled by Mrs. Stevens (Frances Gallatin)." [INV.71]
• Packet reads: "Our Father's hair for Albert."
Hansbrough, Joseph Sumner (1790–1864) [maternal grandfather of Mrs. Chester A. Arthur]
Scope and Contents
• Envelope reads: "Hair of Hon. Col. J. T. Harisbough (sic) / Hansbough? / Hansbrough?" [INV.72]
• Packet reads: "Hair. Col. J.S. Hansbrough / My father / E.H. Herndon."
• "E.H. Herndon" = Elizabeth Frances (Hansbrough) Herndon (1817–1878), mother of Ellen Lewis "Nell" (Herndon) Arthur (1837–1880), wife of President Chester A. Arthur.
Johnston, Josiah Stoddard (1784–1833) [U.S. senator from Louisiana]
Scope and Contents
• Envelope reads: "Lock of hair of Josiah Stoddard Johnston (1784–1833) cut from his head Mar. 19, 1833." [INV.48]
• Packet reads: "Lock of hair cut off the head of Josiah Stoddard Johnstons [sic] the night of the 19th March 1833."
Keppler, Joseph Ferdinand (1838–1894) [cartoonist and caricaturist]
Scope and Contents
• Envelope reads "Father's last gift. Original lock & laurel." [INV.46] Note is in the hand of Udo J. Keppler (1872–1956), a.k.a. Joseph Keppler Jr.
• In addition to a lock of the senior Keppler's hair, the envelope holds two dried laurel leaves.
Trumbull, Joseph (1737–1778) [first commissary general of the Continental Army]
Scope and Contents
• Packet reads: "From Col. Trumbull with some of his hair / presented to N.Y. Hist. Soc. by John Austin Stevens, March 4, 1880." [INV.49]
• With autograph letter from Stevens presenting lock to the New-York Historical Society. [INV.50]
Webster, Daniel (1782–1852) [U.S. Secretary of State]
Scope and Contents
• Envelope reads: "A lock of Daniel Webster's hair taken in 1851. Elias Nason, June 2, 1885." [INV.74]
• Packet reads: "D. Webster's Hair."
• With a New-York Historical Society postal card announcing "Rev. Elias Nason, of North Billerica, Mass., will read a paper on 'Daniel Webster; the Secret of his Power,'" at the meeting of June 2, 1885. [INV.75]