%eadnotat; ]> PUBLIC "-//Stanford University::Libraries::Dept. of Special Collections//TEXT (US::CSt::M003::Ames Family Papers)//EN" "m0003.sgm"Guide to the Ames Family Papers, 1872-1927Processed by Special Collections staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Patricia WhiteDepartment of Special Collections
Green LibraryStanford University LibrariesStanford, CA 94305-6004 Phone: (650) 725-1022Email: speccoll@sulmail.stanford.eduURL: http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/spc/
© 1997

The Board of Trustees of Stanford University. All rights reserved.

Machine-readable finding aid derived from paper by means of scanning and OCR; OCR file edited for typographical errors before encoding. Date of source: February 1960.Finding aid is written in English.Guide to the Ames Family Papers, 1872-1927Collection number: M003Department of Special Collections Stanford University Libraries Stanford, CaliforniaContact InformationDepartment of Special CollectionsGreen LibraryStanford University LibrariesStanford, CA 94305-6004 Phone: (650) 725-1022Email: speccoll@sulmail.stanford.eduURL: http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/spc/Special Collections staffFebruary 1960Patricia White

© 1997 The Board of Trustees of Stanford University. All rights reserved.

Descriptive SummaryAmes Family Papers, 1782-1927Special Collections M003Ames, Fisher Ames, Pelham Warren Bradford-Ames, Margaret0.5 linear ft.Stanford University. Libraries. Dept. of Special Collections.Administrative InformationAccess Restrictions:

None.

Publication Rights:

All rights reside with the Stanford University Libraries. To obtain permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the Public Services Librarian of the Dept. of Special Collections.

Provenance:

Donated by Judge Alden Ames in September, 1959.

Preferred Citation:

[Identification of item] Ames Family Papers, M003, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

BIOGRAPHY

Fisher Ames (1758-1808) was a statesman, Federalist publicist, orator and Congressman. He was elected to Congress in 1789 and served until 1796. In 1805 he was offered the presidency of Harvard, but declined due to poor health and "advancing age" (47). His son Seth Ames married Margaret S. Bradford; their son Pelham Warren Ames served in the navy during the Civil War and was a lawyer.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

These papers of the Ames family include correspondence, notes, and financial records of Fisher Ames; correspondence of Margaret Bradford-Ames; military papers, letters, business papers, and notes of Pelham Warren Ames (San Francisco and Boston); and genealogical records.

CONTAINER LIST

Numbers in () which follow item/folder descriptions indicate the number of xerox exposures per item/folder.

CORRESPONDENCE AND MISCELLANY RELATING TO FISHER AMES 1Letter from Timothy Pickering, former Sec'y. of State, dated 1806, on the Gallatin report and Black Sea trade.(3)2Note from Spencer Watkins, December 16, 1784, thanking Ames for money to buy wood. (2)3Seven letters (1805-06) to Josiah Quincy on rights of neutrals and politics of the period:a. Dedham. 1805 Nov.27. British had condemned US commerce when laden with colony produce. Consideration of reprisals. Hopes for British treaty. (4)b. Dedham. 1805 Dec. 16. Angry measures of commercial restriction would destroy objects of peace and commerce.(4)c. Dedham. 1806 Jan. 20. Miscellaneous comments. Federalists cannot attend the legislative caucus. Jefferson will say anything Congress wants him to.(4)d. Dedham. 1806 Mar. 19. Mourns death of Pitt. Questions about Randolph -- no statesman but no fool. Ames did not accept presidency of Harvard due to health.(3)e. Dedham. 1806 Dec. 5. Condemnation of Randolph's anti-Federalist speech. Randolph, Burr and others have crawled "at the foot of Jefferson's throne."(2)f. Dedham. 1806 Dec. 11. "Jefferson only takes care of his popularity, which forbids him to govern at all." General attack on Jefferson. (2)g. Dedham. 1806 Dec. 22. The "Message" is criticized. It leaves the country without protection. Also, Ames is against repeal of salt tax. Non-importation act mentioned. (2)4Draft of letter to Professor Pearson refusing presidency of Harvard (1805). (4)5Fragment of letter, 7-18-1790, to Mr. Dwight on transfer of Congress from New York. (2)6Notes on a report of the Sec'y. of State on the codfishery question . (8)716 bills and receipts, 1794-1817. (32)8Four bills of John and Nathaniel Ames, sons of Fisher. (7)9Letter from the Library of Congress to Mrs. R. Y. Fitz concerning portraits of Fisher Ames, 1907. (2)10A.D. on the "Political Quack". (2)CORRESPONDENCE AND MISCELLANY OF PELHAM WARREN AMES11Papers re Civil War naval career (26) dated 1861-1913. Includes letter from Josephus Daniels, Sec'y of the Navy, dated 1913 Nov.15. (33)12Five items re admission to Massachusetts Bar: (13)a. Petition to be admitted as an atty. at lawb. Certificate of applicantc. Letter from Judge James M. Seawell, SF, 1907 Nov. 18d. Letter from Ezra R. Thayer transferring move for Ames admission to Hollis R. Bailey, 1907 Nov. 2e. Letter from the Justices Chambers, Supreme Court of Calif. stating that records upon which the license of Mr. Ames might be renewed have been lost in fire (12-20-1907)13Five items re Spring Valley Water Works (SF water supply) and one re purchase of Sutro Tunnel Co. (16)14Biographical notes on Rear Admiral John G. Walker and architect Henry H. Richardson, written by Ames. Paper on Adm. Nelson (by Ames) and 3 copies of a Spanish translation of Gray's Elegy. Speech by Ames before Commandery (SAR?) on Adm. Lord Nelson. Nelson was not responsible for English victory at Aboukir (sic) Bay. Entanglement with Lady Hamilton left stain on his character. Had propensity for fault-finding and boasting. Jealous of honores conferred upon companions. "All this is sickening." Mention of Caraciola incident. "His nature was hard and his heart was hard." Also violated a flag of truce. (51)1519 copies of "In Memoriam", series printed in 1916 at death of Ames. (2 ea.)16Howard A. Clark L.S. to Pelham Ames, 1908 May 8, and address to Natl. Soc. of the SAR on J. P. Jones.(6)CORRESPONDENCE OF MARGARET S. BRADFORD-AMES17Six letters from her brother, George P. Bradford and one from her sister (Martha)? (25)18Two letters to her sister, Sarah Ripley and one to Mrs. David Dana (10)FAMILY RECORDS19Genealogical information on the Ames family and the related families of Bradford, Worthington, Alden, Edwards, Bates, Hodson, Townsend, Foster, Lee, Sale, and Hickling. (13 items) (117)20Abstract of Seth Ames' will and of Frances W. Howland's (sister of Fisher Ames). (4)MISCELLANY21Typescript copy of a letter written by Abraham Lincoln to Mrs. Bixby on 11-21-1864, and clipping re Boston lecture by Pelham Ames. (4)22Clipping from 9-8-1927 London Times literary supplement entitled "The Way of Peace". (4)23Printed muster roll of Capt. Lincoln's company, 7th Mass. Regiment, of the US Army, dated March 1782. Gamaliel Bradford was commissioned officer writing the report. (2)