Correspondence, 1837 - 1842

The collection primarily consists of correspondence from Benjamin Chew Howard to his wife, Jane Gilmor Howard. He recounts his work on legal cases and matters in Congress to his wife almost on a daily basis. The letters give detailed accounts of Howard’s daily life. For example, his letters from 1850 go into great detail about his journey to New Orleans from Baltimore down the Mississippi River, including scenes along the river and people he meets on board the steamboat. He also described his work for President Andrew Jackson in preventing a border war between Michigan and Ohio over the The correspondence also frequently alludes to growing tensions between Northern and Southern states over slavery and states’ rights. In a letter written during the Peace Conference of 1861, he expresses fear that a civil war is inevitable. Howard never shies from sharing his opinion and experiences with his wife.