Autographs of the Complete Leadership of the United States Government in the Spring of 1874
It contains President U.S. Grant, his V.P. Henry Wilson, head of the Army William T. Sherman, the entire U.S. Supreme Court, and all U.S. Senators and Representatives then in Washington
Frederick M. Steel started out as a railroad components manufacturer and ended up president of three railroads and vice president of a bank. He had a lively interest in history, and in 1874 as a young man went to Washington, D.C. with a leather-bound autograph album with his name imprinted in gold....
Frederick M. Steel started out as a railroad components manufacturer and ended up president of three railroads and vice president of a bank. He had a lively interest in history, and in 1874 as a young man went to Washington, D.C. with a leather-bound autograph album with his name imprinted in gold. Likely through connections, he obtained the autographs of all of the available members of the heads of the three branches of the U.S. government – executive, legislative and judicial.
He starts the book with the executive branch. There is Ulysses S. Grant as President and Henry Wilson as Vice President. Then there are autographs of the entire Cabinet: Columbus Delano, signing as Secretary of the Interior, and dating the entry May 26, 1874; Hamilton Fish, signing as Secretary of State and dating it April 24, 1874; William A. Richardson, signing as Secretary of the Treasury and dating it May 13, 1874; Jonathan Creswell, signing as Postmaster General and dating it May 6, 1874; George M. Robeson, signing as Secretary of the Navy; and William W. Belknap, signing as Secretary of War and dating the entry May 6, 1874. Following them are Francis E. Spinner, Treasurer of the United States, and on the same page appear three Union generals – William T. Sherman, who was then Commander of the United States Army; O.O. Howard, then president of Howard University, which he founded; and Robert Schenck, who was U.S. representative to settle war claims between the U.S. and Great Britain in the wake of the Civil War.
Next there is the entire Supreme Court. Morrison R. Waite signs as Chief Justice Sup. Ct. U.S.; Nathan Clifford signs as Assoc. Jus. Sup. Court U.S.; Samuel Miller signs as Assoc. Jus. Sup. Court U.S.; David Davis signs as Assoc. Jus. S.C. of U.S.; Stephen Field signs as Associate Justice of U.S. Sup. Ct.; William Strong signs as Assoc. Justice Supreme Court U.S.; Joseph P. Bradley signs as Associate Justice of U.S. Sup. Ct. U.S.; Ward Hunt signs as Associate Justice of U.S. Sup. Court U.S.; and Noah Swayne signs as Assoc. Jus. Sup Court U.S.
The U.S. Senate follows. There were 37 states at that time, so a full Senate would be 74 members. However, there were two vacancies, and there are Senate 72 signatures here. It is probable that the senators chosen to fill the vacancies had not yet arrived in Washington when these autographs were gathered. Notable senators include Hannibal Hamlin, who was Lincoln’s first Vice President; and Confederate generals John B. Gordon and Matthew Ransom. Most sign with their states, such as “John Sherman, Ohio”.
On the House of Representatives, the book appears to be complete. The names are headed off by Speaker of the House James J. Blaine, and include such men as future president James Garfield, and Union generals Benjamin Butler and James Negley. Most here also sign with their states, sometimes listing their home towns as well.
This is the most complete snapshot of the Federal government in an autograph album that we have ever carried.
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