Letters to William Overton Callis

Collection — Frame: 1 & 2

Identifier: SC-000147

Staff Only

Content Description

2 letters to William Overton Callis, both framed in glass. One undated fragment, signed by Patrick Henry, and one letter dated January 13, 1789, signed by James Madison.

Dates

1789

Creator

Henry, Patrick, 1736-1799 (Person)

Access

Collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access will require additional advanced notice. Copies of digital files will be provided for use upon request.

Use of Materials

The nature of the Hampden-Sydney College Archives and Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. As a result, Hampden-Sydney College claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g. cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning and individual’s private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the College assumes no responsibility.

History

James Madison (March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836) was a statesman, diplomat, and Founding Father of the United States. He was an architect of the U.S. Constitution, authored the Bill of Rights, and was the fourth president of the United States (1809-1817). He was also one of the charter trustees of Hampden-Sydney College. Patrick Henry (May 1736 – June 6, 1799) was a lawyer, orator, statesman, and politician. He was the first and sixth post-colonial Governor of Virginia, from 1776 to 1779 and from 1784 to 1786. He was also one of the charter trustees of Hampden-Sydney College. William Overton Callis (March 4, 1756 – March 14, 1814) was a politician and childhood friend of James Madison. He was tutored by Parson John Todd, who was active in the establishment of Hampden-Sydney College and a member of the first Board of Trustees. During the time of James Madison’s letter to William Callis, George Washington had just been elected the first president of the United States and the Constitution, although ratified, had yet to be officially implemented. The date was set for March 4, 1789, for Congress to meet and the new government to begin. Before that first meeting, James Madison began writing letters to several people about his true intentions and goals for the Constitution, hoping to negate false narratives about himself. This letter appears to be one of those said letters.

Extent

2 Sheets

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

These two letters were gifted to Hampden-Sydney College Archives and Special Collections as one accession. Due to that, they have been processed together as letters to William Overton Callis but the Archives and Special Collections would like to acknowledge that the recipient of the Patrick Henry letter, along with the written date of the letter, remain unconfirmed due a generous section missing.

Acquisition

Gift of Mr. James N. Boyd '58 and Mr. J. P. McGuire Boyd '64.

Condition Description

letters are in decent condition but must remain in frames they are currently stable within, minor staining and flaking, Patrick Henry letter is incomplete