Herbert H. Rawnsley Autograph Collection

MS 50

Scope and Content

This collection consists of unpublished correspondence and documents dating from the 13th through 20th centuries relating to and/or signed by historically prominent individuals. Also included in the collection are examples of English and American (Pennsylvania) legal papers such as deeds and a few early examples of published material such as newspapers.

Provenance

Dr. Herbert H. Rawnsley, a 1940 graduate of Franklin and Marshall College, donated this collection to the College in 2001. The materials were personally collected by Dr. Rawnsley during a period of 20 years.

Arrangement

The collection is organized into three broad groups:
1)Autographed materials , containing signatures of

American Notables
English Rulers
English Notables
Authors
Nazis
Scientists, Inventors and Physicians


2) Legal and Business Documents containing deeds, grants, patents, bills of sale, etc.

3)Printed materials consisting of newspapers, book leaves and prints.

Key to document type:
Some of the following abbreviations are used to describe documents in the collection.

ALS Autographed letter signed (written entirely in author's hand and signed)
AL Autographed letter unsigned (written entirely in author's hand but unsigned)
ANS Autographed note signed (note written entirely in author's hand and signed)
LS Letter signed (written by another hand, signed by author)
ADS Autographed document signed (written entirely in author's hand and signed)
TDS Typed document signed (typed but signed by author)
DS Document signed (written by another hand, signed by author)
TLS Typed letter signed (typed but signed by author)
PS Photographed signed (signed by subject of photo)
IPS Inscribed photograph signed (signed by subject of photo with inscribed dedication to third party)
FDC First day cover (commemorative postal cover cancelled on first day of issue often with autograph signature)
AMsS Autographed manuscript signed (written entirely in author's hand and signed)
S Signature (hand of author)



Inventory of the Collection

Location
Box/Folder
Autographed materials

American Notables

1/1 Adams, John. "copy of a letter," July 29, 1785.
1/2 Barlow, Joel. ALS, March 24, 1784.
OS4 Buchanan, James. Signature on framed portrait, no date.
1/3 Douglas, Melvyn. Signature with handkerchief, no date.
1/4 Eisenhower, Dwight. Signed portrait, 1942.
1/5 Field, Cyrus. Signature on card, no date.
1/6 Ford, Gerald. Signature on official White House card, no date.
OS1 Franklin, Ben. DS, June 26, 1787.
1/7 Franklin, Ben. (forgery) Dec. 9, 1787.
Franklin, Ben. (forgery) Sept. 10, 1787.
1/8 Herbert, Victor. Signed check, December 23, 1922.
1/9 Holmes, Oliver W. AQS "The Chambered Natalus," July 31, 1876.
Holmes, O. W. ANS, December 7, 1882.
1/10 Hughes, Charles Evans. LS, Feb. 12, 1908.
1/11 Johnson, Lady Bird. Signature, 1968.
1/12 Key, Francis Scott. ALS, June 23, 1818.
1/13 Koerner, Henry. Signature, no date.
1/14 Lincoln, Abraham. (forgery) Sept. 2, 1862.
Lincoln, Abraham. (forgery) Sept. 2, 1856.
OS4 Lincoln, Abraham. ANS, framed, July 26?, 1863.
1/15 Penn, William. ALS, September (November?) 22, [1695].
1/16 Reagan, Ronald. Autopen signature, no date.
1/17 Rickenbacker, Edward. TLS, November 16, 1920.
1/18 Rose, George, ALS, August 3, 1804.
1/19 Ross, George. ADS, August 1756.
1/20 Ross, James. ALS, Jan. 22, 1795.
OS4 Smith, Samuel F. AmsS, framed, March/May?
1/21 Washington, George. Signature, dated October 7, 1777 with engraved portrait
1/22 Whittier, John Greenleaf. ANS, December 19, 1886.
1/23 Wood, Fernando. ALS, January 17, 1855.

English Rulers

subgroup: English rulers - Commonwealth
2/1 Cromwell, Elizabeth. DS, no date.
OS1 Cromwell, Oliver. ALS, March 14, 1648.
2/2 Cromwell, Oliver. DS, October 8, 1649.
Cromwell, Oliver. DS, April 22, 1654.
Cromwell, Henry. LS, May 22, 1657.
2/3 Cromwell, Richard. DS, March 3, 1658/9.
Cromwell, Richard. DS, January 17, 1659.
Cromwell, Richard. ALS, January 27, 1699/1700.
2/4 (Cromwell, Richard) Document, December 28, 1658.

subgroup: English rulers - Hanover
2/5 George I. LS, September 27, 1714.
George I. DS, June 14, 1720.
OS1 George II. DS, April 27, 1745.
OS1 George II. DS, December 14, 1726.
2/6 George II. LS, February 4, 1728/9.
George II. LS, August 10, 1713.
George II. DS, November 17, 1730.
2/7 George III. ALS, February 3, 1795.
George III. ALS/LS?, February 18, 1802.
OS5 George III. DS, framed, April 12, 1768.
OSDR 18 George III. Document with seal, May 1762.
OS1 George III. DS, July 25, 1810.
2/8 George IV. ALS, October 7, 1824.
George IV. DS, December, 1820.
OS1 George IV. Initialed document, May 10, 1826.
2/9 William IV. LS, March 25, 1812.
William IV. DS, March 1, 1835.
OS1 William IV. ALS, March 25, 1819.

subgroup: English rulers - Lancaster & York
2/10 Edward IV. LS, May 12, 1481.

subgroup: English rulers - Stuarts
2/11 Anne. DS, June 9, 1702.
OS4 Anne. Portrait, framed, 1723(?).
2/12 Charles I. ALS, December 13/23, 1642.
Charles I. DS, September 13, 1648
OS1 Charles I. DS, September 12, 1620.
2/13 Charles II. ALS, April 22, 1658.
Charles II. DS, August 15, 1674.
OS1 Charles II. LS, January 28, 1674/5.
2/14 Henry Stuart [IX]. LS, December 29, 1771.
2/15 James I. LS, July, 1610.
James I ("James VI of Scotland"). DS, 1597.
OS1 James I. DS, January, 1616.
OS1 James I. DS, 1585.
OS1 James I. LS, April 17, 1622.
2/16 James II. ALS, August 25, 1685.
James II. LS, June 11, 1688.
James II (Duke of York). DS, December 2, 1672.
James II & Pepys, S. DS, February 7, 1686.
OS1 James III (James Stuart). DS, March 22, 1730.
2/17 Mary II. DS, July 27, 1691.
Mary II. LS, May 13, 1688.
OS1 Privy Council, James I. LS, February 20, 1605.
2/18 Privy Council, James I. LS, December, 1607.
2/19 William III. ALS, March 13, 1696.
William III. DS, January 24, 1696/7.

subgroup: English rulers - Tudors
2/20 Edward VI. DS, July 15, 1548/9.
2/21 Elizabeth I. DS, November 5, 1568(?)
OS1 Elizabeth I. DS, March 8, 1576
OSDR 18 Elizabeth I. Document with portrait and seal, March 6, 1585.
2/22 Guise, Mary of. DS, September 25, 1559.
2/23 Henry VII. DS, May 26, 1499.
Henry VII. DS, December 14, 1497.
OS1 Henry VII. DS, November 16, 1500.
2/24 Henry VIII. DS, 1509.
Henry VIII. DS, September 5, 1513.
Henry VIII. DS, March 14, 1542.
OS4 Henry VIII. DS, framed, March 9, 1515.
OS1 Henry VIII. DS, later than 1510.
2/25 Mary I. LS, January 26, 1553/4.
2/26 Mary & Philip. DS, June 26, 1556/7.
OS1 Privy Council, Edward VI. LS, August 9, 1551.
OS1 Privy Council, Elizabeth I. LS, 1577(?).
2/27 Privy Council, Elizabeth I. LS, January 7, 1599.

subgroup: English Rulers - Saxe-Coburg/Windsor
2/28 Edward VII. DS, December 19, 1902.
Edward VII. ALS, January 11, 1867.
OS1 Edward VII. DS, April 17, 1906.
2/29 Edward VIII. TLS, July 9, 1930.
Edward VIII. Signature on menu, 1959.
Edward VIII. Signed Christmas card, 1926.
OS1 Edward VIII. DS, June 8, 1936.
2/30 Elizabeth (Queen Mother). ALS, September 12,
1931.
OS1 Elizabeth II & Phillip. Signed Christmas card, 1961.
2/31 Elizabeth II. DS, February 5, 1976.
Elizabeth II. ALS, January 3, 1966.
2/32 George V. ALS (3) with envelopes (3), 1923, 1931, 1932.
OS3 George V. Document with seal, 1910.
2/33 George VI. Signed Christmas card and portrait, 1949.
2/34 Victoria. ALS, September 8, 1845.
Victoria. DS, January 16, 1857.
OS3 Victoria. Document with seal (broken), February 9, 1844.

English Notables

2/35 Abercrombie, John. ALS, September 25, 1854.
Anderson family Deeds (6) ‹
OS2 July 4, 1544;
OS2 October 12, 1588;
OS2 August 9, 1599;
OS2 November 28, 1611;
OS2 July 11, 1665;
2/36 May 10, 1666.
2/37 Aylesbury, Sir Thomas. ALS, May 25, 1628.
OS2 Bale, Alexander. ALS, May 27, 1795.
2/38 Burghley, William Cecil. LS, March 1, 1597.
Burghley, William Cecil. ALS, no date.
2/39 Cecil, Robert ALS (postscript), April 15, 1602.
2/40 Chester, Sir W. ALS, December 29, 1559.
2/41 Compton, Sir William . DS/LS?, January, 1660.
2/42 Covenanters. "Pockmanty Sermon," 1638(?).
2/43 Devereaux, Robert (Earl of Essex). ALS, before 1601.
2/44 Digby, Sir E. ALS, May 14, no year.
2/45 Halle, Sir Charles. ALS, June 26, 1880.
2/46 Hawkes, Sir Thomas. ALS, October 30, 1838.
2/47 Herne, Samuel. ALS, April 27, 1672.
OS2 Keppel, G. ALS, September 28, 1756.
OS2 Leicester, Earl of. ALS, October 30, 1577.
OS2 Manor of Bolton. Survey, early 16th Century.
2/48 Pitt, William (Elder). ALS, London (pre 1766).
2/49 Pitt, William (Younger). ALS, January 31, 1760.
OS2 Sackville, Thomas (3) -
LS with seal, 1580;
ALS, May 29, 1603;
DS, February, 1605.
OS2 Snape, Sir Andrew. Seal of College of Heralds, seal in metal tin, December 13, 1783.
2/50 Temple, Sir I. ALS(?), April 7, 1790.
2/51 Walker, Sir Edward. LS, July, 1669.
2/52 Wesley, John. ALS, March 22, 1782.
2/53 Weston, Richard. ALS, July 21, 1630.

Authors-Poets

2/54 Browning, Robert. ALS, October 12th, no year.
OS5 Burns, Robert. ADS, framed, December 6, 1788.
2/55 Dickens, Charles. Signed, addressed envelope, no date.
2/56 Goethe, Johann.W. ANS (signed receipt), April 12, 1817.
2/57 Houseman, A. E. ALS, June 28, 1932.
2/58 Pepys, Samuel. LS, February 24, 1696/7.
2/59 Scott, Walter. ALS, January 5, 1829.
2/60 Tennyson, Alfred. Signature and two envelopes dated December 12, 14, 15, 1874.
2/61 Wordsworth, William. Signature, no date.

Nazis

2/62 Goebbels, Joseph. DS, December 5, 1944.
2/63 Goering, Hermann. DS, March 5, 1936.
Goering, Hermann & Emmy. IPS. Signed wedding picture (with Hitler in background) April 10, 1935.
2/64 Hess, Rudolf. ADS (partly printed), no date.
2/65 Himmler, H. DS, November 9, 1938.
2/66 Hitler, Adolf. LS, December 1, 1944.
Hitler, Adolf. LS, February 23, 1940.
Hitler, A. & Goebbels, J. Signed postage stamp sheet, August 1, 1937.
2/67 Von Ribbentrop, J. 2pp. Signed Nazi questionnaire, 1945.

Scientists, Inventors, Physicians

3/1 Barnard, Christian. FDC, signed, December 21, 1968.
3/2 Barton, Clara. ANS, March 21, 1895.
3/3 Bayly, Thomas. ANS (part of a signed note), April 13, 1792.
3/4 Bell, Alexander. LS, March 13, 1917.
3/5 Best, C. H. FDC, signed, June 9, 1947.
OS2 Boerhaave, Hermann DS. Richard Barrett Medical degree, 1720.
3/6 Burbank, Luther. Signed menu, no date.
3/7 Cooper, Peter. ALS, November 16, 1875.
3/8 de Morgan, Augustus. ALS, Oct. 22, no year.
3/9 Edison, Thomas. Signatures (2 pcs and photo), no date.
3/10 Faraday, Michael. ALS, no date.
3/11 Fulton, Robert. ALS, November 18, 1807.
3/12 Goethals, George. TLS, November 12, 1914.
3/13 Gorgas, W. C. TLS, March 1, 1906.
3/14 Guillotin, J. LS, 5th year of Republic.
3/15 Hunter, John. ALS, February 1, 1787.
3/16 Jenner, Edward. (2 pcs) ALS, April 16, 1814.
3/17 Lavoiseur, Antoine. ALS, March 3, 1780.
3/18 LeMoyne, Julius. ANS, August 23, 1815(?).
3/19 Lister, Joseph. ANS, Feb 15, 1899 with photograph of portrait bust; ALS, June 30, 1906.
3/20 Medical. ALS (re: vaccination), September 28, 1757.
3/21 Millikan, R. A. Signed FDC, September 4, 1951.
3/22 Newcomb, Simon. ALS, May 2, 1882.
3/23 Nightingale, Florence (6) -
Signed receipt, October 8, 1855;
ALS, March 6, 1856;
Signed timesheet, January 10, 1857;
Letters concerning her, April 18, 1861 and July 3, 1861;
Initialed letter, October 10, 1862;
Signature, pencil on pamphlet, no date;
3/24 Pasteur, Louis. ALS, October 1, 1884.
3/25 Reed, Walter (4) -
TLS, March 28, 1901;
ALS, March 26, 1901;
ALS, May 31, 1901;
ALS, December 21, 1901.
3/26 Salk, Jonas. Signed FDC, August 3, 1946.
Salk, J. & Sabin, Albert. Signed FDC, January 15, 1957.
3/27 Schweitzer, Albert. ALS, Oct. 12, 1960.
3/28 Silliman, Benjamin. ALS, February 26, 1855.
3/29 Simpson, Sir James. ALS, January 8, 1869.
3/30 Sims, John M. ALS, June 11, 1860.
3/31 von Braun, Werther. Signed FDC, April 27, 1961.

Legal and Business Documents

American legal documents


OS1 Indenture. DS. January, 1698/9. New York
3/32 Lancaster, PA. Signed petition, June 6, 1776.
Lancaster, PA. Signed petition for pardon, September 20, 1792.
3/33 Slave. Bill of sale, handwritten, July 24, 1826.
OS1 McKean, Thomas. DS. Land Grant, Aug. 13, 1806.
OS1 Mifflin,Thomas DS. Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Patent, July 14, 1796.
OS1 Mifflin, Thomas. DS Land Grant, October 12, 1796. Luzerne County.
OS1 Mifflin, Thomas. DS Land Grant , February 2, 1798. Lycoming County.
OS1 Penn, John DS. Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Patent to Chew and Wilcox, Nov 18, 1776.
OS1 Penn, John. DS. Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Patent to Chew and Wilcox, November 18, 1776.
OS1 Penn, John. DS. Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Patent to Chew and Wilcox, November 18, 1776.
OS1 Penn, John DS. Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Patent to Chew and Wilcox, November 18, 1776.

English legal documents


3/34 13 documents. Land grant, etc., 14/15th Centuries.
3/35 Allerton land grant (three pieces), May 1, 1391.
OS2 Arundell, Thomas. Indenture, September 1639/40.
3/36 (Edward III) Land grant, 1327.
OS3 (Edward III) Charter for John of Sudbury with seal, 1377.
OS3 (Edward III) Pardon with white seal, October 12, 1372.
3/37 Essex. Deed/grant , Bylet to Herny et al.,.Parchment with seal, June, 1389.
OS2 Essex Earl of (Arthur).DS, 1668.
3/38 (Henry III) Grant with warranty, Couwicke to Pollington in town of Couwicke, early 13th Century .
OS5 (Henry VI) document with seal, 1423.
OS3 de Bohun, Henry (First Earl of Hereford) to Richard of Westbury. Land grant with green seal, c. 1200.
3/39 Marmaduke Darell. Letter of attorney, Edward I(?), no date.
3/40 Privy Council. Letter, November 1591.
3/41 Privy seal, March 10, 1690 or October 23, 1691.
3/42 Pursill, John. Last will and testament, August 11, 1658.
Scottish Deeds - (8)
3/43 January 18, 1552;
October 25, 1574;
March 4, 1684;
April, 1602;
OS2 March 2, 1592;
OS2 July 29, 1627;
OS2 March 5, 1662;
OS2 November 29, no year.
3/44 Scotland (country). Accounts , 1709.
3/45 Suffolk. LS, October 29, 1616.
OS2 Surry Deeds. Land Grant in Worplesdon with seal, 1412.
OS2 York County (England). May 6, 1819(?).
3/46 Yorks. Lease, William of Lebistone to Stephen. 1345/6 (Edward III).
3/47 Yorkshire Deed. Land Grant in Hennes, early 13th Century.
Yorkshire Deed. Land Grant, early Henry III.
Yorkshire Deed. Land Grant in Balne, early 13th Century.
OS2 Yorkshire Deed. Land Lease in Snayht with seal, 1317.
OS2 Yorkshire Deed. Land Grant in Snayht & Cowyh with seal, 1446.
3/48 Document, 1544
Document, 1565.
Document/letter(?), April 22, 1637.
OS2 Document, 1545
OS2 (James I) (time period). Document, 1604
OS2 Document, 6 foot scroll, April 17, 1619.
OS2 Document (11 lines) with 2 seals, ca. 1401.
OS2 Document (15 lines) with seal, no date.
OS2 Document with 2 seals ("R" and "W"), no date.
OS2 France Medieval Treaty. June 26, 1592.
OS4 Document, framed with red seal with figure of dog.
3/49 Various autograph fragments (6 pcs) (from John Wilson), no date.
3/50 3 Biblical (Book of Hours) leaves, no date.
3/51 2 fragments of an account for an Abbey.
2 unknown documents.

Printed materials

Book leaves, newspapers

 3/52 Page of book from "Orlando in Love," 1572.
Religious, woven bookmark, no date.
Religious, page of book by Thomas de Vio Gaitani, 1547.
Religious, page from the Old Testament, 1585.
Religious, page of book from early bible, c. 1400s.
OS2 Italian Missal page, 1400.
OS1 Independent Chronicle. Boston newspaper, July 14, 1776 and Oct. 23-26, 1797.
OS1 Lancaster Journal. Newspaper, Oct. 2, 1799.

Prints and engravings

3/53 White House. Steel Engraving, no date.
3/54 English sporting prints (8). 1823.

European personages
4/1 Anne I
Archibald, First Marquis of Argyle
Bessemer, Henry
Blake (Admiral)
Burns, Robert
Charles I
Charles I and Henrietta Maria
Charles II (3)
4/2 Cromwell, Bridget
Cromwell, Elizabeth
Cromwell, Elizabeth Steward
Cromwell, Frances
Cromwell, Henry
Cromwell, Mary
Cromwell, Oliver
Cromwell, Richard
Cromwell, Robert
4/3 Dickens, Charles
Earl of Lauderdale and the Earl of Lanark
Edward, Second Earl of Manchester
Edward VI
Fairfax, General, Sir Thomas
Fiennes, Nathaniel
Fox, James
Frederick II
George I
Hampden, John
Henry III
Henry VII
Henry VIII
Hood, Thomas
Hunt, Leigh
James, First Duke of Hamilton
James II (1)
Lambert, Major-General John
Laurence, Earl of Rochester
Lenthall, William
Lewes, George Henry
4/4 Mary, Queen of Scots (2)
Milton, John
Monk, George
Owen, Rev. John
Pasteur, Louis
Prince Rupert
Proctor, B.W.
Sackville, Thomas
Selden, John
Thackeray, William Makepeace
Waller, Major-General Sir William
William III (2)
4/5 Henry Marten and John Bradshaw
Lt-General Charles Fleetwood and Major-General Disbrowe
unknown
genre scene
Vane, Milton, Thurloe, Sidney, Marvell
Selden, Maynard, Devereax, Hampden, Pym

American personages
4/6 Barlow, Joel (2)
Buchanan, James
Fulton, Robert
Rush, Benjamin

Miscellaneous
4/7 Collection of postcards relating to English royalty and historic manuscripts .
4/8 Collection of replica wax seals
Box 5 Collection documentation
OS4 Examples of alphabet/handwriting styles
OS4 Sumerian Cuneiform tablet from the city of Umma recording an offering of barley, ca. 2054 BC

Rev. 09/05 mrl
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