Permanent URL: http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/8s45q8813
John Payne Todd Correspondence, 1792-1824 (bulk 1810-1824): Finding Aid
C1224
Cover of letter sent to Todd in 1814
One Washington Road
Princeton, New Jersey 08544 USA
Phone: (609) 258-3184
Fax: (609) 258-2324
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Published on November 9, 2007
©2007 Princeton University Library
Summary Information
- Creator:
- Todd, John Payne, 1792-1858.
- Title and dates:
- John Payne Todd Correspondence, 1792-1824 (bulk 1810-1824)
- Abstract:
- Consists of selected correspondence of John Payne Todd, stepson of President James Madison.
- Size:
- 0.20 linear feet (1 half-size archival box)
- Call number:
- C1224
- Location:
- Princeton University Library. Department of Rare Books and Special Collections.
Manuscripts Division.
Princeton, New Jersey 08544 USA - Language(s) of material:
- English.
- Storage note:
- This collection is stored onsite at Firestone Library.
Biography of John Payne Todd
John Payne Todd was the son of Dolley Payne and her first husband John Todd. After Todd's death, Dolley Payne married President James Madison, making John Payne Todd Madison's stepson. Todd had a weakness for gambling, and was unsuccessful in an assignment seeking Russia's help to end the War of 1812. After the death of President Madison, Dolley Madison was forced to sell the family plantation, Montpelier, to pay her son's debts.
Description
The collection consists of thirty-five letters sent to John Payne Todd from various correspondents. Subjects of the letters include official business, dinner invitations, his appointment in Ghent (Belgium) as secretary to the U.S. legation, and his mother, Dolley Madison. Among the correspondents are James Baker, John S. Cogdell, Dennis L. Cottineau, J. Erky, George W. Ewing, John Goulding, John Graham, P. Irving, J. J. Kane, Thomas Law, Gilbert Russell, Gabriel Shaw, H. Sommervile, D. B. Warden, and John Wilkes, Jr. Several letters are addressed to Payne at "the President's house," and there are also two letters addressed to Todd's father, John Todd, dated 1792.
Arrangement
Folders are arranged in chronological order.
Access and Use
Access
Collection is open for research use.
Restrictions on Use and Copyright Information
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Permission to publish material from the collection must be requested from the Associate University Librarian for Rare Books and Special Collections.
Acquisition and Appraisal
Provenance and Acquisition
The letters were purchased on June 14, 1966.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Dina Britain on October 12, 2007. Finding aid written by Lauren Kustner on November 9, 2007.
Descriptive Rules Used
Finding aid content adheres to that prescribed by Describing Archives: A Content Standard.
Encoding
Machine-readable finding aid encoded in EAD 2002 by Lauren Kustner on November 9, 2007.
Finding aid written in English.
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); John Payne Todd Correspondence, Box and Folder Number; Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library.
Subject Headings
These materials have been indexed in the Princeton University Library online catalog using the following terms. Those seeking related materials should search under these terms.
- Madison, Dolley, 1768-1849 -- Family.
- Madison, James, 1751-1836 -- Family.
- Todd, John, 1763-1793 -- Correspondence.
- Todd family.
- United States -- Politics and government -- 1809-1817.
- Correspondence -- 19th century.
Browse other finding aids related to the following terms:
Permanent URL: http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/8s45q8813