Jump to Content

Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Harrington (George) Papers
mssHarrington  
View entire collection guide What's This?
Search this collection
Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Conditions Governing Use
  • Preferred Citation
  • Immediate Source of Acquisition
  • Biographical / Historical
  • Scope and Contents
  • Processing Information
  • General
  • Arrangement

  • Contributing Institution: The Huntington Library
    Title: George Harrington papers
    Creator: Harrington, George, 1815-1892
    Identifier/Call Number: mssHarrington
    Physical Description: 1.2 Linear Feet (1 box)
    Date (inclusive): 1849-1891
    Date (bulk): 1862-1873
    Abstract: A collection of material related to the personal and professional life of George Harrington, American treasury official and diplomat.
    Language of Material: Materials are in English.

    Conditions Governing Access

    Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

    Conditions Governing Use

    The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item]. George Harrington papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

    Immediate Source of Acquisition

    Purchased from William K. Bixby, 1918.

    Biographical / Historical

    George Harrington (1815-1892), was an American Treasury official and diplomat. Harrington served as a clerk in the Treasury Department before being appointed chief clerk under his personal friend Salmon P. Chase, Chief Justice of the United States. During the Civil War, Harrington served as assistant secretary of the treasury. After the death of President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865, Harrington was given the task of organizing the funeral; he also served as the Grand Marshal for the funeral procession. In 1865-1869 he served as minister-resident to Switzerland, and from 1870 until 1876 he was president of Automatic Telegraph Co., New York. Harrington died while traveling at sea in December 1892.

    Scope and Contents

    A collection of 64 items which includes the personal and professional correspondence and documents of George Harrington, chiefly letters addressed to him. Correspondents include Salmon P. Chase, William Pitt Fessenden, Edward Bates, John J. Cisco, and others. The letters discuss the U. S. financial administration during the Civil War, New York and Maryland politics, and Harrington's personal and family affairs. Also included is Harrington's draft of the program of the funeral procession of Abraham Lincoln.
    Collection includes James A. Garfield letter signed to George Harrington, 1874 January 6 (HM 20350).

    Processing Information

    Processed by Huntington Library Staff, circa 1925. In 2020, Gayle Richardson created the finding aid derived from legacy in-house summary report. In 2022, Melissa Haley enhanced description of the presidential material present in the collection as part of the American Presidential Papers Project.

    General

    Former call number: mssHarrington file.

    Arrangement

    Arranged chronologically.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Diplomats -- United States
    Politicians -- United States
    Maryland -- Politics and Government -- 19th century
    New York (State) -- Politics and Government -- 19th century
    United States -- Politics and Government -- 1849-1877
    United States -- History -- 1849-1877
    United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
    Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 19th century
    Personal papers -- United States -- 19th century
    Bates, Edward, 1793-1869
    Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873
    Cisco, John J.
    Fessenden, William Pitt, 1806-1869
    Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881
    Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 -- Death and burial
    United States. Department of the Treasury -- Officials and employees