Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Preferred Citation
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Biographical / Historical
Scope and Contents
Processing Information
General
General
Arrangement
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Timothy Pitkin papers
Creator:
Pitkin, Timothy, 1766-1847
Identifier/Call Number: mssPI
Physical Description:
9.92 Linear Feet
(8 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1681-1847, bulk 1800-1830
Abstract: A collection of professional and
personal material related to the American statesman, Timothy Pitkin.
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]. Timothy Pitkin papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from William Channing Wyman, October 1922.
Biographical / Historical
Timothy Pitkin (1766-1847) was an American statesman, economist, and historian. Pitkin was
born in Connecticut, and throughout his life was closely identified with the affairs of his
native state. He was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1790, 1792, and
from 1794 to 1805, serving as Clerk of the House from 1800 to 1802, and as Speaker from 1803
to 1805. In 1805, he was elected as a Federalist, to the Ninth United States Congress; he
retained the seat in the next six congresses. While in Congress, Pitkin did extensive
research on the economic impact of Republican foreign policy. The results of his research
were published in A Statistical View of the Commerce of the United States of America (1816).
A staunch Federalist and defender of the Congregational Church establishment, Pitkin was not
a candidate for re-nomination in 1818. Having taken part in the convention that framed the
new constitution of Connecticut, he resumed the practice of law and engaged in literary
work. In 1819, he was again elected to the State House of Representatives; he served until
1830. He continued to study history, economics, and theology, and in 1828 published A
Political and Civil History of the United States of America.
Scope and Contents
A collection of 336 items from 1681 to 1847, it consists of the political and personal
correspondence of Timothy Pitkin: letters addressed to him and drafts of his letters. The
correspondence discusses various political, diplomatic, and economic topics, including the
Thomas Jefferson-Aaron Burr election; impeachment of Samuel Chase; foreign policy; the War
of 1812; the Hartford convention; presidential elections; Louisiana affairs; commerce;
banking; internal revenue; and patent legislation. Also included are letters related to
Pitkin's historical studies. Correspondents include John Quincy Adams, Simon Baldwin,
Theodore Dwight, Chauncey Goodrich, Bela Hubbard, William Stedman, John Treadwell, Eli
Whitney, and others. Also included are a few earlier items, apparently from the files of
William Pitkin (1694-1769) who was the colonial governor of Connecticut and grandfather of
Timothy Pitkin.
John Quincy Adams letters to Timothy Pitkin are dated 1817 September 1, 1819 April 28, 1827
February 13, 1831 August 18, 1837 April 22 (PI 1-5).
Processing Information
Processed by Huntington Library Staff, circa 1930. In 2020, Gayle Richardson created the
finding aid derived from a legacy summary report. In 2022, Melissa Haley enhanced
description of the presidential material present in the collection as part of the American
Presidential Papers Project. In 2024, Mari Khasmanyan rehoused formerly loose materials into
boxes 7 and 8 and updated the total linear feet.
General
This collection should not be confused with the papers of Timothy Pitkin published by the
Connecticut Historical Society in its Collections, volume 19 (1921).
General
Individual call numbers included in the collection: mssPI 1-336.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Economists -- United States
Historians -- United States
Legislators -- Connecticut -- Archives
Legislators -- United States
Patent laws and legislation -- United States -- History
Presidents -- United States -- Election -- 19th century
Presidents -- United States -- Election -- 1800
Connecticut -- History --
1775-1865
Connecticut -- History -- Colonial
period, ca. 1600-1775
Louisiana -- History --
1803-1865
United States -- Commerce -- History -- 19th century
United States -- Foreign relations --
19th century
United States -- History -- 1783-1865 -- Sources
United States -- History -- War of
1812
United States -- Politics and Government
-- 1783-1865
Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 19th century
Personal papers -- Connecticut
Professional papers -- Connecticut
Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848
Baldwin, Simeon,
1761-1851
Chase, Samuel,
1741-1811
Dwight, Theodore, 1764-1846
Goodrich, Chauncey,
1759-1815
Hubbard, Bela,
1739-1812
Pitkin, William,
1635-1694
Steadman, William,
1764-1837
Treadwell, John,
1745-1823
Whitney, Eli, 1765-1825
Federal Party (U.S.) -- History
Republican Party (U.S. : 1792-1828) -- History
Hartford Convention
(1814-1815 : Hartford, Conn.)