Guide to the Clay / Randolph Duel Correspondence

Processed by Special Collections staff; latest revision, D. Tambo

Department of Special Collections

Davidson Library

University of California, Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA 93106

Phone: (805) 893-3062

Fax: (805) 893-5749

Email: special@library.ucsb.edu

URL: http://www.library.ucsb.edu/speccoll/speccoll.html

Guide to the Clay / Randolph Duel Correspondence, 1826

Collection number: Wyles Mss 27

Department of Special Collections, Davidson Library, University of California, Santa Barbara

Contact Information:

Department of Special Collections
Davidson Library
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
Phone: (805) 893-3062
Fax: (805) 893-5749
Email: special@library.ucsb.edu
URL: http://www.library.ucsb.edu/speccoll/speccoll.html

Processed by:

Special Collections staff; latest revision, D. Tambo

Date Completed:

30 October 2002

Encoded by:

David C. Gartrell

Descriptive Summary

Title: Clay / Randolph Duel Correspondence,

Date (inclusive): 1826

Collection Number: Wyles Mss 27

Creator: Clay, Henry,--1777-1852

Extent: .2 linear feet (1 box)

Repository: University of California, Santa Barbara. Library. Department of Special Collections

Santa Barbara, California 93106-9010

Physical Location: Vault.

Language: English.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

None.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.

Preferred Citation

Clay / Randolph Duel Correspondence. Wyles Mss 27. Department of Special Collections, Davidson Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Mrs. Randolph Hearst, 1961.

History

A more detailed account of the events and personalities surrounding the Henry Clay -- John Randolph duel may be found in works such as:

Burstein, Andrew. America's Jubilee (2001).

Scope and Content of Collection

The collection contains 7 letters and notes concerning the duel between Secretary of State Henry Clay and Senator John Randolph on April 8, 1826. The correspondents are Clay, Randolph, and their seconds, Col.Edward F. Tatnall and Gen. Thomas J. Jesup. The first letter is from Clay to Randolph, dated March 31, 1826 and demanding "personal satisfaction" for "the unprovoked attack on my character." During the duel Randolph fired into the air and Clay's shot only hit Randolph's coat.

A separate letter from Emily Donelson to her son was included in the collection by the donor but does not seem to have any connection to the Clay-Randolph correspondence.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Clay, Henry,--1777-1852

Box 1: 1

Clay, Henry -- 1 letter (ALS) to John Randolph, demanding personal satisfaction, Mar. 31, 1826

Box 1: 2

Randolph, John -- 1 letter (ALS) to Henry Clay, accepting his challenge, Apr. 1, 1826

Box 1: 3

Randolph, John -- Copy of 1 letter (AL) to General Thomas J. Jesup, referring him to Randolph's friend, Col. Edward F. Tatnall, Apr. 1, 1826

Box 1: 4

Clay, Henry -- 1 note to Col. Tatnall, agreeing to meet him the same evening, Apr. 1, 1826

Box 1: 5

Tatnall, Edward F. -- Duplicate copy of 1 letter (ALS) to Gen. Jesup, agreeing to see him, Apr. 3, 1826

Box 1: 6

Jesup, Thomas J. -- 1 leter (ALS) to Col. Tatnall, on conditions and arrangements, Apr. 6, 1826

Box 1: 7

Tatnall, Edward F. -- 1 note (AN) to Gen. Jesup, accepting conditions, if official, n.d.

Box 1: 8

Donelson, Emily -- 1 letter (ALS) to her son, Master A. Jackson Donelson, saying she is sorry she cannot send for him (free-franked by Andrew Jackson), n.d.