Letters to William Overton Callis
Title
Letters to William Overton Callis
Subject
Constitutional Convention
James Madison (1751-1836)
Patrick Henry (1736-1799)
Description
2 letters to William Overton Callis, both framed in glass. One undated fragment, signed by Patrick Henry, and one letter dated January 13, 1789, signed by James Madison.
James Madison (March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836) was a statesman, diplomat, and Founding Father of the United States. He was an architect of the U.S. Constitution, authored the Bill of Rights, and was the fourth president of the United States (1809-1817). He was also one of the charter trustees of Hampden-Sydney College.
Patrick Henry (May 1736 – June 6, 1799) was a lawyer, orator, statesman, and politician. He was the first and sixth post-colonial Governor of Virginia, from 1776 to 1779 and from 1784 to 1786. He was also one of the charter trustees of Hampden-Sydney College.
William Overton Callis (March 4, 1756 – March 14, 1814) was a politician and childhood friend of James Madison. He was tutored by Parson John Todd, who was active in the establishment of Hampden-Sydney College and a member of the first Board of Trustees.
During the time of James Madison’s letter to William Callis, George Washington had just been elected the first president of the United States and the Constitution, although ratified, had yet to be officially implemented. The date was set for March 4, 1789, for Congress to meet and the new government to begin. Before that first meeting, James Madison began writing letters to several people about his true intentions and goals for the Constitution, hoping to negate false narratives about himself. This letter appears to be one of those said letters.
Patrick Henry (May 1736 – June 6, 1799) was a lawyer, orator, statesman, and politician. He was the first and sixth post-colonial Governor of Virginia, from 1776 to 1779 and from 1784 to 1786. He was also one of the charter trustees of Hampden-Sydney College.
William Overton Callis (March 4, 1756 – March 14, 1814) was a politician and childhood friend of James Madison. He was tutored by Parson John Todd, who was active in the establishment of Hampden-Sydney College and a member of the first Board of Trustees.
During the time of James Madison’s letter to William Callis, George Washington had just been elected the first president of the United States and the Constitution, although ratified, had yet to be officially implemented. The date was set for March 4, 1789, for Congress to meet and the new government to begin. Before that first meeting, James Madison began writing letters to several people about his true intentions and goals for the Constitution, hoping to negate false narratives about himself. This letter appears to be one of those said letters.
Creator
James Madison
Patrick Henry
Date
1789
Contributor
Gift of Mr. James N. Boyd '58 and Mr. J. P. McGuire Boyd '64.
Rights
The nature of the Hampden-Sydney College Archives and Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. As a result, Hampden-Sydney College claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials.
The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g. cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning and individual’s private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the College assumes no responsibility.
The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g. cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning and individual’s private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the College assumes no responsibility.
Language
English
Type
correspondence
Identifier
SC-000147
Rights Holder
Hampden-Sydney College Archives and Special Collections
Bibliographic Citation
[Identification of item], Letters to William Overton Callis, SC-000147, Hampden-Sydney College Archives and Special Collections, Hampden-Sydney, VA
Abstract
These two letters were gifted to Hampden-Sydney College Archives and Special Collections as one accession. Due to that, they have been processed together as letters to William Overton Callis but the Archives and Special Collections would like to acknowledge that the recipient of the Patrick Henry letter, along with the written date of the letter, remain unconfirmed due a generous section missing.
Date Available
2024-03
Date Created
1789
Date Accepted
2022
Access Rights
Collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access will require additional advanced notice. Copies of digital files will be provided for use upon request.
Conforms To
DACS
Collection Items
Letter from Patrick Henry (back)
Transcription
Items within single brackets indicate the clarification of an abbreviated word.
Items within two brackets indicate that the word may be an incorrect transcription or directions for where the transcription is located on the page.
Items within single brackets indicate the clarification of an abbreviated word.
Items within two brackets indicate that the word may be an incorrect transcription or directions for where the transcription is located on the page.
Letter from Patrick Henry (front)
Transcription
Items within single brackets indicate the clarification of an abbreviated word.
Items within two brackets indicate that the word may be an incorrect transcription or directions for where the transcription is located on the page.
Items within single brackets indicate the clarification of an abbreviated word.
Items within two brackets indicate that the word may be an incorrect transcription or directions for where the transcription is located on the page.
Letter from James Madison (back)
Transcription
Items within single brackets indicate the clarification of an abbreviated word.
Items within two brackets indicate that the word may be an incorrect transcription or directions for where the transcription is located on the page.
Items within single brackets indicate the clarification of an abbreviated word.
Items within two brackets indicate that the word may be an incorrect transcription or directions for where the transcription is located on the page.
Letter from James Madison (front)
Transcription
Items within single brackets indicate the clarification of an abbreviated word.
Items within two brackets indicate that the word may be an incorrect transcription or directions for where the transcription is located on the page.
Items within single brackets indicate the clarification of an abbreviated word.
Items within two brackets indicate that the word may be an incorrect transcription or directions for where the transcription is located on the page.