Scope and Content Note
The papers of Thomas Hill Hubbard (1781-1823) span the years 1817 to 1823 and consist of letters written by him to his wife, Phebe, during his two nonconsecutive terms in the United States House of Representatives as a congressman from New York. The letters are arranged chronologically. The collection also includes a published lecture delivered by Robert J. Hubbard concerning the depiction of political and social life in Washington, D.C., in the letters.
Writing weekly and sometimes more often, Hubbard presented a detailed picture of his life in Washington to his wife who remained in Hamilton, New York, during his first term and with family in Middletown, Connecticut, during his second. The letters, often three to four pages in length, describe his journeys to Washington, the physical layout of the city, its social life, churches, and entertainments, and the sense of fellowship that emanated from its boardinghouses. With considerable ability to convey details, Hubbard recalled the furnishings of his various lodgings, of the White House, and of homes where he was entertained. He commented frequently on fashions, food, table decorations, and servants in describing social events. He also recorded his impressions of national political figures, including John Quincy Adams, John C. Calhoun, Henry Clay, and James Monroe. In a letter dated January 3, 1818, he recounted the first presidential levee since the destruction of the White House by the British in 1814. While his letters provide a vivid sense of the daily routines of a congressman, they are generally devoid of political commentary.