Scope and Content Note
The papers of Horace Porter (1837-1921) span the years 1853-1922 and consist of correspondence, a diary, family papers, photographs, and speeches. The papers relate to Porter's Civil War service, his activities with the Pullman Company and the New York, West Shore, & Buffalo Railroad, his service in the Union League of America, his interest in Republican politics, his role in the inaugural of William McKinley, and his service as United States ambassador to France.
The correspondence consists of letterbooks containing personal and business correspondence and letters written by Porter primarily to his family during the Civil War. The subject file consists of material relating to the search and discovery of the body of John Paul Jones and letters, photographs, and other papers relating to Ulysses S. Grant and his military campaigns. Also included are speeches, biographical material, and notes pertaining to Porter's book, Campaigning with Grant (1897).
Correspondents include A. N. Blakeman, George Edward Payson Dodge, James Henry Duncan, Marcus Alonzo Hanna, John Hay, David Rittenhouse Porter, Sophie K. McHarg Porter, Albert B. Pullman, George Mortimer Pullman, and Elihu Root.