William Maclay Journals and Note
Scope and Content Note
The papers of William Maclay (1737-1804) span the years 1789-1791 and consist of a three-volume journal and a note to John Nicholson. The journal details Maclay’s experiences as a senator from Pennsylvania in the first United States Congress. Maclay described legislative and procedural debates relating to questions such as protocol for ceremonies, relations between the House and the Senate, the tariff of 1789, the judiciary bill, compensation for members of Congress, Baron von Steuben’s accounts, assumption of state debts, Alexander Hamilton’s report on public credit, the creation of a national bank, and the establishment of a national mint. Also included are personal observations and accounts of social life of members of Congress. The first volume includes drafts of letters to Tench Coxe, Samuel Meredith, Richard Peters, and Benjamin Rush.
Dates
- Creation: 1789-1791
Language of Materials
Collection material in English
Access and Restrictions
The papers of William Maclay are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of William Maclay is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Extent
4 items
3 containers
4 linear feet
1 microfilm reel
Abstract
United States senator from Pennsylvania, lawyer, and jurist. Three volumes (later published) of a journal kept by MacLay as a senator in the first United States Congress and one note to John Nicholson.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged alphabetically by type of material.
Additional Guides
Maclay’s journal has been edited by Kenneth R. Bowling and Helen E. Veit in The Diary of William Maclay and Other Notes on Senate Debates (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1988) as volume IX of the Documentary History of the First Federal Congress , 1789-1791.
Catalog Record
Provenance
The journals of William Maclay, United States senator from Pennsylvania, lawyer, and jurist, were purchased by the Library of Congress in 1941. One item was given to the Library by Simon Gratz in 1919.
Microfilm
A microfilm edition of part of these papers is available on one reel. Consult a reference librarian in the Manuscript Division concerning availability for purchase or interlibrary loan.
Source
- Maclay, William, 1737-1804 (Creator, Person)
Subject
- Coxe, Tench, 1755-1824--Correspondence. (Person)
- Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804. (Person)
- Maclay, William, 1737-1804. (Person)
- Meredith, Samuel, 1741-1817--Correspondence. (Person)
- Nicholson, John, 1757-1800--Correspondence. (Person)
- Peters, Richard, 1743-1828--Correspondence. (Person)
- Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813--Correspondence. (Person)
- Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron von, 1730-1794. (Person)
- Bank of the United States (1791-1811) (Organization)
- Mint of the United States. (Organization)
- United States. Congress (1st : 1789-1791) (Organization)
- United States. Congress--History. (Organization)
- United States. Congress. House. (Organization)
- United States. Congress. Senate. (Organization)
Geographic
- United States--Foreign relations--1789-1797.
- United States--Politics and government--1789-1797.
- Washington (D.C.)--Social life and customs.
Occupation
Topical
- Banks and banking--United States.
- Courts--United States.
- Debts, Public.
- Finance--United States.
- National banks (United States)
- Tariff--United States.
Uniform Title
- Title
- William Maclay Journals and Note
- Subtitle
- A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress
- Author
- Prepared by Patrick Kerwin
- Date
- 2002
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Part of the Manuscript Division Repository
Manuscript Reading Room
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