Scope and Content Note
The papers of John McLean (1785-1861) span the years 1816-1866 with the bulk of the material falling between 1829 and 1860. The collection documents McLean’s tenure as postmaster general, his service on the United States Supreme Court, and his potential candidacy for the U.S. presidency. The collection is in English. It contains the following series: Correspondence, Legal Files, Printed Matter, and Additions.
The McLean Papers contain very little for the early years of McLean’s government service at the state level in Ohio and nationally, but expand after 1822, when he was appointed commissioner of the United States General Land Office. Correspondence and printed matter from his tenure as postmaster general, 1823-1829, reflect problems relating to the early years of the United States postal service, the growth of Washington, D.C., and national political issues. Noteworthy in the collection is a volume containing McLean’s notes on oral arguments made before the Court in 1830, including cases argued by John MacPherson Berrien, Francis Scott Key, David Bayard Ogden, Roger Brooke Taney, Daniel Webster, and William Wirt. McLean was viewed as a prospective presidential candidate during this period, and his papers provide insight into presidential politics in the decades leading to the Civil War. Other topics include state and local politics in Ohio and Cincinnati, Indian affairs, international relations, the possible secession of Southern slave states from the Union, the Whig Party, and the question of slavery.
The Additions series primarily includes incoming and outgoing correspondence of McLean with colleagues and family members, including his first wife Rebecca Edwards McLean and their children, as well as business, legal, and political correspondence and information on court matters. Topics covered include the Mexican War, Whig politics, political appointments, and domestic matters.
The collection’s series are listed and briefly described below. A fuller description of each series and a list of its contents can be accessed in the series descriptions within the container list.
The Correspondence series contains letters received, as well as a few drafts of letters sent. It is supplemented by printed matter, memoranda, financial data, legal briefs, and newspaper clippings.
The Legal Files series contains briefs, opinions, memoranda, and reports.
The Printed Matter series contains legal briefs, pamphlets, reports, political tracts, and miscellaneous items.
The Additions series consists of two separate additions. The first consists of a printed circular and letter of transmittal by McLean pertaining to postal matters. The second addition contains correspondence between McLean and his family members.
Dates
- Creation: 1816-1866
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1829-1860
Language of Materials
Collection material in English
Access and Restrictions
The papers of John McLean are open to research. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of John McLean is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Biographical Note
Biographical Note
- 1785, Mar. 11
- Born, Morris County, N.J.
- 1807
- Married Rebecca Edwards (died 1841)
- 1807 - 1812
- Founder and editor, The Western Star , Lebanon, Ohio
- 1812 - 1816
- United States congressman from Ohio
- 1816 - 1822
- Associate justice, Ohio state supreme court
- 1822
- Commissioner, United States General Land Office
- 1823 - 1829
- United States postmaster general
- 1829 - 1861
- Associate justice, United States Supreme Court
- 1843
- Married Sarah Bella Garrard
- 1861, Apr. 4
- Died, Cincinnati, Ohio
Extent
4,000 items
27 containers
10.6 linear feet
18 microfilm reels
Abstract
U.S. representative from Ohio, U.S. postmaster general, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, and Ohio Supreme Court associate justice. Correspondence, financial data, docket book, printed matter, a file of reports, opinions and briefs arranged by case name, and other papers relating to McLean’s service as postmaster general and Supreme Court justice.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged in four series:
Catalog Record
Acquisition Information
The papers of John McLean, United States representative from Ohio, postmaster general, and Supreme Court justice, were given to the Library of Congress by Marshall McLean in 1907 and 1920. Additions were purchased between 1906 and 1943. Two items from an unknown source were transferred from the Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection in 2005. A further addition was purchased in 2010.
Microfilm
A microfilm edition of part of these papers is available on eighteen reels. Consult reference staff in the Manuscript Division concerning availability for purchase or interlibrary loan. To promote preservation of the originals, researchers are required to consult the microfilm edition.
Processing History
The papers of John McLean were processed in 1966 by J. Butler and Carolyn H. Sung and prepared for microfilming in 1972. A small addition was incorporated in 2008 and the finding aid revised by Karen Stuart. An addition was processed and the finding aid revised in 2022 by Joanne Archer.
Source
- McLean, John, 1785-1861 (Creator, Person)
Subject
- Atwater, Caleb, 1778-1867--Correspondence. (Person)
- Berrien, John MacPherson, 1781-1856--Trials, litigation, etc. (Person)
- Buchanan, James, 1791-1868--Correspondence. (Person)
- Calhoun, John C. (John Caldwell), 1782-1850--Correspondence. (Person)
- Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873--Correspondence. (Person)
- Clayton, John M. (John Middleton), 1796-1856--Correspondence. (Person)
- Corwin, Thomas, 1794-1865--Correspondence. (Person)
- Dallas, George Mifflin, 1792-1864--Correspondence. (Person)
- Eaton, John Henry, 1790-1856--Correspondence. (Person)
- Edwards, Ninian, 1775-1833--Correspondence. (Person)
- Everett, Edward, 1794-1865--Correspondence. (Person)
- Ewing, Thomas, 1789-1871--Correspondence. (Person)
- Green, Duff, 1791-1875--Correspondence. (Person)
- Hill, Isaac, 1789-1851--Correspondence. (Person)
- Ingham, Samuel D. (Samuel Delucenna), 1779-1860--Correspondence. (Person)
- Johnson, Richard M. (Richard Mentor), 1780-1850--Correspondence. (Person)
- Key, Francis Scott, 1779-1843--Trials, litigation, etc. (Person)
- Lee, Henry, 1787-1837--Correspondence. (Person)
- Madison, James, 1751-1836--Correspondence. (Person)
- McArthur, Duncan, 1772-1839--Correspondence. (Person)
- McLean family--Correspondence. (Family)
- McLean family. (Family)
- McLean, John, 1785-1861. (Person)
- McLean, Rebecca Edwards, 1786-1841--Correspondence. (Person)
- Monroe, James, 1758-1831--Correspondence. (Person)
- Ogden, David Bayard, 1775-1849--Trials, litigation, etc. (Person)
- Peters, Richard, 1780-1848--Correspondence. (Person)
- Rives, William C. (William Cabell), 1793-1868--Correspondence. (Person)
- Rush, Richard, 1780-1859--Correspondence. (Person)
- Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866--Correspondence. (Person)
- Sergeant, Thomas, 1782-1860--Correspondence. (Person)
- Seward, William H. (William Henry), 1801-1872--Correspondence. (Person)
- Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869--Correspondence. (Person)
- Story, Joseph, 1779-1845--Correspondence. (Person)
- Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874--Correspondence. (Person)
- Taney, Roger Brooke, 1777-1864--Correspondence. (Person)
- Taney, Roger Brooke, 1777-1864--Trials, litigation, etc. (Person)
- Tyler, John, 1790-1862--Correspondence. (Person)
- Ward, Henry Dana, 1797-1884--Correspondence. (Person)
- Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852--Correspondence. (Person)
- Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852--Trials, litigation, etc. (Person)
- Weed, Thurlow, 1797-1882--Correspondence. (Person)
- Whitcomb, James, 1795-1852--Correspondence. (Person)
- Wirt, William, 1772-1834--Trials, litigation, etc. (Person)
- United States. General Land Office. (Organization)
- United States. Post Office Department. (Organization)
- United States. Supreme Court. (Organization)
- Whig Party (U.S.) (Organization)
Geographic
- Cincinnati (Ohio)--Politics and government.
- Ohio--Politics and government.
- United States--Foreign relations--1783-1865.
- United States--Politics and government--19th century.
- Washington (D.C.)--History.
Occupation
- Cabinet officers.
- Judges.
- Justices, State.
- Justices, U.S. Supreme Court.
- Representatives, U.S. Congress--Ohio.
Topical
- Title
- John McLean Papers
- Subtitle
- A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress
- Author
- Prepared by Manuscript Division Staff
- Date
- 2022
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Part of the Manuscript Division Repository
Manuscript Reading Room
101 Independence Ave, SE
James Madison Building, LM 101
Washington, DC 20540-4683
(202) 707-5387