Written by
Elliott, Robert Brown, American, 1842 - 1884
Subject of
United States Department of the Treasury, American, founded 1789
Date
August 4, 1880
Medium
ink on wove paper
Dimensions
H x W: 9 1/2 × 7 1/2 in. (24.1 × 19.1 cm)
Caption
Born in England, Robert B. Elliott (1842–1884) moved to Charleston, South Carolina, in 1867 and, after co-founding the nation's first known African American law firm, Whipper, Elliott, and Allen with William Whipper and Macon B. Allen, he rose to prominence in state politics. In 1870, he was elected a U.S. representative to Congress. He received national acclaim for his powerful speeches in support of civil rights legislation.
At the time this letter was written, Elliott was working as an appointed customs inspector for the Treasury Department in Charleston, South Carolina. On the trip to Florida that is the subject of the correspondence, Elliott contracted malaria from which he would never fully recover. He was later transferred to New Orleans before being dismissed by the Treasury Department in 1882. He died in New Orleans on August 9, 1884.
Description
A handwritten letter by Robert B. Elliott containing his request of a friend for a loan of $100.00 in order to travel, on orders from Washington, to Florida on official business for the Treasury Department. The letter is handwritten in brown ink on one side of a single sheet of off-white paper lined in blue. At top left is [Confidential.] underlined and at top right is [Charleston, S.C., / Aug. 14th, 1880.]. The letter is addressed to [L. Dunneman, Esq., / Charleston, S.C.: / Dear Friend - ]. The body of the letter consists of two paragraphs and begins, [I am very sorry to trouble you, but i have just received orders from Washington to proceed to Florida on official business, and not having the money at present to bear the expense, I write to ask you to aid me in my difficulty as it is very important that I should go.]. It is signed at bottom right [Your friend, / Robt. B. Elliott.]. On the verso, preprinted in red ink is a form for [Office of Special Agent Treasury Department] that has not been completed. Handwritten in red ink at the very top is [D-15-1881] and at the bottom [7779 B/27] and [6137 B/27].
Place made
Charleston, South Carolina, United States, North and Central America
Place depicted
Florida, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Documents and Manuscripts
Type
lithographs
Topic
Correspondence
Finance
Government
Law
Men
Politics
Reconstruction, U.S. History, 1865-1877
Slavery
U.S. History, 1865-1921
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Stanley Turkel's Collection of Reconstruction Era Materials
Object number
2012.160.152.2
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5bbcee945-fc03-491b-ae82-e0d768afacd1

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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