James Madison Indian peace medal, 1809. John Reich (1768–1833),

Ex_4523_Madison_Peace_Medal001

Medals such as these were distributed to Native American leaders to mark the conclusion of a treaty or other important occasions. This silver medal, issued during the presidency of James Madison (1751–1836), was given in 1809 to Keokuk (ca. 1780–1848), chief of the Sauk tribe, and has been pierced for wearing. Gift of Mrs. Archibald A. McLeod, Sr., in memory of her son, Archibald A. McLeod, Jr., Class of 1906. Numismatics Collection.

FOR FURTHER EXPLORATION: Read more about this item in a previous exhibition, “Capping Liberty: The Invention of Numismatic Iconography for the New American Republic.”

Letter to Robert Livingston, January 16, 1804. James Madison (1751–1836),

C0207_Bx1_F20_Madison_ltrAs Secretary of State under Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), James Madison supervised the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the United States by adding more than 800,000 square miles and paving the way for westward migration. In this letter to Robert Livingston (1746–1813), who had negotiated the purchase with France, he announces the formal delivery of the “Province of Louisiana” to the United States for $15 million. James Madison Collection, Manuscripts Division.

FOR FURTHER EXPLORATION: See the finding aid for this item.

“The Particulars of & Sketches Taken during a Voyage to and Journey over the United States of America and Back,” 1810–1811. James Glennie,

Glennie C0063_no8_p67_detailAs transportation improved in the 19th century, America became an increasingly attractive tourist destination. James Glennie was one such tourist, sailing from London on September 24, 1810, to travel through the Atlantic states. He kept this journal in the form of letters to his mother, in which he described visits with President James Madison (1751–1836) and other statesmen, and composed more than sixty drawings, including views of Boston, Charleston, and Washington, D.C. Gift of André de Coppet, Class of 1915. André de Coppet Collection, Manuscripts Division.

FOR FURTHER EXPLORATION: See the finding aid for this item.