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Primary sourceLetter1852-1862

Some Papers of Franklin Pierce, 1852-1862

Franklin Pierce · 1852-1862

A collection of letters and papers written by or to Franklin Pierce, published from his private correspondence.

A collection of Pierce's own private letters and correspondence, a direct primary source for his life and presidency.

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Some Papers of Franklin Pierce, 1852-1862PDF · 44 pages

About this source

What it is

This is a collection of letters found among the private papers of President Franklin Pierce, covering the years 1852 to 1862. The letters were copied and edited for publication in 1905 from originals held by Pierce's nephew.

Why it matters

As a primary source drawn directly from Pierce's own correspondence, this collection offers insight into his personal and political relationships during and after his presidency, including with other political figures of the era such as Edmund Burke.

Look closer

  • What can personal letters reveal that official documents cannot?
  • Why might letters be kept private for decades before being published?
  • What does the choice of which letters to publish tell us about the editor's purpose?

This letter is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Franklin Pierce on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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