Charles Daniel Drake Papers
Collection
Identifier: GTM-GAMMS279
The Charles Daniel Drake Papers consist of scrapbooks containing articles about the early portion of Drake's political career and some of his literary writings. The collection is contained in 2 boxes (2.25 linear feet). The first scrapbook focuses on the political climate of the day during the early part of Drake's political career. Much coverage is given to the activities of the Whig party in and around St. Louis, Missouri. Of note are articles about the elections of 1840 and 1848 and published correspondence between Drake and St. Louis governing bodies, such as the board of delegates, the board of aldermen, and the city council. The scrapbook follows Drake's career from St. Louis to Cincinnati and back to St. Louis. The second scrapbook contains literary articles and poems written by Drake. Rounding out the collection are documents, mostly newspaper articles about politics, not bound in scrapbooks. The collection is contained in 2 archival boxes (2.25 linear feet).
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Charles Daniel Drake (1811-1892) was born on April 11, 1811, to Dr. Daniel Drake and Harriet Sisson. He received literary training in his home and attended schools in Kentucky and Cincinnati. In 1827, he entered the naval academy, but resigned in 1830 to study law. In 1834, Drake settled in St. Louis and began to practice law. He moved to Cincinnati for a time, but he returned to St. Louis in 1850. Active in St. Louis politics, he often changed parties and was, in turn, a Whig, a Know-Nothing, and a Democrat. In 1859, Drake was elected as a Democrat to fill a vacancy in the state legislature. In 1860, he supported Douglas for president. During the Civil War, Drake was a leader of the radical wing of the Unionist party in Missouri. The new state constitution in Missouri came to be known as the "Drake constitution" for his role in it. In 1867, Drake was elected U.S. Senator. In the Senate he was one of the Radical Republicans. In 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant appointed Drake as chief justice of the United States Court of Claims. Drake served in that post until retiring in 1885. Charles Daniel Drake died April 1, 1892. [Source: "Dictionary of American Biography." New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1920.]
2.25 Linear Feet (2 boxes)
English
Part of the Georgetown University Manuscripts Repository