Letters to Arthur Benjamin Calef, January 1860-November 1861

Excepting two copies of court records from 1851 and 1853, the collection contains correspondence addressed to Arthur Benjamin Calef dating from 1856 to 1861. John Woodruff is the author of the bulk of the correspondence; his letters - usually marked "private" - chiefly relate to the political situation in Washington, D.C. and Connecticut, especially with regards to pre-Civil War tensions, campaigning, and Calef's appointment to the position of Middletown Postmaster. Other letters are also primarily politically motivated, but include requests for references from Calef or requests that he exert his influence to procure letter-writers certain positions, etc. These letter-writers include Connecticut Governor William A. Buckingham.