Andrew Johnson Collection, PC.151

[Identification of item] PC.151, Finding Aid of the Andrew Johnson Collection, North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, NC, USA.

Includes three documents from Johnson's Tennessee governorship, each from 1854, including an extradition request to North Carolina, signed by Johnson. During the period of Reconstruction, 1865-1876, there are two original letters, one from Governor Jonathon Worth (Jan. 1866) expressing state's gratitude for restoration of civil goverment and support for President Johnson's policies; and one to Nashville, Tenn. judge and fellow Unionist, John C. Gant (June 1872). There are typed extracts from memoirs of Dr. A. Jobe that concern a visit by Johnson to Raleigh and Chapel Hill (1867) and the erection of a monument in a Raleigh cemetery to his father, Jacob. Also in the collection are photographs of buildings and monuments relating to Johnson and miscellaneous printed material. There is genealogical information and copies of material, including a marriage bond of Johnson's parents and a reward poster (1824) for escaped bound apprentices, Andrew and his brother, William. Miscellaneous material includes a small bill and miscellaneous notes written on both sides, with dates entered as 1830 and 1834. Possibly the itemized list relates to tailoring work done by Johnson.

Chronological within material types.

Andrew Johnson (1808-1875), seventeenth president of the United States, was born in Raleigh, North Carolina to Mary (Polly) McDonough and Jacob Johnson. Jacob's untimely death in 1811 left the family in poverty that was unrelieved by Mary's subsequent remarriage. Like his brother, William, Andrew was unschooled and apprenticed at a young age to a tailor. Both boys later ran away, and around 1826 Andrew moved to Tennessee with his mother and step-father. There he began working as a tailor near the town of Greeneville, and during the following year married Eliza McCardle. She assisted the self-educated Johnson in reading and writing, and encouraged his participation in debates at the local academy.During the 1830s Andrew Johnson entered local, then state politics; and during the 1840s and 1850s he was a member of the House of Representatives and the Senate. During the secession crisis of 1860, Johnson declared himself for the Union and remained in Congress as other Southern senators withdrew. In the Senate and elsewhere he denounced secession while advocating for Southern rights within the Union.Johnson remained generally in favor with Unionists, and in 1862 President Lincoln appointed him military governor of Tennessee. In 1864 the Republicans nominated Johnson, a Southerner and a Democrat, to serve with Abraham Lincoln as vice president. Duly elected, Johnson was thrust into the presidency following Lincoln's death mid-April of 1865. As the American Civil War ended, Johnson sought to implement Lincoln's vision for reconstruction and his own political and constitutional views. Over the next few years he and Congress could not agree upon the means to restore the ravaged nation. Acquitted by one vote in an impeachment trial, Johnson served out his term, through early March 1869.Johnson soon returned to his home in Tennessee, where he apparently desired and sought a moderate and independent course between the extremes of unreconstructed former Conferates and radical Republicans. There were complexities and bitter animosities, however, and in later 1869 Johnson was unsuccessful in his run for the U.S. Senate. Likewise in 1872, he lost his bid as representative-at-large to Congress.In 1874, however, Johnson was successful politically and took his seat in a special Senate session, 5 March 1875. On the 22nd of that month Johnson delivered a speech attacking President Ulysses S. Grant's recent military intervention in Louisiana and his plans to run for a third term. Johnson closed with a plea that "peace and prosperity be restored to the land." After adjournment, Johnson returned home to Greeneville, and several weeks later suffered a paralytic stroke that ended his life by July 31st of that year.Note: The political, ideological and other issues of the Reconstruction era are complex and remain controversial. Revisionist historians have largely been highly critical of Johnson. Within a 2011 book there is some treatment of many of the various critical works regarding Johnson and his presidency. (Published by the University of Tennessee Press: Andrew Johnson's Civil War and Reconstruction, it is written by Paul Bergeron, editor of the Papers of Andrew Johnson, volumes 8-16, from 1987 to 2000.)

1. Original Documents, Letters, and Miscellaneous,1830-1948 1854-1872

2. Copies of Addresses, Memoirs, Documents, Genealogies, and Miscellaneous Printed Material,1801 - 1948 and undated

3. Ceremonies and Dedications,1939-1948

4. Photographs,circa 1925-1955

5. Pamphlets, Brochures, and Other Printed Material,1927-1946, and undated

Gant, John C.

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Johnson family

McDonough family

Apprentices--North Carolina--Wake County

Governors--Tennessee

Tennessee--Politics and government--1865-1950

United States. President (1865-1869: Johnson)

Greeneville (Tenn.)

Raleigh (N.C.)

Source unknown for a few items in the collection predating 1981. Letter of Johnson to John C. Gant, 1872, donated by Watts Carr, Jr., Durham, N.C., 1988. Genealogical data on the McDonough/Johnson families donated by Hugh B. Johnson, Wilson, N.C., 1966. Three items, including pamphlet on the cermonies attedning the unveiling of a monument to three presidents, and two photographic copies, including a marriage bond, Jacob Johnson and Polly McDonough, and a reward poster for William and Andrew: transfer from Museum of History, Miscellaneous Collections (Hall of History), February 2008. Additionally two items, including enlarged photocopy of advertisement posting a reward for runaway apprentices; and a phtocopy of copy of reward post for assasins of President Lincoln: transfer from Archives and Records, Andrew Johnson Birthplace files, box C., February 2008.

Processed by Fran Tracy-Walls

Finding Aid by Fran Tracy-Walls