The Harrison Gray Otis Papers

This extensive collection of loose papers includes the business, political, and personal correspondence of Harrison Gray Otis; lawyer, Congressman, Senator, and Mayor of Boston. Among the papers are receipts, deeds, and accounts documenting Otis’ land speculation deals as well as a long series of letters with his wife, Sally, and their children. Other correspondents include John Adams, Josiah Quincy, and Daniel Webster on such topics as the United States Embargo of 1807 (against Britain and France), the Hartford Convention (regarding the War of 1812 and concern over the Federal Governments increasing  power), Massachusetts state politics, the Bank of the United States, and slavery. Today, the original documents are part of the collection of the Massachusetts Historical Society.