urn:taro:rice.wrc.00094 Guide to the John A. Dix Civil War Pass and Letter, 1862, 1869 Finding aid prepared by Woodson Research Center 2003. Text encoded by Mandy York, Woodson Research Center, October, 2003. Finding aid written in English. 20031113 Edited with XMetal 3 by Mandy York, according to instructions in TARO 2 EAD 2002 Editing Instructions. Descriptive Summary Dix, John Adams, 1798-1879 John A. Dix Civil War Pass and Letter 1862, 1869 2 items MS 110 Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston, TX Materials are in English. John A. Dix (soldier, attorney, and politician) was commissioned Major General by President Lincoln in 1861 and served in administrative positions during the Civil War, issuing the military pass in this collection during that time; after the war he became minister to France (1866-69), then returned to New York State to resume his professional and business activities. In his letter of December 1, 1869, written to “My dear Colonel,” he discusses a recent land purchase and investment opportunity, and urges his friend to visit him soon. Biographical Note

John Adams Dix was born July 24, 1798, in New Hampshire; he received a classical education and then served in the army, rising to the rank of major; meanwhile he studied law, became an attorney, and in 1826 married Catharine Morgan; they eventually had seven children. He resigned from the army and moved to New York State, where he managed family properties and entered politics, serving in a number of positions; in 1845 he was elected to fill a term in the United States Senate, where he participated in international affairs; he later served briefly as postmaster and then as secretary of the treasury and in 1861 was commissioned major-general by President Lincoln, serving during the Civil War in administrative positions, including as head of the Department of Maryland. After the war he became minister to France from 1866-69 and then withdrew from political life for a time, serving as president of two railroads and practicing law in New York City. In 1872 he was elected governor of New York and served one term, then retiring but continuing in various civic activities; he was also the author of several books. He died April 21, 1879, in New York City.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of two items: a Civil War pass to and from Baltimore “by steam, free of charge,” signed by John A. Dix, dated August 19, 1862, and written on stationery with the letterhead “Head Quarters Seventh Army Corps, Fort Monroe, Va.”; and a personal letter dated December 1, 1869 (evidently written in New York City) to “My dear Colonel,” in which Dix comments on recent activities, discusses a recent land purchase and investment opportunity, and expresses the hope that his friend will soon visit him.

Access Restrictions

This material is open for research.

Use Restictions

Permission to publish material from the John A. Dix Civil War Pass and Letter must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library.

 Preferred Citation

John A. Dix Civil War Pass and Letter, MS 110, Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University.

 Acquisition Information

The John A. Dix Civil War Pass and Letter, 1862, 1869 were purchased from a dealer in September 1962.

 Index Terms Subjects (Persons) Dix, John Adams, 1798-1879 Places United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865. United States—New York State—Politics—19th century. Formats Correspondence. Related Materials

See additional Civil War collections in the Woodson Research Center.

 Detailed Description of the Collection 1 1862 pass and 1869 letter

Civil War pass to and from Baltimore “by steam, free of charge,” signed by John A. Dix, dated August 19, 1862, and written on stationery with the letterhead “Head Quarters Seventh Army Corps, Fort Monroe, Va.”

Personal letter dated December 1, 1869 (evidently written in New York City) to “My dear Colonel,” in which Dix comments on recent activities, discusses a recent land purchase and investment opportunity, and expresses the hope that his friend will soon visit him.