Descriptive Summary
Woodson Research Center,
Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston,
Texas
Burnet, David Gouverneur,
1788-1870
David G. Burnet letters
1836-1859
Materials are in English.
MS 188
1 lin. inch (1 folder)
Letters to and from David Gouverneur
Burnet (1788-1870) of the Republic of Texas, in typescript form and as reprinted in the
La Grange Journal.
Biographical Note
David Gouverneur Burnet (1788-1870) was born in Newark, New Jersey. About 1817 he
moved to Natchitoches, Louisiana, and in 1831 to Texas. He was ad interim president
of the Republic of Texas from March 17 to October 22, 1836. In 1836 he was elected
vice president of the Republic of Texas, serving part time as secretary of state and
acting president.
Scope and Contents
Letters to and from David Gouverneur Burnet (1788-1870)of the Republic of Texas, in
printed and typescript form. The first series of these letters consists of
photocopies of newspaper clippings of the David G. Burnet letters as they appeared
in the
La Grange Journal. These letters date from
1836 to 1838 and appeared in the Journal between July
9,1936 and February 4, 1937. The letters were edited and annotated by Houston Wade.
Many were written to Colonel James Morgan and recount much military activity under
Burnet’s presidency. The second part of the collection consists of typed copies of
letters to and from members of the Burnet family. They are of a more personal nature
and discuss family matters and opinions on slavery and the Abolitionists. With these
is a letter to Houston Wade regarding the letters, and some of Wade’s notes about
them. Also included is a typed copy of Wade’s entry for the La Grange Journal from July 30, 1936.
Access Restrictions
This material is open for research.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish from the Burnet letters, MS 188, must be obtained from the
Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University.
Preferred Citation
David G. Burnet letters, 1836-1859, MS 188, Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library,
Rice University.
Acquisition Information
Fletcher Collection, gift of Mrs. Alfred C. Glassell, Jr., 1969
Index Terms
Subjects
Frontier and pioneer life--Texas.
Land settlement--Texas--History.
Indians of North
America--Texas--History.
Land grants--Texas--History--19th
century.
San Jacinto, Battle of, 1836.
Subjects (Places)
Texas--History--19th century.
Texas--History--Republic,
1836-1846.
Formats
Correspondence
Typescripts
Related material
See also Burnet papers at University of Texas at Austin's Center for American
History: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utcah/00365/cah-00365.html.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series I: Printed letters, 1836-1837, 1936-1937
1
Collection of newspaper articles reprinting letter by David G.
Burnet, annotated by Houston Wade, July 9, 1936 – February 14
1937
Series II: Letter typescripts, 1846-1941
1
Isaac G. Burnet to Staats G. Burnet, Newark, NJ, February 14
1846
1
David G. Burnet to Isaac G. Burnet, Lynchburg, Texas, November 4
1855
1
David G. Burnet to Isaac G. Burnet, Lynchburg, Texas, September
12, 1856
1
David G. Burnet to Kitty Burnet (Mrs. Isaac C. Burnet),
Lynchburg, Texas, January 1, 1859
1
Transcripts of letter from David G.Burnet to Col. James Morgan,
Velasco, May 22, 1836 and letter from Chas. R. Williams to Col. James
Morgan, Stonington, Conn. 13 July 1835; annnotated by Houston Wade, July
30, 1936
1
Letter from Isabella N. Burnet to Houston Wade, Re: microfilm,
November 11, 1941