John Milton Hay was born Oct. 8, 1838, in Salem, Indiana, and raised in Illinois, the third son of Dr. Charles Hay and his wife Helen (nee Leonard). In 1851 John went to an academy at Pittsfield in Pike County, where he met an older student, John G. Nicolay, who would play an important role in Hay's later career.
In 1852, John Hay attended Concordia College at Springfield, Illinois (later Illinois State University); but three years later he was sent to Brown, from which his maternal grandfather, David Augustus Leonard, had graduated as a member of the Class of 1792. At Brown, Hay was admitted to advanced standing and could have finished college in 1857, but finding himself behind in some areas, he wrote home that he preferred to pursue a more leisurely pace so as "to avail myself of the literary treasures of the libraries." While at Brown, Hay came under the influence of Sarah Helen Whitman and Nora Perry, and was received into their literary circle. Appointed Class Poet, he read a poem of his own composition entitled "Erato" at Class Day (June 10, 1858) of his senior year, captivating his audience.
Following his graduation from Brown that year with an M.A. degree, Hay found himself in
Springfield, studying law in the office of his uncle Milton Hay. Fortuitously, Milton
Hay's office was next door to the law office of
In March 1865, Hay was appointed by Lincoln as secretary to the American legation in Paris, where he remained until 1867. In 1867, he moved on to Vienna as Chargé d'Affaires, and in 1869 he became Secretary of Legation in Madrid. Returning to the United States in 1870, he went to work for Whitelaw Reid as editorial writer and night editor for the New York Tribune. During the next 5 years, Hay's popularity as a literary figure and public speaker rose. Two of his best known poems,
Hay's marriage in 1874 to
When his friend
The stressful events of the next few years - the end of the Spanish-American War, the "Open Door" policy in China, the Boxer Rebellion, the Russo-Japanese War, the Alaska boundary treaty, and the Panama Canal treaty - eventually took their toll, and Hay, who had been in ill health for most of this time, died at his summer home, "The Fells," on the shores of Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire, on July 1, 1905.
There are no restrictions on access, except that the manuscripts may be viewed only on microfilm at the John Hay Library.
Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Literary rights in the diary dating from December 3, 1879 through January 1, 1881, remain with the owner, Mr. James Symington.
Literary rights in the album of letters congratulating Hay on his appointment as Secretary of State, remain with the owner, Mrs. John Hay Whitney.
John Hay papers, Ms. Hay, Brown University Library.
The John Hay papers microfilms consists of more than 9,100 items covering the period 1829 to 1916 containing correspondence with his family and with literary, diplomatic, and political contemporaries; diaries kept by Hay as Secretary of the Legations in Paris, Vienna, and Madrid, 1866-1870; manuscript poems; corrected galley proofs for
Subjects include the Civil War, Lincoln and his administration, Reconstruction, court life in Paris, Hay's choice of careers, the bi-metal monetary standard, the Canadian boundary settlement, the fur seal question, Japanese naval activity, British politics, Cuba, the Spanish-American War, European attitudes toward the United States, the Queen's 1897 Jubilee, the copyright bill, literacy and family matters, and political affairs under Presidents Hayes, McKinley, and Theodore Roosevelt.
There is a separate finding aid for physical items in the John Hay papers, which
includes all items belonging to the collection. Please note: not all items in the
John Hay papers are represented on microfilm. For more information,
The John Hay papers has been arranged in 13 series, not all of which are available on
microfilm. The physical items are available in
Series 4. Miscellaneous correspondence
Series 7. Photographs and Images
Series 8. Official Documents
Series 9. Political Cartoons
Series 10. Museum Objects
Series 11. Sound recordings
Series 12. Related materials
18 microfilm reels (F5701: 1-16; F3257; F3351B)
The John Hay papers at Brown University were received through gifts and purchases. Gifts were received from: Clarence Hay, James W. Wadsworth, John Hay Whitney, W. Easton Louttit, Jr., Senator Stuart Symington, and John Hay (the grandson).
Portrait of John Hay by John Singer Sargent
Brown University Library catalog record for this collection:
Additional resources at Brown:
Copies of Hay's historical work on Abraham Lincoln, and poetry.
Consists of eight volumes of diaries. Seven of the volumes cover the Civil War and the immediate post-war years. The eighth volume was kept while Hay was serving as Assistant Secretary of State.
Includes portions of each year.
This volume was kept while Hay was serving as Assistant Secretary of State
Letters written from John Hay to various individuals, and a copy of the poem
Invitation to dinner and a play. "Mrs. Cameron is coming tomorrow at seven precisely, to dine with me and go to the play from here. I hope this will suit your convenience also."
Concerning the purchase of wine.
Inviting his cousin on a buggy ride. Fragment.
Writing his cousin of unfounded rumors of his engagement: "They have had me engaged since I have been a baker's dozen years old to the present time, to a large and highly respectable circle of young ladies scattered through every circle of the known world." Fragment.
An affectionate, even flirtatious, letter assuring his cousin that he has no serious emotional commitments to any other girl.
Copy of a poem delivered at the graduating exercises of the Brown University
class of 1858. Verses from it were later read in Washington at a Founder's
Day banquet of
A letter of New Year's advice to his cousin: "all of which means, simply 'Go it while you're young.'"
Writes his cousin of his loneliness and frustration in Springfield: "I wonder if ever there was a young man who made as great a fool of himself with as little cause, as I?"
Writes of mutual friends and relatives in Warsaw [IL]. Includes envelope.
Writes his cousin of his train trip to Washington with Lincoln: "Tomorrow we enter slave territory...There may be trouble in Baltimore. If so, we will not go to Washington, unless in long, narrow, boxes."
Received Swain's note on return from Long Branch; arrangements for meeting.
Describes his social life in Washington: "I go to a great many parties here, but they are mournful old affairs, principally filled with Commodores and Brigadier Generals..." Homesick for Warsaw.
Has heard rumors of her engagement to Col. Edwards. Begs her to write.
Writing as Major, A.A.G., Vols., Hay says that Lincoln is acquainted with the case of the Confederate Cap. McHenry and has given an order for his release at the request of Illinois Congressman S.M. Cullom.
Returns memorial to Congress March had asked him to sign, explaining that he has not signed because he is "imperfectly informed" in regard to the memorial's object.
Sends list of addresses of friends and relatives to whom Osgood is to send copies of books. Hay may be referring to
Instructing a member of the N.Y. Herald's editorial staff on the possible revisions to his editorial on the
Replying to Pierce's question about his genealogy, Hay can offer little but
the name of his grandmother,
Instructing Clark to unlock his desk in Cleveland to find a diary containing "a list of articles written in September" and to send the list to him in New York. Tired of "hotel living and all its works," Hay vows he will be glad to return to Cleveland.
Acknowledges receipt of engrossed copy of an address to the Queen and promises to transmit it.
Declines offer of appointment as Assistant Secretary of State: "Interests which I cannot disregard, make it impossible for me to be away from Cleveland this winter."
Asks Evarts to give him a day's notice of the public announcement of changes in the State Department.
"Dispatches from Washington in Cleveland papers announce my appointment."
Regrets premature publication of dispatch in last Friday's Cleveland paper. Will return to Washington on Friday.
Discusses question of author's need to obtain permission of original publisher of an article for republication.
Declines Gilder's invitation to write "a political article...I cannot possibly get the time to do it."
On mourning stationary. Acknowledges receipt of Fawcett's latest book.
Asks for eggs from the Senator's turkeys.
Writes at length of competing newspapers in Cleveland, with special reference to the future of the
Congratulating him on his reelection as Senator from Ohio.
Agrees with the Senator's decision on dealing with Donovan's charges of bribery involving Cols. Payne and Thompson and Mr. Whitney.
Itinerary for next week. Optimism for Republican defeat of Cleveland.
Reports conversation with Whitelaw Reid concerning Sherman's candidacy for Republican Presidential nomination. Platt's hostility makes it unlikely Sherman will receive N.Y.'s votes at convention. Role of Depew, Alger, Phelps; old Arthur and Conkling factions. Bankers and brokers opposed to Sherman. Warren Miller's views.
Presenting a copy of
Removed from the book which it accompanied.
Congratulations on victory "in which your name was our battle flag."
Thinks there will be no trouble for Sherman's reelection to Senate; expects Foraker to withdraw.
Thanking Arnold for his note of welcome.
Acknowledging letter received on his landing in New York.
Concerning attempted extradition of Isreal Goldstone from Newfoundland.
Letter of introduction for Emil L. Boas.
Concerning Hill, a witness demanded by War Dept. for the Cerro District Court.
Letter regarding silverplate communion service he has ordered from Gorham for the church in Warsaw, IL. "I could not quite bring myself to put upon them the inscription you suggested. I have pretty well outlived all my modesty in my battle with the world, but a little of it still survives, and, at the last moment, I shrunk from defacing these sacred vessels with my name."
Includes envelope.
Autograph notation "Private and Confidential not for file". Hay instructs the U.S. ambassador to St. Petersburg on tactics to use with Count Mouravieff in securing Russia's assent to Open Door Policy in China.
Includes envelope.
Reaction to her new book: "I shall prize and cherish it more than I can ever tell you." Nostalgia for "all I lost in leaving England."
Concerning arrest of Emile Tuchmann relating to seizure of Servian bonds.
Sorrow on news of death of her father John Sherman. Places Babcock at her disposal.
Gives leave to Mrs. Hoyt as requested.
Acknowledges receipt of letter regarding the anarchists Louis Perrin and Luigi Crescenzi.
Acknowledges receipt of letter from Pach and proof of photograph received from Mr. Cortelyou. Thinks "the picture very good, and would be glad if you would send me eleven more copies of it, and your bill for the dozen."
President has approved Cameron's request to transfer McCallum to St. Gall consulate.
Responding to a suggestion for the agenda of the Pan-American Conference to be held in Mexico City.
Forwarding an invitation [not present] to the International Live Stock Exposition to be held at Chicago, Nov 30 to Dec 7, 1901.
Writes his friend, an Indian agent, that he has recommended him to the President and the Secretary of the Interior.
On mourning stationary. Writing a senior editor at the
Acknowledges letter and miniature horse. On mourning stationary.
Hay requests the address of Peru's Minister of Agriculture for the Department of Agriculture's Yearbook.
Acknowledges the minister's announcement that Alejandro Garland and Wilfred H. Schoff have been named Commissioner General and Assistant Commissioner General to the St. Louis Exposition.
Letter of introduction for Mary Sherman McCallum.
Explains the references in a letter under inquiry. The "office referred to was Commissioner of the General Land Office" held by Justin Butterfield. The other references are to Thomas Ewing, Secretary of the Treasury, and Ninian W. Edwards, Lincoln's brother-in-law.
Application of British ambassador to permit 2d. Regt. of Queen's Own Rifles to parade in Buffalo.
Acknowledges copy of presentation edition of the World's Fair number of the magazine.
Responding to the minister's request that a Peruvian physician and engineer be involved in the "work of sanitation on the Isthmus of Panama."
Contain copies of letters Hay wrote while he was Secretary of Legations in Paris (1865-1867), Vienna (1867), Madrid (1869-1870) and while Ambassador to the Court of St. James in London (1897-1898).
Copies of letters from Paris, July 10, 1865 to January 10, 1867; Vienna, August 23, 1867 to September [20?], 1867.
Copies of letters from Madrid, November 8, 1869 to August 12, 1870.
Copies of letters from London, May 18, 1897 to September 9, 1898.
Correspondence received by John Hay. This series is arranged alphabetically by author of the letter; with an Addenda of later receipts, also arranged by author of letter.
Abbey, Edwin Austin through Bacher, Otto Henry
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Badeau, Adam through Best, Frank Eugene
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Bickford through Brassey, Sybil
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Breckinridge, Clifton Rodes through Burt, William Vinal
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Burton, Theodore Elijah through Chamberlain, Joseph
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Chamberlain, Leander Trowbridge through Cooke, Jay
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Coolidge, Thomas Jefferson through Curtis, George William
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Curtis, Wardon Allan through Devens, Charles
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Dewey, George through Elliott, Mary A.
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Elliott, Maud Howe through Fish, Nicholas
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Fiske, Clinton Bowen through Gilder, Richard Watson
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Gillman, Henry through Halpine, Charles Graham
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Hannard, R. G. through Henderson, Mary Newton Foote
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Hendry, John Burke through House, Edward Howard
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Hovey, Charles Edward through Johnson, Rossiter
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Johnston, Joseph Eggleston through La Farge Christoper Grant
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
La Farge, John through Lincoln, Abraham
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Lincoln, John through Ludington, Marietta B.
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Ludlow, Benjamin Chambers through Marsh, Benjamin Franklin
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Marsh, Othniel Charles through Mills, R. L.
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Mitchell, Frederick Augustus through Nicholson, Donald
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Nicolay, Helen through Palmer, William Jackson
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Paris, Louis-Philippe-Albert d'Orléans through Platner, Samuel Ball
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Platt, J. H. through Ray, Benjamin Lincoln
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Ray, Charles Henry through Robinson, Chester A.
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Robinson, Edward through Saxton, Rufus
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Sayer, Ethel M. through Sill, Edward Rowland
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Simpkins, John through Stanley, Dorothy
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Stanley, Henry Morton through Taylor, Bayard
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Taylor, Benjamin Franklin through Upton, Jacob Kendrick
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Valin, Augustus through Watterson, Henry
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Watts, Henry Miller through Willamov, G.
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Willard, Archibald M. through Yorke, Victoria
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Yoshida, Kiyonari through Zorn, Anders Leonhard
Includes correspondence from the following individuals:
Contains 70 letters and other manuscripts (received at a later date) by Henry Adams, Kinahan Cornwallis, Julie G. S. Cruger, Drake DeKay, Sir John Charles Dalrymple Hay, John M. Hay, Rudyard Kipling, Richard Olney, Charlotte Fiske Bates, Walt Whitman, and Owen Wister.
Invitation to dinner for the following evening. "Mrs. Cameron and John Hay will help me to dine the new Spanish minister very quietly."
Covering letter for his new book-length poem,
Removed from the copy of the book which it accompanied.
Discussing the qualifications of
Removed from a copy of Cruger's pseudonymous work, Julien Gordon,
Pass through enemy lines.
A warm note accompanying a book presented by the admiral to the ambassador.
Discussing a boy whom Kipling had recommended to Hay as a driver and stable boy.
On deposit from the collection of John Hay II.
Declines contributing an article to the Forum respecting the Monroe Doctrine.
Kind note regarding author and Hay's writing endeavors, and the writing of poetry more generally. "I confess having little sympathy with those who measure off verse as regularly and mechanically as if it were ribbon!"
Manuscript removed from her
Covering letter for two sets of books and an autograph transcription signed, March 9, of "O Captain! my Captain!" for which he charges Hay $22.00.
Both manuscripts bound in a folio volume, half red morocco.
Presentation letter for a copy of his novel
Removed from the copy of the novel which it accompanied.
An album of letters congratulating Hay on his appointment as Secretary of State in 1898.
Scrapbook of congratulatory letters received by John Hay after his delivery of a memorial address on President William McKinley, February 27, 1902. The scrapbook's contents are preceded by an alphabetical index of correspondents, filmed at the beginning of the reel.
Scrapbooks of letters, telegrams, and calling cards received after the death of Adelbert Stone Hay on June 23, 1901. The scrapbooks' contents are preceded by an alphabetical index of correspondents, filmed at the beginning of the reel.
Letters and telegrams from Abbey, Edwin A. through Zeisler, Fannie Bloomfield
Verse on death of Adelbert Hay (author unknown)
Various authors.
Miscellaneous materials, including correspondence, dinner cards, manuscripts, invoices, poems.
Includes an alphabetical list at the beginning of the reel, frames 0001-0006.
Possibly by the Hay children.
Including assorted writings and verse, untitled with these exceptions:
Whitney, Helen Hay: Punch and Judy poems
Copies of both sides of cancelled checks.