DeGrasse-Howard Papers, 1776-1976 » III. Downing family papers and related materials, 1830–1925  

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This series is primarily comprised of correspondence to George T. Downing regarding his activities promoting equal rights, as well as family correspondence between members of the Downing family. The correspondence sent to George T. Downing include two typescripts of letters (29 May 1855 and 8 April 1872) from Charles Sumner about equal rights, one letter (23 March 1869) from Charles Lenox Remond lending support to a new newspaper in Washington, and one letter (15 December 1885) from John Boyle O'Reilly thanking Downing for sending a written argument about civil rights. Other letters include one (13 Feb. 1866) from James Lynch (later Secretary of State for Mississippi) asking Downing to write for the Christian Recorder and two letters (12 October 1870 and 9 November 1870) from Ebenezer Bassett, U.S. minister to Haiti, describing his recent trips to the United States. This series also contains newspaper clippings and photocopies of published sources about members of the Downing family, including articles about Downing's presence at the side of Charles Sumner when he died in 1874.