Professional papers of Thomas Lincoln Casey (1831-1896): Casey/ Hayes correspondence

Description

Series XLI, Professional papers of Thomas Lincoln Casey (1831-1896): Casey/ Hayes correspondence, 1877-1889, undated, (#49.1-49.5), contains correspondence sent and received by Casey from the First Family while Casey was stationed in Washington, D.C. The primary senders/recipients of the correspondence include President Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822-1893; president, 1877-1881); First Lady Lucy (Webb) Hayes (1831-1889); Webb Hayes (1856-1934), son of Rutherford B. and Lucy Hayes; and Thomas Lincoln Casey (1831-1896). The majority of the letters focus on Casey acting as liaison for the Hayes family, while the First Family engaged in purchasing Haviland China for the White House from the Haviland China Company. Casey also interceded on behalf of the First Family for additional White House purchases (including a piano) and repairs. The correspondence between Casey and the Hayes family continued after the end of the Hayes administration. Other correspondence include invitations to dinner; an invitation to a statue unveiling in Ohio; workmen requests; flowers sent to Lucy Hayes; thank you notes; payment requests; Hayes family life in Ohio; and a condolence letter regarding the death of Lucy Hayes. Also included in the series is an article regarding the misuse of funds by Hayes, while in Office and Casey's response letter to the Congressional investigation; a clipping relating to the purchase of a piano for the White House; and guest lists, seating arrangement charts, and place cards for White House dinner parties. The series is arranged numerically by folder, then alphabetically by record type and/or thereunder chronologically.