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Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Letters to William Overton Callis, SC-000147, Hampden-Sydney College Archives and Special Collections, Hampden-Sydney, VA

Acquisition

Gift of Mr. James N. Boyd '58 and Mr. J. P. McGuire Boyd '64.

Processing Information

Processed by Dawnelle Ion, March 2024.

History

James Madison (March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836) was a statesman, diplomat, and Founding Father of the United States. He was an architect of the U.S. Constitution, authored the Bill of Rights, and was the fourth president of the United States (1809-1817). He was also one of the charter trustees of Hampden-Sydney College. Patrick Henry (May 1736 – June 6, 1799) was a lawyer, orator, statesman, and politician. He was the first and sixth post-colonial Governor of Virginia, from 1776 to 1779 and from 1784 to 1786. He was also one of the charter trustees of Hampden-Sydney College. William Overton Callis (March 4, 1756 – March 14, 1814) was a politician and childhood friend of James Madison. He was tutored by Parson John Todd, who was active in the establishment of Hampden-Sydney College and a member of the first Board of Trustees. During the time of James Madison's letter to William Callis, George Washington had just been elected the first president of the United States and the Constitution, although ratified, had yet to be officially implemented. The date was set for March 4, 1789, for Congress to meet and the new government to begin. Before that first meeting, James Madison began writing letters to several people about his true intentions and goals for the Constitution, hoping to negate false narratives about himself. This letter appears to be one of those said letters.

Content Description

2 letters to William Overton Callis, both framed in glass. One undated fragment, signed by Patrick Henry, and one letter dated January 13, 1789, signed by James Madison.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Callis, William Overton. (1756-1814)
• Constitution.
• Constitutional Convention (U.S.) (1787)
• Henry, Patrick. (1736-1799)
• Madison, James. (1751-1836)