Date Original
1880 May 24
Description
This collection contains two photocopies of a letter from Albert Pike to Thomas Ashley - contains material relating to the 1880 presidential race.
Biographical/Historical Note
Albert Pike (1809 –1891) was a lawyer, author, poet, orator, newspaper reporter and editor, Confederate commander, jurist and prominent member of the Freemasons. Born in Boston, Albert Pike moved to Arkansas in the 1830s, settling first in Fort Smith; then he moved to Little Rock. He worked as a newspaper reporter and editor and became involved in Arkansas politics. Pike served as a Captain in the Mexican War. He served as a senior officer of the Confederate State Army, including commanding the District of Indian Territory in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the Civil War. After the Civil War, he moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1867 then moved to Washington, D.C. by 1870. In Washington, DC, he worked for newspapers, practiced law and was very involved with the Freemasons. He practiced law in partnership with Robert W. Johnson, former U.S. senator from Arkansas, until 1880. Pike died on April 2, 1891, in Washington, D.C. at the age of 81. The 1880 presidential race resulted in the election of James A. Garfield as President of the United States. Incumbent President Rutherford B. Hayes did not seek re-election in 1880. The major candidates in the election were James A. Garfield of Ohio (Republican), Winfield Scott Hancock of Pennsylvania (Democrat) and James B. Weaver of Iowa (Greenback Party). The voter turnout rate was one of the highest for presidential elections in the nation's history and the popular vote totals were very close.
Physical Description
Document, 8.5" x 11"
Geographical Area
Arkansas
Language
English
Identifier
SMC.071.006
Resource Type
Text
Collection
Albert Pike letter, SMC.071.006
Publisher
Arkansas State Archives
Contributing Entity
Arkansas State Archives
Recommended Citation
Albert Pike letter, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Rights
Use and reproduction of images held by the Arkansas State Archives without prior written permission is prohibited. For information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6900 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.
Disciplines
United States History
