Dear Teachers, Please take some time to review the material enclosed in this packet as preparation for your visit. We look forward to seeing you soon!

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2 Dear Teachers, I want to take a moment to personally welcome you and your class to the Seward House Museum. Your visit gives you the opportunity to walk through the pages of history and experience the lives of William Henry Seward and his family. Throughout his life, Mr. Seward was very well known for his gracious hospitality. Continuing in this tradition, the Seward House Museum hosts 16,000 visitors a year, but by far our favorite guests are the 3,000 school children whose eyes light up when they walk through the home for the first time. We have created this Seward House Museum Teacher Resource Kit to provide information about the home, the family and the time period. This Kit, with its corresponding activities, is designated for the academic levels of Grades 3-7, and we invite you utilize the portions that are relevant to your curriculum. Stepping into the Seward home, you will savor a taste of 19 th century lifestyle as you discover the period furnishings, interiors and objects. The experience will encourage a reflection on the importance of the Seward family s contributions to our nation s history and the experience of living in the 19 th century. Seward s accomplishments speak to the larger themes central to our national development including territorial expansion, the crisis of the Civil War, women s rights, and the issue of slavery. By interacting with artifacts relating to these issues, students should emerge with an enhanced understanding of these events and their historical impact. Please take some time to review the material enclosed in this packet as preparation for your visit. We look forward to seeing you soon! Yours sincerely, John Kingsley Director of Education 2

3 The tour will focus on the following: William Seward, his wife Frances, and their children. The role Mr. Seward and his family played during the pre and post Civil War era. The art, decorative arts, and furnishings of the home. Historic individuals who influenced William Seward, his family and his home. Descriptions of the geographic, social, technological, economic and political changes during the Seward family s lifetime. Our History is in our Possessions While striving to provide an enriching and entertaining experience for all visitors to the Seward House Museum, preservation of its collection is a top priority. We are guests of the Seward family and must act accordingly. Museum rules must be obeyed to preserve the Seward s historic interior. Some important rules to share with young visitors before the visit are as follows: Stay with your group during the entire tour. Protect the delicate items on display by being aware of and in charge of your movements and not touching anything, at all times. Use indoor voices at all times. Walk as quickly and quietly as possible as you transition from one room to another. Allow the docent to discuss the rooms in its entirety before questions are asked. Refrain from bringing in food, drinks, or chewing gum. Leave cameras, cell phones, and bulky belongings in the entryway or on the bus (for the safety of the collection, photography is not permitted in the Seward House Museum). The Seward House organization is committed to providing a meaningful tour to all those who enter its doors. It is the goal of the Seward House staff to make touring the museum a treasured experience. Our goals for your students are as follows: Obtain essential knowledge of William Seward and his family s influence, contributions, and achievements. Compare and contrast the life and times of the Seward family to the present. Gain an awareness of various historic individuals associated with the Seward family. Investigate geographic, political, technological and social changes and their impact on the formation of the United States of America during Seward s lifetime. 3

4 The Seward Home prior to the 1866 addition Seward Home 1866 South Wing addition Frances sat with paper in hand looking out over the garden of her family home. Her young daughter, Fanny, was curiously watching as her brother, William Jr., planted seeds into the wet soil. Because of the abundance of rain in the last few weeks, the roses were blooming wonderfully. The lively faces of her children along with the budding flowers brought the garden to life. However, even all this beauty couldn t distract Frances from the fact that her family was not whole. Fred, her second son, was away focusing on his studies and wrote back regularly. Frances would often find William Jr. running from window to window looking expectantly for his brother s return. Augustus was also away from the home but had less mindfulness about keeping his mother updated on his whereabouts. His younger siblings missed him all the same. William Seward was traveling through Upstate New York and wrote back to Frances almost daily. She tried to keep up with the rapid pace of his movements but it was almost impossible for her imagination. She missed him a great deal and so did the children. William Jr. had even begun emulating his father s behavior. When Frances was getting ready to go to church one afternoon, it began to pour. To her surprise Little William was waiting for her on the porch with a large umbrella, just as his father would have done. Frances took the time to carefully pen all of these goings on into a letter for her husband. She would answer his queries about the expansions going on at the home and insert a few of her own for him. She ended the letter with a request from her little girl, Fanny says I must tell father she wants him to come home. Frances began to daydream about the day when her family would all be together again in the garden. 4

5 1772 Judge Miller born in Bedford, Westchester County, New York, on April 11th Judge Miller studies law in Aurora, NY 1801 William Henry Seward born on May 16th in Florida, NY Thomas Jefferson elected third President of the United States and serves until Judge Miller was licensed to practice law and established an office with a specialty in real estate transactions 1803 United States purchases the Territory of Louisiana from France 1805 Frances Adeline Miller born on September 24th in Cayuga, NY 1808 Congress prohibits the importation of African slaves 1816 Elijah Miller buys four acres of land for $4, and begins to erect a Federal style brick townhouse William H. Seward enrolls as a Sophomore at Union College in Schenectady, New York at the age of fifteen 1817 Judge Miller, his two daughters, Lazette and Frances, his mother, and sister, move into the new Auburn house Construction of Erie Canal begins William H. Seward graduates from Union College 1822 Frances and Lazette Miller attend Troy Female Seminary and befriend Cornelia Seward In October, Cornelia Seward invites Frances Miller to visit Florida, NY where Frances meets her brother, William Seward Seward passed his law examinations 5

6 1823 William H. Seward and Judge Miller found the law firm of Miller and Seward in January 1824 Frances and William marry on October 20th and move in with Judge Miller William Seward meets Thurlow Weed his future political advisor and lifelong friend 1825 Thomas Cole establishes Hudson River School of American Painting Erie Canal Completed 1826 Augustus Henry Seward born on October 1st 1830 Frederick William Seward born on July 8th William Seward elected as a NYS Senator ( ) 1833 William Seward and his father depart on a trip to Europe 1836 Cornelia Seward born on August 25th 1837 Cornelia Seward dies of smallpox on January 14th 1839 William Henry Seward Jr. born on June 18th William Seward elected as NYS Governor ( ) 1844 Fanny Seward born on December 9th 1848 First addition made to the home which moved the kitchen and dining room upstairs First Women s Rights Convention held in Seneca Falls, NY. Declaration of Sentiments issued 1849 William Seward appointed US Senator from NYS (served as a Whig then a Republican from ) 1850 s Seward family open the house as a stop on the Underground Railroad 6

7 William Seward makes his Higher Law speech in Congress against the extension of slavery into the California territory (1850) Fugitive Slave Act passed as part of Compromise of Judge Miller dies on November 11 th, becoming the first person to be buried in Fort Hill Cemetery 1854 Frederick Seward marries Anna Wharton on November 9th Republican Party formed 1858 Fanny Seward writes the first entry in her journal on Christmas Day 1859 William Seward travels to Europe and the Holy Land 1860 William Seward Jr. marries Janet Watson on June 24th William Seward loses Republican nomination to Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln elected President of the United States on November 6th 1862 First grandchild born, Nelly (Cornelia) Seward on September 11 in Auburn 1861 William Seward appointed Secretary of State by Abraham Lincoln ( ) Frederick Seward chosen as Assistant Secretary of State by his father Anna serves as hostess to the Secretary of State at the Seward Home in Washington D.C Construction begins on the Transcontinental Railroad, which Seward supported throughout his lifetime (manifest destiny) 1864 Grandson William III born in Auburn on November 10th 1865 William Seward in a carriage accident on April 5th in Washington D.C. Lewis Powell (Payne) attempts to assassinate William Seward on April 14th at his home in Washington D.C. Frances A. Seward dies in Washington D.C. on June 21st 7

8 1866 Southern addition (completing drawing room, dining room, and adding rooms upstairs) added to the Auburn home Fanny Seward dies in Washington D.C. on October 29th 1867 March 30th, at 4:00 am, William Seward and the Russian Minister, Edward DeStockel, sign the treaty to purchase Alaska from Russia 1869 William Seward retires from political life in March William Seward travels on the completed Transcontinental Railroad on his way to California, Alaska and Mexico Reconstruction begins in the South 1870 William Seward departs on his fourteen month Trip Around The World 1872 William Henry Seward dies in Auburn, NY on October 10th 1876 Augustus Seward dies on September 11 th 1877 With the election of President Rutherford B. Hayes, reconstruction ends 1880 Frances Janet Fan Seward born on July 13th 1913 Janet Seward dies on November 9th Harriet Tubman dies in Auburn on March 10th 1915 Frederick Seward dies on April 24th 1919 Anna Seward dies on May 19th 1920 William Henry Seward Jr. dies on April 26th (William III inherits the house) 1951 William Seward III dies, leaving the Seward House to the Emerson Foundation to operate as a museum 8

9 1955 House opens up as a public museum 1959 Alaska is admitted into the Union as our 49th state 9

10 Abolition: the movement to end, or abolish, slavery. Alaskan Purchase: the acquisition of the territory known as Russian America by the United States from the Russia in The purchase was initiated by William Henry Seward while serving as Secretary of State under President Andrew Johnson. Alaska, totaling 586,412 square miles, was purchased for $7.2 million dollars or two and a half cents an acre. Bassinet: a woven basket with a hood over one end used as a baby s crib. Battle of Monocacy: fought on July 9 th, 1864 outside of Frederick, Maryland, where the Confederate Amy defeated the Union Amy. Confederate General Jubal A. Early was trying to divert the Union Amy away from General Robert E. Lee s army who was under attack from the Union Amy at Petersburg, Pennsylvania. Beehive oven: an early type of oven typically constructed of bricks and mortar constructed in the shape of a beehive. Coals would be taken from the hearth to warm the oven and once hot, baked goods would be inserted to bake. Brigadier General: an officer in the U.S. Army between the ranks of Colonel and Major General. Calling Card: a card used socially to signify a visit made to a house if the resident is not at home, or as an introduction for oneself; the origin of the modern business card. Chamber pot: a portable bowl or basin used before indoor plumbing as a place to go to the bathroom. Civil war: a war between different political groups or territories within one country. The American Civil War fought between the Union and the Confederacy from 1861 to 1865 fought over the issues of states rights and slavery, is a notable example. Commission: a document granting authority issued by the president of the United States to offices in the U.S. Amy, Navy and other branches of the armed service. Commode chair: a functional arm chair with a seat that could be lifted to reveal a chamber pot below, for using the restroom. 10

11 Compromise of 1850: A group of laws passed in the heat of a debate between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces that tried to give each side a concession. The document allowed California to enter into the Union as a free state but allowed other territories to decide the issue for themselves. The Fugitive Slave Act was included in the Compromise. Confederate States of American: a government established between 1861 and 1865 by the eleven southern states that withdrew from the Union. Declaration of Sentiments: a document signed by the 68 female and 32 male attendees to the first women s rights convention in Seneca Falls, NY in1868. The Declaration voiced their concerns about the disenfranchisement of women and lack of legal rights under the law. Diplomat: a person appointed by a government to conduct business and affairs on behalf of the government that maintain political, social and economic relations abroad. Drawing Room: shortened from the word withdraw; the Drawing Room was a more informal space where guests could withdraw from the dining room after dinner. It could be also used as an informal living room for the family. Emancipation Proclamation: an executive order signed by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1 st, 1863 that freed the slaves from the southern states rebelling against the Union. The proclamation initially freed 50,000 slaves, the rest being freed as the Union Amy advanced through the south. Epergne: a decorative table centerpiece, typically featuring sconces for candles and holders for fruit and flowers. Erie Canal: a New York State canal stretching between Albany and Buffalo that connects the Hudson River to Lake Erie, completing a water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. Constructed from 1817 to Federal Hall: a building constructed in lower Manhattan in 1700 to serve as New York City s City Hall, it later became the first capitol building for the United States where George Washington was inaugurated as President and the first Bill of Rights was introduced before the Congress. Federal Style: a classical style of architecture popular between 1780 and 1830 that interpreted ancient Roman architecture. 11

12 Fugitive Slave Act of 1850: a document drafted to strengthen the original fugitive slave act, the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 made any Federal marshal or other official who did not arrest an alleged runaway slave liable to a fine of $1,000. Law-enforcement officials everywhere now had a duty to arrest anyone suspected of being a runaway slave on no more evidence than a testimony of ownership. The slave did not have a right to trial by jury or be a witness for their own case. Anyone caught harboring a fugitive slave was subject to six months imprisonment and a $1,000 fine. Governor: an official elected to serve as the chief executive of a state, responsible for enforcing the laws of that state. Head of state: the person who holds the highest position of executive authority within a country. Examples are Presidents and Prime Ministers. Hearth: the floor of a fireplace typically made from stone or bricks, which extend a small distance into the kitchen. Hostess: a woman who welcomes guests into her home and entertains them with dinners or social gatherings. Hudson River School: a 19 th century American Art movement founded in the Lower Hudson Valley. Prominent artists like Thomas Cole and Frederick Church were concerned with the destruction of the landscape through industrialization and painted idealized scenes focusing on the beauty and power of the natural world. Inauguration: a ceremony in which a person is sworn into office. Louisiana Purchase: a treaty signed with France in 1803 by which the U.S. purchased for $15,000,000 the land extending from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Manifest Destiny: the 19 th century American belief that the United States was destined to expand its territory over the whole of North America and extend and enhance its political, social and economic influences. Marionette: a puppet moved by a string or wire connected to its limbs. Mentor: a wise and trusted advisor. Mourning: the rituals associated with honoring the death of a loved one. Symbolic gestures include dressing in black and withdrawing from social occasions for a period following the person s death. 12

13 Nomination: is part of the process of selecting a candidate for an election to public office. For an election for public office, a candidate who has been selected by a political party is normally said to be the nominee of that party. The party's selection (that is, the nomination) is typically accomplished either based on one or more primary elections or by means of a political party. Parlor: a formal room for the reception or entertainment of visitors in one s home. Typically children were not allowed in this room. Parlor Music: popular music performed in the latter half of 19 th century by the middle class in their private family parlors. Sold as sheet music, genres included classical, operetta, folk tunes, and ballads, typically performed on a piano. Paymaster: an individual given the authorization by a company or government to pay wages or salaries, typically in the military. Promontory Summit: the location in Utah where the Transcontinental Railroad was officially completed on May 10 th, 1869, linking the railheads of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Lines. The ceremony linking the two rail lines featured driving in a commemorative last spike made of gold. Quaker: a popular name for an individual belonging to the Religious Society of Friends, a Christian sect founded by George Scott in Quakers were known for their refusal to participate in war, plain dress, opposition to alcohol, refusal to swear oaths, the equality of women in worship and education, and condemnation of slavery. Raw materials: resources taken from nature in an unfinished state that are used in manufacturing. Examples include, iron ore, wood, coal, etc. Regiment: a group of two or more army units that includes two battle units, a headquarters unit, and various back up units. Role model: a person whose behavior in a particular role is modeled by another. Samovar: a metal urn used for the preparation of tea, in which a metal column filled with hot coals, is used to boil the water in the metal urn. Secretary of State: a government official appointed by the President who is responsible for handling foreign policy and relations with other countries. 13

14 Seminary: a school, of secondary or higher level, for young women. Silhouette Portrait: a profile of a person, typically done in black, set against a light background. Popular during the 19 th century as an inexpensive way to produce a likeness of a friend or loved one. Sleep tight: a phrase used to wish someone s good night s sleep. In the 19 th century, beds had rope under stringing to support the mattress. These ropes had to be kept tight so the mattress didn t sag when someone crawled into bed. Souvenir: an object purchased or gifted while traveling as a memento of a place or experience. State Senator: a representative of legislative district within the state to the State Senate, the upper house of the state s bicameral legislature. Stereoscope: an optical device through which one can view two images of the same object, taken from different perspectives, that thought the use of mirrors and a lens, becomes three dimensional to the viewer. Suffrage: the right to vote. This was a major focus of the Women s Rights Movement as women were disenfranchised. Territory: a region of the U.S. not admitted to the Union as a state but having its own representative legislature, with a governor and other officers appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. (Was this the same in Seward s day?) Totem pole: a wooden pole consisting of carved figures of an animal or bird, symbolizing a family or a clan within the tribe. Usually found in Native American tribes on the northwest coast of the North American continent. Town House: an affluent home within a city occupied by a single family. Transcontinental Railroad: a continuous railway line connecting the East Coast railway system with the Pacific Coast. Completed from 1863 and 1869, this quicker mode of transportation leads to a faster settlement of the west and the spread of commerce across the country. Tutor: a person employed to instruct another in some branch or branches of learning, especially a private instructor. 14

15 Underground Railroad: a network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to Free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists, both black and white, free and enslaved, who aided the fugitives. People who led slaves to their freedom were called conductors and the locations that offered a safe haven on the journey were called stations. Union Army: the land force that fought on behalf of the United States during the American Civil War against the Confederate States Army. It was made up by the small United States Army, thousands of volunteers and men drafted into service. U.S. Senator: U.S. Senators are members of the Senate, one of two parts of the United States Congress (The House of Representatives being the other). The citizens of each state elect two Senators to serve 6 years terms. The Senate as a whole has many duties and responsibilities. Some of these include writing and passing laws, approving many presidential appointments, and ratifying treaties with other countries. Women s Rights Movement: a movement to make the social, economic and legal rights of women equal to men, most notably the right to vote, and own property. Important figures in the United States are Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. 15

16 I was overjoyed when I heard that you were interested in visiting my family home. This is where I grew up under the watchful eye of my mother, Frances, and with the gentle humor of my father, William. Our story lives on today through our possessions and through stories that you will see and hear upon visiting our home. I should begin by introducing myself so that you can know a bit more about me. I was named for my mother, Frances, but everyone called me Fanny when I was growing up. I was my parents last child and quickly became one of my fathers best friends. When I wasn t spending time with mother in our Auburn home, I was on a train destined for Washington D.C. looking forward to adventures with my father. When my father couldn t be in Auburn and I could, I would keep him up to date on family events as well as what was growing in the garden. Others often described me as intelligent and someone who was always curious. I even began reading and writing at the age of four. This ability, along with my frail health, led my parents to hire teachers to instruct me in our home. My lessons consisted of Geography, French, painting, and much more. My favorite subject though, was writing. I read and wrote throughout my entire life. I loved writing poetry and one of my favorite subjects to read about was Scotland. My upbringing resulted in me having some unusual ideas for a young lady of that time period. Just like my parents, I felt that slaves and African Americans were being treated wrongly and should have the same opportunities I did. I would even go read the Bible to my African American friend Aunt Margaret, who lived in Auburn, because she was never taught to read. My parents raised me to be a very caring and thoughtful young lady, but they also taught me to fight for my beliefs. Now that I ve properly introduced myself, I feel that I should also introduce other important people that you will get to know when you visit our Auburn home. I can tell you a bit about the lives and accomplishments of some of our close family friends. Fanny Seward 16

17 Little William Seward couldn t have been more than ten years old as he sat on a window sill, swinging his legs, in the kitchen of his childhood home in Florida, New York. The kitchen was the hub of activity at this time of the day, as slaves concocted fancy soups, browned meats, and kneaded bread for him, his siblings, and his parents. Seward listened attentively as the slaves went on about their lives, spoke about their families, shared ghost stories, and praised him with their affection. In return, Seward would try to teach them to read. Their attitudes and knowledge were far superior than anyone seemed to recognize. As Seward listened, he was thankful to be in this room with his current company rather than in his family s front parlor with its severe decorum. Seward looked down to his own pale skin and took in his freckles and strawberry-colored hair. His eyes took in the contrasting appearance of those around him; rich colored skin filled his vision. He didn t see much of a difference when it came to personality, but skin color seemed to be everything when it came to how people in the town felt about slaves. Why couldn t others enjoy the conversation and company of slaves as he did? Why couldn t they eat dinner by his side? That day, he came to the conclusion that something was wrong; something needed to change. 17

18 *** This specific moment stayed with my father as he grew and his knowledge expanded. The young boy who questioned the fairness of slavery grew into a man who wasn t afraid to openly stand up for his beliefs. My father challenged public opinion as he fought for goals that he knew would benefit individuals in each and every state. My father s dedication and faithfulness to his country, family, and values, in addition to his sociable nature, shaped him into an advocate of abolition, expansion, and education. My father s father, Samuel Seward, was the one who first pushed him in his ideas regarding education and travel. When father was young, his father brought him along on a trip to a general store. A few of grandfather s acquaintances were present at the time. He picked up my father and set him on the counter of the general store and told him to recite a poem right there in front of all those people. He chose one from his memory and completed it. When he finished, applause filled his ears. My grandfather may have asked my father to do this to impress his friends, or maybe to give my father some confidence. Either way, the event benefited my father in many ways. This was the first time he had the experience of a crowd appreciating his words. My grandfather Samuel s encouragement helped my father s education. He decided that his son should go to college and study law. Father would enter college at the young age of fifteen and receive a very extensive education. Studies for him began at five in the morning and weren t completed until nine at night. This schedule was his own choice and truly showed his dedication to education. Father completed his studies to be a lawyer and defended individuals in some very tough cases throughout his life. Father was also influenced by my grandfather Samuel when it came to travel. Seward s father encouraged him to go with him on a trip to Europe. They travelled there for four months visiting London, Switzerland, and Holland among other areas. This trip would support father s future ideas about expansion as well as his future travels. My father was one of the biggest supporters of the Pacific Railroad, or the Transcontinental Railroad that would span the entire United States. In a speech, my father explained that our population was destined to roll its resistless waves to the icy barriers of the north, and to encounter oriental civilization on the shores of the Pacific. This idea would stay with my father as he traveled the world and through the negotiations over the purchase of Alaska. Expansion was even present in my father s personal life as he expanded our little Federal Style brick townhouse from ten rooms to over thirty. My father s political career could have come to a halt in the 1850s. This is the year that my mother and father opened up our Auburn home as a safe house to runaway slaves. Though this could have ruined his political career, caring for his fellow man and focusing on humanity were more important to him. That same year, when my father was a Senator, he acknowledged that slavery was legal under the constitution, but would deny that the Constitution recognized or protected slavery specifically. He remarked that there was a higher law than the Constitution. This was a moral, philosophical, and religious law that he believed should be considered when discussing the lawfulness of slavery. Once again, my father had the country s best interests in mind. He knew what the country was capable of. All it needed was a push. 18

19 Frances Seward sat in her bed, propped up by pillows, writing a letter to her sister Lazette. She had the blankets piled around her due to the chill January had surrounded her home with. The fireplace popped as she put ink to paper. The pen was heavy with the weight that her words held. It felt good to share them with someone so close to her; someone who would understand her position. She carefully wrote: Although I cannot yet say that I think women ought to vote and become office holders yet I will say that if there is no other way of elevating them I would rather see them more masculine than to see them what they are now. Frances knew that women deserved equality. Maybe not at first but eventually that would be the goal. Even if more equal treatment meant women becoming more like men, it was better than their opinions and intelligence being ignored. *** My mother supported the women s rights movement throughout her life. Her opinion on this most likely began with her unusual education. My grandfather, Judge Elijah Miller, made sure my mother received the best education she could at the time. She began school in Auburn and finally attended a very exceptional school in Troy, New York at the age of seventeen. My mother was privileged in the sense that she was able to receive a more broad education than other girls during the nineteenth century. She was able to learn about the same subjects that men were such as math, science, and history. Typically, young girls during the beginning of the nineteenth century were only educated in subjects such as music, art, and dancing. This educational foundation instilled in my mother values that would affect her future opinions about the rights of women, no matter what personal obstacles she had to overcome to voice those opinions. My mother was ill most of her life with very severe headaches. She became a very quiet, introverted woman who stayed at home with her children while my father traveled. Though she wasn t known for her social nature, her wit, brilliance, and passion for a cause helped her stand out to influential individuals. Friendships with women like Elizabeth Cady 19

20 Stanton, a leading figure in the women s rights movement, encouraged her to continue voicing her opinions. Ms. Stanton would later refer to my mother as a woman of rare intelligence. Although the women s rights movement was important to my mother, her primary cause was the abolitionist movement. Personal relationships with individuals such as Harriet Tubman, would influence her radical actions. In the 1850s, my mother opened our Auburn home up as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Because my father was away so often, she was the one who oversaw all the comings and goings of escaped slaves. Freeing African Americans from slavery and oppression was my mother s goal. She believed that education was the key to doing this. 20

21 The July sun lit up the room as Judge Miller sat at his cluttered writing desk and unfolded a letter with familiar handwriting. The little scribbles that decorated the paper could only have been from his grandson, Frederick Seward. Frederick and his brother Augustus were off on family trip and had been writing back to him about their adventures. Miller s eyes took in the scene as Fred described how he saw rabbits and silkworms, told about his ride on a steamboat, and explained how Augustus made a kite and it flew pretty well. Miller smiled proudly as his grandsons achievements and excitement. As he chose a pen and some ink in preparation to write them back he couldn t help feeling a bit of sorrow because he missed his grandchildren. As he wrote back, he began making plans to help Fred grow his corn and other vegetables when he came back to Auburn. *** Judge Elijah Miller, my grandfather, was very active in the Auburn community where he built the home that our family would later live in. He did many things for the town including helping raise funds to build a church, creating the first cotton mill in Auburn, building a dam, and purchasing land for a cemetery. Grandfather was appointed as one of three commissioners charged with selecting the site for and overseeing the building of the Auburn Prison. Grandfather was even named President of the Board of Inspectors for the prison. A year after grandfather started building this home, he was appointed as a judge. Friends and those he worked with said that he stood out because he knew the rules of his job so well, he had an incredible memory of past cases, and he was able to make big ideas easily understandable. 21

22 Grandpa always believed in the importance of family. He built this home specifically for his young daughters, Frances, my mother, and her sister, Lazette. He wanted them to be safe and happy in the home they grew up in. He even had his mother and sister move into the home to help take care of his girls. Later, as a condition of my parents marriage, grandfather said that they would have to live in his Auburn home with him for the entire time they were married. Having my grandfather in my home as I grew up was a wonderful experience. Christmas time was all about family according to my grandfather. Augustus and Fred would always rush downstairs to show Grandpa Miller what they got for Christmas in their stockings. He always jokingly acted surprised when they told him that it was Christmas and decided that he needed to make them something. Grandpa was very skilled with his knife. He used it to carve fancy things out of wood. He would carve us grandchildren little trinkets as gifts. Judge Miller was both the head of a wonderful family, and one of the leaders of a growing town. 22

23 Augustus, or Gus as we called him, was my oldest brother. Gus mostly spent time with my mother in Auburn when he was young, but then had the opportunity to travel with my father to Albany when father took office as Governor. This trip is what I believe opened Gus s eyes to the rest of the world and the opportunities he had in it. He was able to see the chaos of New York s capital during father s induction to office as well as the wealth of food and company that he and his father were given. Gus received his education as West Point, where he learned about being in the military, much to mother s disappointment. Mother wasn t one for conflict. Therefore, she didn t approve of Gus perusing such a career. I feel as though we were all worried about him during the time that he decided to join. I didn t want to see my brother injured or in any kind of dangerous situation. Gus went on to fight in the Mexican War, did coastal studies out west, and was a paymaster in Washington during the Civil War. It was tough to have him be away from us so often, but he did write to us about his travels. We worried often but when we saw how much Gus was doing for our country and its citizens, we realized that his risk was worth it. Augustus was brave. Brave for his family and for his country. So we needed to be brave for him. 23

24 Frederick, or as we called him, Fred, was my second brother who followed in my father s footsteps and attended Union College. In the 1850s, he was called to Washington to assist father. Fred took on the role of secretary to father. Once father was appointed secretary of state under Abraham Lincoln, Fred was appointed his Assistant Secretary of State. Fred continued to serve as Assistant Secretary of State under two more presidents, Johnson and Hayes. During the time he was assisting father, Fred was able to write to mother reassuring her that father was handling everything flawlessly. He noted to her that father was constantly cheerful and patient. Fred went on to marry a local woman, Anna, to all of our delight. She became just like a sister to me and another daughter to my father and mother. Fred and Anna helped out my father a great deal during their marriage. Anna became an important face to the public by becoming my father s hostess. She was in charge of political dinner parties in Washington D.C. and kept track of the many guests father received as well as incoming letters. When father traveled to Alaska and California at the end of this life, Anna and Fred traveled with him. Eventually, they would move to a house they called Montrose in the Hudson River Valley. Many of their possessions from that home, including a big table that belonged to Anna were brought back to the Auburn home and are still there today. Anna and Fred never had children together, but they accomplished quite a bit throughout their lives. Fred even finished father s autobiography and wrote his own about his experiences with politics. Fred was truly a loyal family man who helped his father throughout his life at home as well as his political career. 24

25 William Jr. was my youngest brother and my parents fourth child. When Will was young he had big dreams of earning a lot of money and travelling but didn t specifically know how he wanted to accomplish this. He began telling the family that he wanted to go out West to seek his fortune. My mother thought that it would be good to let Will have this experiment because he was wise beyond his years and very self reliant. However, Will chose not to go out west, which pleased me because I wanted my family as close together as possible. Instead, Will moved to Albany, New York, where he took a job at a hardware store for a year and a half. Will was able to gain my family s confidence when he took over the Auburn home when my father was on his nine month trip to Europe. He made sure that everything in our home ran smoothly whether it had to do with money or company that had come to call. During this time, Will also began to show a talent for working with finances. He ended up starting his own private banking company in The same year the banking company was established, Will married Janet Watson who we all affectionately called Jenny. Jenny fit into our family perfectly. She was kind, responsible, and loving. In 1862, during the Civil War, William Jr. obtained a Lieutenant Colonel s commission and trained men for the 138 th volunteers. This meant that William would have to travel into battle away from his family as well has his newly pregnant wife. They handled the challenges of Will s position very well and always relied on family for support and encouragement. Will kept in contact with the family through letters and would come back home whenever he could. We worried about him but we knew he was brave and safe. No matter what Will faced during these battles, he never retreated to the back as others might have. 25

26 President Abraham Lincoln was one of my father s best friends. Though they were political rivals during the 1860s election, my father and he would become very close as they worked together as President and Secretary of State. Lincoln s wit, his personality, and his ability to keep his composure in times of tragedy and war were just a few of the reasons his country admired him. As a young boy who had lost his mother at the age of nine, Lincoln found comfort in books and later education. He bonded with his father s new wife who encouraged him to read. Because there weren t many books around his small town, he would often walk to neighbors houses to borrow books. Lincoln became well-known to the public when he was in his twenties. He owned a general store and it was there that Lincoln gained his public speaking skills and made friends. People would come to visit him just to hear one of his stories. Due to his popularity with others, he was elected as the Captain of the volunteers who were fighting in the Black Hawk War. This war broke out in 1832 between the United States and the Native Americans. After this war ended, Lincoln began his political career. He was elected to the Illinois state legislature in 1834 as a member of the Whig Party. Being so involved with politics made Lincoln consider his views about slavery; something that was on everyone s minds at the time. He chose to support the abolitionist movement and also decided to become a lawyer. He taught himself law by reading Blackstone s Commentaries on the Laws of England. He was admitted to the bar in After accomplishing his goal of becoming a lawyer, Lincoln would serve a single term in the United States House of Representatives from He used his political power to speak out against the Mexican-American War. After his term ended, he went back to practice law. Lincoln s passion against slavery was awakened again in 1855 as a result of him joining the 26

27 Republican Party. He believed that America s founders believed that all men were created equally with certain inalienable rights. He wanted to protect those rights. My father and Lincoln became close after the 1860s election. During this time, Lincoln got the nomination for president at the Republican National Convention in Chicago. He surpassed my father, William Seward. However, Lincoln went on to select a strong cabinet composed of many of his political rivals including my father. Father and Lincoln would become very close. I remember the first time I met Lincoln. His kindness was immediate. He was playing with a bunch of kittens that father had given him the week before. I watched as they climbed all over him and he laughed. Later, when my father was badly injured in a carriage accident, Lincoln came to visit him often. He would lay across the foot of father s bed and they would joke just as they always had. Before Lincoln s inauguration in March of 1861, seven Southern states had seceded from the Union and by April, the Civil War broke out. After months of tiresome fighting, Lincoln wanted to revise the goal of the war. He decided that the new goal would be to abolish slavery. Lincoln stayed brave and fought for his beliefs throughout the entire war. He stood up to those that opposed him and never backed down. 27

28 My parents good friend, Harriet Tubman was born into in hard life of slavery in Maryland. At the age of five or six, she began to work as a house servant. After seven years of cleaning and cooking, she was considered strong enough to work in the fields. Though she was supposed to obey her masters and do as she was told, she proved to be a rebel who stood up for her fellow man. In her early teenage years, she stood in between a fellow field hand and an angry overseer. She refused to let the overseer get close enough to the field hand to hurt him. The overseer pickled up a two pound weight and threw it at the field hand. It missed and hit Tubman on the head. In 1849, Tubman feared that she, along with other slaves on the plantation, would be sold to new owners who might treat them badly. Instead of letting this happen, she made the tough decision that it was time to run away. She embarked on a perilous journey. She followed the North Star by night which led her to Pennsylvania and then to Philadelphia. Safe in the city, she was able to find work and begin saving money. However, many of her family members were still in the hands of slave owners. She decided to return to Maryland a year later for her sister and other family members and brought them to safety. Once all of her family was safe, she again made the dangerous trip down south in order to rescue other slaves. Harriet Tubman became known as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. By the 1860s, Tubman had made nineteen trips to the south. Each journey was challenging and could have resulted in her death or the death of those that she was leading to safety. However, by the end of her life, she had led over three hundred slaves to freedom and never lost a single 28

29 passenger. She became known as Moses. Harriet Tubman earned the respect of those around her and became friends with the leading abolitionists of the nineteenth century. She also took part in antislavery meetings. During the Civil War, Harriet Tubman worked for the Union as a cook, a nurse, and even a spy. In the mid 1850s, Harriet Tubman met my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Seward, who would play a prominent role in the abolitionist movement. Around this time, my parents would also open our Auburn home up as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Mother took in Tubman s niece, Margaret, after Tubman helped her escape from Maryland. Later, in 1857, we provided a home for Tubman in Auburn. Because her home was right down the road from us, we stayed close friends throughout our lives. I believe that having such a brave woman as a friend encouraged my family to become even braver themselves. Harriet Tubman taught us to put others before ourselves and that sometimes, risking what you have for someone else s freedom is the brave thing to do. 29

30 Susan B. Anthony played an important role in the Women s Rights Movement in the 19 th century. All American adult women obtained the right to vote with the Nineteenth Amendment, also known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment, in In addition to supporting women s rights, Anthony also bravely campaigned against slavery and unfair laws regarding education. No matter who disagreed with her or opposed her, Anthony never stopped fighting. My mother was a supporter of Anthony and her friends ideas and would be influenced by them throughout her life. Like my mother, Anthony grew up as a Quaker. Quakers believed that drinking alcohol was sinful, so Anthony joined an association called the Daughters of Temperance. This group of women drew attention to the harmful effects of alcohol consumption. In 1853 at a Sons of Temperance convention in Albany, New York, she wasn t allowed to give a speech because she was a woman. Frustrated by the prejudice, and with the help of friend Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Anthony founded the Women s State Temperance Society with the goal of getting State Legislature to try to lobby for stricter liquor laws. Anthony told the other women in the group that if they wanted to influence public affairs, they would need to get the right to vote. In 1852, Susan B. Anthony attended her first women s rights convention in Syracuse, New York and joined the Women s Rights Movement. Soon after, she dedicated her life to women s suffrage. In the 1890s, she was even the president of the National American Women s Suffrage organization. She appeared before every congress from 1869 to 1906 to ask for passage of a suffrage amendment. In addition to wanting women to have the right to vote, she believed that women should have the right to own their own property and retain their earnings. In 1856, Anthony became an agent for the American Anti-Slavery society. She campaigned across the nation for the abolition of slavery. In a newspaper called The Revolution 30

31 that Anthony began, she spoke out for equal rights for all American citizens and full citizenship, even for those who had been enslaved. She supported and petitioned for the 13 th amendment outlawing slavery. In other Rochester based newspapers, she spoke negatively about lynchings and racial prejudice in the 1890s. Stanton, partially due to her Quaker beliefs, also supported education. In 1900, she persuaded the University of Rochester to admit women. She argued for coeducation; which meant that she wanted boys and girls to be able to learn the same material, together, in one classroom. Anthony also argued for equal education regardless of race and better pay for women teachers. Many women today should be thankful to Anthony for her persistent nature as well as her ability to stand up to some very intimidating people. 31

32 Thomas Jefferson was my father s role model. Father was born in 1801, the year that Jefferson was leading the country as the third President of the United States. Like my father, Jefferson studied law, after attending the college of William and Mary. Many of his friends and those he worked with observed that Jefferson was much better at writing down ideas rather than conveying them through speech. He proved this to be correct when, at the age of thirty three, he drafted the Declaration of Independence. During his Presidency, as well as other leadership positions in his life such as Secretary of State under President Washington, he was always fighting for liberty. In 1786, he wrote a bill that would establish religious freedom. He was also able to reduce the national debt by one third. When Jefferson didn t believe that politics and government were headed in the right direction, he became the leader of the newly-formed Republican Party. He also went on to oppose a strong, centralized government and, instead, supported the rights of the states. Jefferson also influenced my father s ideas about manifest destiny. Jefferson acquired the Louisiana territory from Napoleon in My father would eventually take on Jefferson s idea that a country should reach as far north, south, east, and west as possible. Jefferson put all of these efforts into this country and wanted to make sure that it was truly a place to be free. 32

33 John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States, was my father s mentor. Father first met Adams in After supporting Adams pursuit of the presidency in 1824, my father wanted to finally meet him. During this meeting, my father wasn t captivated by Adams personality, but he admired the way that Adams spoke and formed his ideas. They had very opposite personalities as my father was quite animated and Adams was a more simple man. Despite this, their meeting would begin a strong relationship between our families that would last throughout their entire lives. Adams encouraged my father throughout his life. When my father decided not to run again for the position of Governor of New York State, Adams wrote to him saying that he hoped he wasn t retiring from politics permanently. In 1843, he even came to stay with our family in Auburn. He arrived at night and was led by a torch-lit procession to our home. Adams and my father shared a lot of similarities throughout their lives. Adams was working on supporting the creation of system of canals and highways that would bring the people of the United States closer together, while also allowing them to travel more. Seward would also eventually encourage the creation of the Transcontinental railroad with the same goal in mind. Adams had attended law school, just as my father did. He went to Harvard and would eventually use what he learned to fight for the same idea my father believed in: abolition. He defended the Amistad Africans in the Supreme Court of the United States. They had been abducted from their homeland and were being transported on a Spanish ship. They ended up seizing control of the ship in a struggle. After that, they were taken to Connecticut and imprisoned. Because they were held illegally as slaves after they had been abducted, Adams defended their position. He won them their case and they were eventually returned to their homeland. Adams would go on to present many petitions for the abolition of slavery and slave trade in the District of Colombia. 33

34 It was a warm summer evening in 1843 and a very famous visitor, John Quincy Adams, came to the Seward House. Although there Seward s received many famous visitors to their home in Auburn, John Quincy Adams was one of the most memorable because for Frances Seward, his visit was a complete surprise! Soon after, Frances wrote a letter to her sister, Lazette, remembering the events of that evening: I was sitting with a light loose gown, slippers and otherwise dishevable (sic){dihabille} owing to the exceeding heat I put on a cap and the new cape only before my introduction to Mr. Adams and (50) others who followed him into the parlor Henry introduced Mr. Adams he addressed a few words to the crowd before entering the house---in the mean time Clara and I were at the parlor windows witnessing the disaster made by men and boys upon the shrubbery there goes a rose bush they have broken one of the oleanders the gates are down the fence is falling were the agreeable sounds which I heard instead of Mr. Adams speech How do you think Mrs. Seward felt about being surprised by Adams s visit? Upset? Angry? Pleasantly surprised? How would you have felt? Do you think Mr. Seward was an important man to receive such a famous guest? What do you do when you have friends over to your house? What do you think the Sewards did to entertain guests like John Quincy Adams? 34

35 In the 19 th century, it was customary when friends or acquaintances came to visit, or pay a call, at your home, they would bring a calling card with them to leave if you were out. The calling card was a record of their visit and a sign that you should pay them a call when they were at home. A lot of effort was placed into calling cards. Before expecting to visit someone, you would first have to leave your calling card to declare your intent to visit. Then if you received a calling card in return, you were encouraged to come back to meet with the person. If a calling card was returned in an envelope, a personal visit was discouraged. If a card was left at a home with a turned corner, it meant that a servant had delivered the card and not the person who intended to visit. At the Seward House, we are lucky that Fanny Seward, Mr. Seward s daughter, saved the calling cards of several of the home s most famous visitors. Before your visit the Seward House, take some time to create a calling card of your own to present when you arrive. Most calling cards just featured a person s name with fancy lettering; others had a coat of arms. Feel free to be as creative as you want using the calling card templates on the following page. 35

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