By Tim Blackwell

This month’s find was a rather unexpected one buried within a filing cabinet on the lower level of the library stacks. At first glance the letter appears to be nothing more than an example of the elegant penmanship of the 1850s, however it’s the signature that indicates the significance this document has in our collection.

Signed, A. Dodge, short for Augustus Caesar Dodge, who became a transplant to Des Moines County after being appointed Register of the Land Office at Burlington in 1838. His initial appointment allowed Dodge to be recognized for his public speaking skills, which secured him a seat as a representative of the Iowa Territory in Congress in 1840. Much of Dodge’s legislative efforts focused on the western boundary of Iowa, and it was under the provisions of the “Dodge Bill” that Iowa became a state in 1846, extending west to the Missouri River. In 1848, Augustus Caesar Dodge became the first person born west of the Mississippi to be elected to the U.S. Senate and he served from 1848 to 1854. After Dodge lost reelection to the Senate, President Franklin Pierce appointed him Ambassador of Spain, a title he held until 1859.

The letter shown in the image was written to Jacob Pilger of Burlington, Iowa in June 1854, while Dodge was still in the Senate. In this letter, Dodge details the transmission of a report as well as his intentions to forward a copy of the document entitled Mexican Claims. While the contents of those documents may be unknown, it is the preservation of this letter that allows one to physically and emotionally connect with a figure who was significant to the founding of Iowa as the state we know it to be today.

As we move into 2023, it is imperative that we recognize the importance of preserving our collection, both objects and manuscripts. With that, I ask that you consider donating to assist rehousing and digitizing the many pieces of our collection. Your continued support will help ensure the longevity of our collection and further promote its accessibility as we plan to make manuscripts such as Dodge’s available online. We would also love for you to try transcribing the letter and sending us what you come up with!