Strangers – Today

On this day in history, July 6 . . .
Since 1814, The Athenaeum has been visited by politicians, diplomats, scientists, and literary figures. Our guest book was traditionally called the Record of Strangers: each non-member, or "Stranger" was usually signed in by an Athenaeum member. Here are the Strangers who signed in on this date over the years.
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G. [George] Washington Campbell, Envoy Exry. & Minister Plry. to Russia
(signed in by Levett Harris)

Monday July 6, 1818
Philosophical Hall
104 South Fifth Street, Independence Square, First Floor

Politics, Diplomacy & Law

Occupation: Politician and Diplomat
Residence: Washington [D.C.]

RECORD OF STRANGERS IMAGE
Volume 1 

George Washington Campbell, February 9, 1769 – February 17, 1848

George Washington Campbell was an American politician and diplomat. Born in Scotland, Campbell's family came to the United States in 1772, settling in North Carolina. He graduated from New Jersey College, present-day Princeton University, before passing the bar and setting up a law practice in Tennessee. Campbell entered politics in 1803, with his election to the U.S. House of Representatives. He went on to serve in the Senate from 1811 - 1814, was appointed Secretary of the Treasury by President James Madison, and less than a year later, returned to the Senate. In 1818, Madison appointed Campbell U.S. minister to Russia, a position he held until his resignation in 1820, following the death of three of his children from typhus.


Portrait courtesy of the Library of Congress — SourceSourceSource


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L. [Ludwig] Niederstetter
(signed in by Roberts Vaux)

Wednesday July 6, 1825
Philosophical Hall
104 South Fifth Street, Independence Square, First Floor

Politics, Diplomacy & Law

Occupation: Diplomat
Residence: Chargé d'Aff., Prussia

RECORD OF STRANGERS IMAGE
Volume 2 

Ludwig Niederstetter

Ludwig Niederstetter was a Prussian diplomat. He was assigned Prussia's chargé d'affaires to the United States in June of 1825, a month before this visit to the Athenaeum. Niederstetter held the post until 1830. An account by German nobleman Bernard of Saxe-Weimar indicates that Niederstetter and Roberts Vaux, the member who signed him into the Athenaeum on this visit, traveled together, along with the nobleman. The Record of Strangers indicates that Niederstetter visited the Athenaeum on multiple occasions.


SourceSourceSourceSource  — Source