congressarchives: This ‘letter of recommendation’ is from members of the Confederation Congress on behalf of James Mathers, who served as their doorkeeper and messenger in 1788. On April 7, 1789, the Senate elected James Mathers to be Senate Doorkeeper. Mathers served as Doorkeeper (and later Sergeant at Arms) until his death in 1811. As Doorkeeper, Mathers maintained the Senate chamber, stoked the fire, cared for the Senate’s two horses, oversaw the transfer of records and furnishings to Philadelphia in 1790 and Washington, DC in 1800, and kept order once the galleries were permanently opened. In 1795, his job was expanded to Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper to enforce the law should anyone refuse to appear before the Senate in cases of trial and impeachment. Recommendation From Members of the Confederation Congress to Appoint James Mathers Senate Doorkeeper, 3/4/1789, Records of the U.S. Senate (NAID 7788932)
