Collection context
Summary
- Abstract:
- The collection primarily contains correspondence and documents of Thomas Haines Dudley from 1861 to 1872.
- Extent:
- 78.6 Linear Feet (73 boxes)
- Language:
- English.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Thomas Haines Dudley papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection primarily contains correspondence and documents of Thomas Haines Dudley. Dudley's personal and political correspondence, including 22 volumes of diplomatic correspondence, reflect his entire political career. Also present are 1 volume of copies of Confederate correspondence, documents (including 8 account books and 2 volumes of memoranda), 6 scrapbooks of newspaper clippings, and miscellaneous pamphlets, photographs, and other printed material. Subjects include Whig and Republican politics; local, state, and national elections and conventions, including the 1860 Republican National Convention; political affairs in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including information on Camden and Amboy Railroad and Transportation Company; the politics and government in the New England states, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois are covered to a somewhat lesser extent. There are some items relating to the U.S. Sanitary Commission. Items also document affairs of the American consulate in Liverpool, especially pertaining to Confederate shipbuilding and blockade running, British claims against the United States after the war and efforts to confiscate Confederate property in England, and routine consular matters. This portion of the collection includes photographs and drawings of Confederate ships. Dudley's legal practice and personal affairs, including his interest in political economy, are reflected in his correspondence with Henry Charles Carey. Presidential items in this collection include Chester A. Arthur letter to Thomas Haines Dudley, 1872 February 1 (DU 87); Ulysses S. Grant letter to Thomas Haines Dudley, 1866 March 9 (DU 1820); Andrew Johnson letter to Thomas Haines Dudley, 1865 December 24 (DU 2434).
1843-1860- Development & strengthening of Whig & Republican Parties
- Local, state & national elections, Fund raising for same
- Local and national conventions including 1860 Republican National Convention
- Politics and government of New Jersey & Pennsylvania - to a somewhat lesser extent, of the New England States and of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.
- Political economy (particularly in the letters of Henry Charles Carey)
- Camden & Amboy Ry. & Camden Ferry Co.
- Dudley's legal practice
- Personal correspondence (minor)
1861-1872- Construction by British firms of warships for C.S.A. U. S. efforts (legal & diplomatic) to induce the British government to seize & detain then under Britain's Foreign Enlistment Act (a neutrality act)
- Blockade runners
- Detectives' report re. both the above. Photographs, sketches & descriptions for use of U.S. Navy
- Registry, manifests, statistics of ships clearing from British ports 1861-1865
- Confederate finances - including cotton loans, cotton warrants, activities of Fraser Trenholm & Co. (financial agent for C.S.A. in Great Britain)
- U.S. claims for & legal actions to obtain C.S.A. assets & property in Great Britain after the war.
- Sale of Confederate ships awarded to the U.S. by British Courts.
- Preparation of Alabam Claims for presentation to Geneva Tribunal of Arbitration as provided in 1871 Treaty of Washington.
- Preparation of & Interrogatories on Memorials to Mixed Commission on American and British Claims as provided in same Treaty for civilian suits.
- Protests, petitions, mass meetings & legal actions vs. Dudley by (or insigated by) disgruntled individuals.
- Consuls - regulations - assistance to distressed seamen
- Consular services to U.S. nationals &/or relatives in Lancashire, England
- Dudley's stock & bond transactions
- Designs & price estimates for house being built for Dudley in New Jersey. Equipment for same. Stocking of his farm
- U.S. politics & national elections - only a few items
- Immigration to U.S. - only a few items of any significance
- Personal correspondence - only a few items of any significance
- Potato famine - correspondence - mainly in letter books
- Cow cholera - correspondence - mainly in letter books
- U.S. Sanitary Commission & Sanitary Fairs
1872-1891- Politics
- Agricultural organizations & conventions
- Tariff - including opposition of Cobdon Clubs
- Dudley's legal practice
- Personal correspondence
- Biographical / historical:
-
Thomas Haines Dudley (1819-1893) was an American diplomat and politician. A New Jersey Quaker, he became active in the state and national Whig and then Republican politics in the early 1840s. As U.S. consul to Liverpool from 1861 to 1872, he was in charge of secret service throughout the Civil War and was active in attempts to prevent Confederate shipbuilding in England. From 1865 to 1872, he was involved in settling property claims arising out of the war. In the 1880s, he published a number of pro-protectionist pamphlets. His son, Edward Dudley, served as Vice Consul and Acting Consul in Liverpool in 1871 and 1872 and was a partner in his father's New Jersey law firm.
- Acquisition information:
-
Purchased through Stanley V. Henkels from E. Lawrence Dudley, grandson of Thomas Haines Dudley, 1923.
Addenda gift of Philip Van Doren Stern, date undetermined.
- Processing information:
-
This finding aid was updated in 2022 by Melissa Haley as part of the American Presidential Papers Project with enhanced description of the presidential material present.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.
- Terms of access:
-
In order to quote from, publish, or reproduce any of the manuscripts or visual materials, researchers must obtain formal permission from the office of the Library Director. In most instances, permission is given by the Huntington as owner of the physical property rights only, and researchers must also obtain permission from the holder of the literary rights. In some instances, the Huntington owns the literary rights, as well as the physical property rights. Researchers may contact the appropriate curator for further information.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Thomas Haines Dudley papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
- Location of this collection:
-
1151 Oxford RoadSan Marino, CA 91108, US
- Contact:
- (626) 405-2191