Joel Roberts Poinsett papers

The papers of Joel Roberts Poinsett, American agent to Latin America and secretary of war in the Van Buren administration. The papers of Poinsett's education period, 1797-1809, include: data on his studies; journals of travel in America and Europe; letters of introduction to important persons,...

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Main Author: Poinsett, Joel Roberts 1779-1851 (Creator)
Collection:Joel Roberts Poinsett Papers
Collection Number:0512
Format: Manuscript
Language:English
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Physical Description: 6.9 Linear feet 23 flat boxes
Summary: The papers of Joel Roberts Poinsett, American agent to Latin America and secretary of war in the Van Buren administration. The papers of Poinsett's education period, 1797-1809, include: data on his studies; journals of travel in America and Europe; letters of introduction to important persons, by J. Allen Smith, 1806; letters describing Poinsett's sojourn in Russia, friendship with Czar Alexander I, tour through the Caucasus, Caspian Sea region, Baku, and Persia; comments on European political affairs, and impending war between Russia and Sweden. Papers from Poinsett's term as United States agent and consul general in Buenos Aires and other South American capitals, 1810-1815: data on the revolutionary movements against Spain and Portugal; letters from R. Smith, James Monroe, and James Madison, from José M. De Carrera, I.X. Elio, and other South American political and military leaders; also Spanish and Portuguese pamphlets, broadsides, proclamations, general orders. Papers primarily on political and economic conditions in South Carolina, 1815-1825: on factional party strife, public questions, tariff, transportation, territorial expansion, the Greek issue before Congress; letters of John C. Calhoun, Edward Everett, William Johnson, Peter S. Du Ponceau, Commodore David Porter, Richard Rush, Robert Walsh. Letters and documents of the period during which Poinsett was minister plenipotentiary of the United States to Mexico: data on Mexican politics and economic conditions, revolutionary movements, civil wars, the influence of free-masonry on national affairs, United States commercial and political interests in Mexico, and Poinsett's treaty negotiations; letters of John Forsyth, Rufus King, Commodore David Porter, Samuel L. Southard, General Guerrero, Antonio Lopez Santa Anna, and Juan de Canedo, and general orders, proclamations, pamphlets; also a memorandum by Joel R. Poinsett to John Quincy Adams, 1827. Letters reflecting American politics, the rise of the secession movement in South Carolina, and the organization of the Union Party, 1830-1836; letters of Andrew Jackson, 1830-1833, on his toast to the Union, opposition to nullification, and his plans for suppressing that movement by armed force; papers on tariff, economic issues, Cherokees in Georgia; letters of Dr. Joseph Johnson, James Brown, A. Butler, William Drayton, Lewis Cass, Henry Rutledge, Louis McLane, and others; also memorials and pamphlets. Papers of Poinsett's War Department administration, 1837-1841: material on plans for the reorganization of the army, fortifications, introduction of new ordnance, and administration of West Point; letters of General Winfield Scott relate to the defense of the Northwestern boundary and the Canadian controversy; Nicholas Biddle papers on United States Bank affairs; Cherokee, Creek, Winnebago Indians; letters from Andrew Jackson on the Seminole War in Florida; miscellaneous letters on Texas boundary, state banks, claims against Mexico, requests for military and government positions; letters of Martin Van Buren, John C. Calhoun, Gouverneur Kemble, James Buchanan, Levi Woodbury, Dennis H. Mahan, Richard Rush, James Gadsden, Alfred Huger, James K. Polk, John C. Frémont, Stephen W. Kearny, Felix Huston, J.K. Paulding, William J. Worth, Silas Wright, Millard Fillmore, Amos Kendall, Edward Everett, George Bancroft, Francis Markoe, and others; also papers on the promotion of science, the National Institution, exploring expeditions, horticulture, and historical research. Letters and documents, mainly personal, 1841-1851: comments on the Mexican War, secession movement, Union party, agriculture, European political conditions, and other topics; Poinsett essays, drafts of speeches and letters, autobiographical notes; sketch of Poinsett's life by Dr. Joseph Johnson.