George Mifflin Dallas papers

This collection contains correspondence of Alexander James Dallas (1759-1817) and George Mifflin Dallas (1782-1864). Included among George Mifflin Dallas' papers are letters to his wife Sophia Chew Nicklin Dallas, 1831-1857; letters from his wife and their children; the manuscript of the life h...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dallas, George Mifflin 1792-1864 (Creator), Dallas, Sophia Chew Nicklin (Creator)
Collection:George Mifflin Dallas Papers
Collection Number:1460A
Format: Manuscript
Language:English
Subjects and Genres:
Online Access:Link to finding aid
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LEADER 07713ntc a2200325 u 4500
001 ead-1460A
008 230927i xx eng d
040 |e dacs 
041 0 |a eng 
099 |a 1460A 
100 1 |a Dallas, George Mifflin  |d 1792-1864  |e creator 
245 1 |a George Mifflin Dallas papers  |f 1788-1877, undated 
300 |a 7.0 Linear feet  |f ; 18 boxes 
500 |a The original collection report by Harry Tapin, which contains an extensive narrative on the Dallas family and these papers, is available upon request. 
520 |a This collection contains correspondence of Alexander James Dallas (1759-1817) and George Mifflin Dallas (1782-1864). Included among George Mifflin Dallas' papers are letters to his wife Sophia Chew Nicklin Dallas, 1831-1857; letters from his wife and their children; the manuscript of the life he wrote of his father, Alexander James Dallas; and letters received by George Mifflin Dallas, 1813-1864.There is also general correspondence on the Dallas family and a selection of papers related to George Mifflin Dallas' political and business ventures. 
520 |a Alexander James Dallas papers - The series collection contains a letter to John Brown from November 1794 detailing his travels in western Pennsylvania during Whiskey Rebellion. The series collection also contains eight letters to William Alexander, a state official at Carlisle, from 179-1801. From 1801-1810, the series collection includes letters related to Alexander James Dallas’ legal practice and affairs of the Republican party during the period of 1804-1807. Most of the items in this series collection are concentrated between 1813-1816 and many relate to the War of 1812. Letters ranging from 1814-1816 also touch on aspects of the country’s finances. The series lacks much material related to Alexander James Dallas’ activities as the secretary of the Commonwealth during the 1790s. George Mifflin Dallas political and business papers - Dallas' papers in this series are mostly concentrated between the years 1829-1833. These papers relate to topics including tariff issues, nullification, and the Bank of the United States. Dallas's papers then pick up around 1844, which highlight his duties as Vice President, and include letters sent to his wife, Sophia Chew Nicklin Dallas. In July 1849, there is a letter drafting a speech given by Dallas regarding the passing of James K. Polk. From 1856 on, there are diaries and letters written by Dallas related to his experience serving as the United States Minister to the Court of St. James. The collection also includes notes sent to Earl of Malmesbury and Lord John Russel between March 1858-April 1861; dispatches sent to Washington accompanied with letters to Secretary of State; letters about the election of 1856; letters between 1859 and 1861 about politics leading up to the Civil War; and a letter book and about 200 pieces of correspondence regarding Dallas’ activity as agent to James McHenry after 1861. Scant are papers from Dallas' very early life, as well as between the years 1813-1829, 1840-1843, and 1846-1855. Dallas family correspondence - The Dallas Family Correspondence series includes many letters written between Sophia Chew Nicklin Dallas and George Mifflin Dallas while George Mifflin Dallas was away from Philadelphia for his political career. These letters provide insight into Philadelphia society during the 1830s. Additionally, the collection includes diaries and letters written to other members of the Dallas family, including Sophia Dallas’ mother, documenting their travels in Russia and elsewhere. For example, the collection includes a diary documenting the family travels through Ireland in 1859, and correspondence in Susan Dallas’ scrapbook between the family and notable political figures in Europe. George Mifflin Dallas miscellaneous - The fourth series includes miscellaneous material such as speeches, addresses, and orations given by George Mifflin Dallas on various subjects, including in support of Andrew Jackson and regarding the death of James K. Polk. The collection also includes diary entries, legal notes, memoranda, photostats, newspaper clippings, and items transferred from other collections.  
524 8 |a Cite as: [Indicate cited item or series here], George Mifflin Dallas papers (Collection 1460A), Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 
541 1 |a Purchased, 1947. 
544 |a At the Historical Society of Pennsylvania: George Mifflin Dallas correspondence (Collection 1460B) George Mifflin Dallas diary (Am.04920) 
545 |a Alexander James Dallas was born in Kingston, Jamaica on June 21, 1759. He was one of six children, and his father, Dr. Robert Dallas, was a physician. The first five years of his life were spent living in the West Indies. At the age of five, he moved to Edinburgh. He studied at the Academy in Kensington under James Elphinston. In 1769, his father, Dr. Robert Dallas passed away. After his father’s death, he worked as a clerk and an accountant at the London Mercantile House Grey and Jackson. On September 4, 1780, he married Arabella Maria Smith. The two arrived in Jamaica in the Spring of 1781, and then came to the United States. On June 17, 1783, Alexander James Dallas swore allegiance to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He became Attorney to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on July 13, 1785, and was admitted to the Philadelphia bar in the first half of the 1780s. On January 19, 1791, he was appointed Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by Governor Thomas Mifflin. He became the Secretary of the Treasury under President James Madison from 1814-1816. He died January 16th, 1817. George Mifflin Dallas, a son of Alexander James Dallas and Arabella Maria Smith Dallas, was born in Philadelphia on July 10, 1792. He graduated from Princeton in 1810 and was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1813. He went to Russia with the politician Albert Gallatin in 1813. On May 23, 1816, he married Sophia Chew Nicklin of Philadelphia. By 1817, he had a law practice, and was a solicitor for the 2nd bank of the United States. He then held the position of the deputy attorney general of Philadelphia, and then as the mayor of Philadelphia. He had support from Andrew Jackson, and under his presidency, was appointed the United States attorney for the eastern district of Pennsylvania. In December of 1831, he filled a Pennsylvania senate seat left vacant by the resignation of Isaac D. Bernard. In February of 1837, he received a letter from Martin Van Buren about a position as minister to Russia. In May of 1837 he departed for Russia, and returned to the United States in 1940. He served as the Vice President under James K. Polk from 1845 to 1849. After his term as Vice President, he returned to his law practice until serving as the United States Minister to the court of St. James of Great Britain from 1856 to 1861. He again returned to his law practice upon his return to the United States in 1861. He died on December 31, 1864.  
555 |a Finding Aid Available Online:  
600 1 7 |a Dallas, Alexander James  |d 1759-1817.  |2 NACO Authority File 
600 1 4 |a Dallas, Arabella Maria Smith 
650 7 |a Diplomatic Relations--Great Britain--19th century  |2 Local sources 
650 7 |a Family life--Upper Class--19th century.  |2 Local sources 
650 7 |a United States Government--19th century.  |2 Local sources 
650 7 |a United States Senate--19th century.  |2 Local sources 
700 1 |a Dallas, Sophia Chew Nicklin  |e creator 
852 |a The Historical Society of Pennsylvania  |b George Mifflin Dallas Papers  |c 1460A 
856 4 2 |y Link to finding aid  |u http://www2.hsp.org/collections/manuscripts/d/Dallas1460A.html