George Bancroft papers, 1823-1890.

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Creator

Bancroft, George, 1800-1891.

Location

Manuscripts and Archives Division

Extent

• 29 linear feet (42 boxes, 37 v.)

Access Restrictions

Restricted access; Manuscripts and Archives Division; Permit must be requested at the division indicated.

Scope/Contents Note

Collection consists of correspondence, dispatches, writings by Bancroft and others, legal papers and accounts,clippings, notes, photographs, and research materials. General correspondence, 1823-1890, contains Bancroft's correspondence, 1847-1849, as U.S. Minister to Great Britain with Cave Johnson, Postmaster-General of the U.S.,concerning postal communications and postal treaties with Great Britain; correspondence, 1863-1889, of Bancroft and J. Dickinson Logan, with the librarian and historian, George Moore, on historiographical matters; correspondence,1887, with J.G. Harris relating to the presidency of JamesK. Polk; and general correspondence with other political figures. There are also dispatches of the U.S. legations at London, 1847-1849, and Berlin, 1867-1870, reflecting Bancroft's tenure as U.S. Minister to Great Britain and Germany. The bulk of the other papers concerns Bancroft's writings and includes some poetry, articles, addresses andnotes, drafts, proofs, and various printed editions of History of the United States and writings about John Adamsand Martin Van Buren. There are also a few photographs, clippings, book catalogs and lists, lists of source material in European archives, some legal papers and accounts, notes taken at Göttingen University, transcriptions of rare books, and materials relating to the San Juan water boundary dispute between the U.S. and Great Britain in 1872.

Biographical/Historical Note

George Bancroft (1800-1891) was an American historian, diplomat and public official who wrote the ten-volume History of the United States. Bancroft's positions included Collector of the Port of Boston, Secretary of theNavy under Polk, Minister to Great Britain from 1846 to 1849, and Minister to Germany from 1867 to 1874. In addition to History of the United States, Bancroft wrote other historical studies and biographies.

Controlled Access Terms

• Bancroft, George, 1800-1891.
• Polk, James K. (James Knox), 1795-1849.
• Adams, John, 1735-1826.
• Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862.
• Washington, George, 1732-1799.
• International relations.
• Historiography.
• Diplomacy.
• Diplomatic and consular service.
• Postal service -- International cooperation.
• Diplomatic and consular service, American -- Great Britain.
• Diplomatic and consular service, American -- Germany.
• United States -- History -- 1815-1861.
• United States -- Boundaries -- Canada.
• Canada -- Boundaries -- United States.
• Great Britain -- Foreign relations -- United States -- 1837-1901.
• Germany -- Foreign relations -- United States -- 1848-1870.
• Photoprints.
• Dispatches.
• Poems.
• Historians.
• Diplomats.

Additional Creator Names

• Allibone, S. Austin (Samuel Austin), 1816-1889.
• Harris, J. G.
• Hart, Charles Henry, 1847-1918.
• Johnson, Cave, 1793-1866.
• Logan, J. Dickinson.
• Moore, George Henry, 1823-1892.
• Read, John Meredith, 1837-1896.
• Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866.
• Tilden, Samuel J. (Samuel Jones), 1814-1886.
• Wright, Silas, 1795-1847.