William Sullivan Papers: Finding Aid mssHM 48660-48732
Gayle Richardson
The Huntington Library
December 2020
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: William Sullivan papers
Creator:
Sullivan, William,
1774-1839
Identifier/Call Number: mssHM 48660-48732
Physical Description:
1.25 Linear Feet
(1 box)
Date (inclusive): 1795-1822
Date (bulk): 1796-1812
Abstract: A collection of material related to the
personal and professional life of William Sullivan, Boston lawyer, Federalist and
author.
Language of Material: Materials are in
English.
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at
the Huntington Library for more information.
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from
or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The
responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining
necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
[Identification of item]. William Sullivan papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from William J. B. Burger, 1982.
William Sullivan (1774-1839) was a prominent Boston lawyer, Federalist politician, and
author. Sullivan was active in Federalist party politics and helped to plan party policies.
In addition to his party activities, Sullivan held numerous state and city positions and
held various elective offices in Massachusetts (representative, senator, and Executive
Council member) until 1830. In 1802, Sullivan married Sarah Webb Swan, the daughter of
Colonel James Swan, a wealthy Boston merchant. Sullivan was also an author; among his
publications were historical works, as well as a series of "class-books" designed to further
popular education in the country.
A collection of 74 items from 1795 to 1822, which consists of personal, political, and
legal correspondence of William Sullivan; the collection consists entirely of retained
copies of his letters. The largest group comprises letters dealing with Sullivan's early
legal career from 1796 to 1798, including his involvement in collecting bad debts for
General Henry Lee. Also included are letters written by Sullivan to his family during his
journey to Philadelphia and Virginia in 1796. The letters dating from 1811 to 1812 contain
political correspondence and deal chiefly with the foreign policy and the Federalist
strategies for the impending Presidential election.
Processed by Huntington Library Staff, February 1983. In 2020, Gayle Richardson created the
finding aid derived from a legacy summary report.
Arranged chronologically.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Lawyers -- Massachusetts
Politicians -- Massachusetts
Presidents -- United States -- Election -- 1812
Massachusetts -- History -- 1775-1865 -- Sources
Massachusetts -- Politics and Government
-- 1775-1865
Philadelphia (Pa.) -- Description and
travel
United States -- Politics and Government
-- 1809-1817
Virginia -- Description and travel
Legal correspondence -- Massachusetts -- 18th century
Letters (correspondence) -- Massachusetts
Lee, Henry, 1756-1818 --
Trials, litigation, etc.
Federal Party
(Mass.)
Box 1, Folder 1-73
William Sullivan papers 1795-1822