Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Morris, Robert, 1734-1806
- Abstract:
- Papers belonging to 18th century American merchant Robert Morris.
- Extent:
- 11 Linear Feet (9 boxes)
- Language:
- Materials are in English.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item]. Robert Morris collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
Collection of personal and business correspondence of Robert Morris. The collection was assembled at the library from items purchased from various dealers from 1917 to 1925. Included is business correspondence between the firm Willing, Morris & Co. and Richard Champion, a Bristol merchant; Morris's letters to Nathanael Greene; family and personal correspondence; and papers related to the litigation involving the estate of Richard Champion, the heirs of Robert Morris, and the State of South Carolina, from 1825 to 1837. Also included are typescript transcripts of letters pertaining mainly to the business affairs of Robert Morris from 1759 to 1799.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Robert Morris (1734-1806) was an American merchant known as the "financier of the American Revolution." He was a native of England and immigrated to America in 1747. In 1754, he formed a partnership with Thomas Willing, a Philadelphia merchant, and by the early 1780s had been recognized as one of the most successful merchants in the nation. He served as a member of the Continental Congress from 1775 to 1778, superintendent of finance from 1781 to 1784, a member of the U.S. Constitutional Convention in 1787, and Senator of Pennsylvania from 1789 to 1795. His extensive land speculations ultimately ended in bankruptcy. Morris was in debtors' prison from 1798 to 1801 and never recovered his fortune.
- Acquisition information:
- The original letters were purchased from the Marsh sale (Anderson Galleries), Thomas F. Madigan, Charles Sessler, and George D. Smith, 1919-1925. The typescript copies were acquired from M. A. Bromsen, May 1960.
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Huntington Library staff. In 2022, Brooke M. Black created a finding aid. In 2024, Mari Khasmanyan rehoused materials formerly in a loose envelope into box 9 and updated the collection's total linear feet.
- Arrangement:
-
Arranged chronologically.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- Merchants -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
Business records -- United States -- 18th century
Estate records -- United States -- 18th century
Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 18th century - Names:
- Willing, Morris &
Company
United States. Continental Army -- Procurement
Champion, Richard, 1743-1791
Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786 - Places:
- United States -- History -- 18th century -- Sources
United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources
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:
-
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.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item]. Robert Morris collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
- Location of this collection:
-
1151 Oxford RoadSan Marino, CA 91108, US
- Contact:
- (626) 405-2191