John Paul Jones Collection of Papers mssJonesjp
Gayle Richardson
The Huntington Library
May 2020
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
reference@huntington.org
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: John Paul Jones collection of papers
Creator:
Jones, John Paul,
1747-1792
Identifier/Call Number: mssJonesjp
Physical Description:
2.0 Linear Feet
(1 box and 1 volume)
Date (inclusive): 1777-1789
Abstract: A collection of letters and documents
related to the life and career of American naval officer, John Paul Jones.
Language of Material: Materials are in English and
French.
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]. John Paul Jones collection of papers, The Huntington Library, San
Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased before 1927 from the Anderson Galleries, William K. Bixby, Grenville Kane, and
Maggs Brothers.
John Paul Jones (1747-1792), American naval officer. He was commissioned a lieutenant in
the U. S. Navy in 1775, and captain in 1776. In 1778 he began raiding the English coast; a
year later he commanded the Bon Homme Richard in its victory over the Serapis. After the
American Revolution, he went to Europe, where he acted as an agent for the U. S. government
and as a naval mercenary.
A collection of 40 miscellaneous letters, documents and one volume related to John Paul
Jones. The collection includes correspondence and documents in English and French which deal
with the disposition of the prisoners of war and refitting American ships of war, and
Jones's career as U.S. agent in Europe. Also included are Jones's application to the Society
of Cincinnati (1783), and a deposition of the officers of the Alliance defending their
actions in the engagement between the Bon Homme Richard and the Serapis (1779). Other
correspondents include Paul Francois de Quelen duc de La Vauguyon and Antoine Raymond Jean
Sartine, comte d'Alby. The volume, bound in red morocco leather, is titled "Unpublished
Autograph Letters / JNO Paul Jones" and includes letters by Jones, with some prints and
transcriptions; the volume also includes five letters to William Bixby from George H.
Richmond, Bookseller, concerning the Jones' letters.
Processed by Huntington Library Staff, circa 1935. In 2020, Gayle Richardson created the
finding aid derived from legacy in-house summary report.
Arranged chronologically.
Individual call numbers included in the collection: HM 1589, HM 1612, HM 1614, HM 22451, HM
22530, HM 22543, HM 22546, HM 22549-22559, HM 22564, HM 22567, HM 22568, HM 22573, HM 22576,
HM 22578, HM 22581, HM 22711, HM 22733, HM 22774. The material was assembled at the Library
and entitled: John Paul Jones File.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Sailors -- United States --
Correspondence
United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Naval
operations
United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Prisoners and
prisons
Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 18th century
Military records -- United States -- Revolution, 1775-1783
La Vauguyon, Paul-François
de Quélen de Stuer de Caussade, duc de, 1746-1828
Sartine, Antoine de, comte
d'Alby, 1729-1801
Alliance (Frigate)
Bon Homme Richard
(Ship)
Serapis
(Ship)
Society of the
Cincinnati
United States. Navy
Box 1, Folder 1-28
Volume 1
Correspondence and prints