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Thomas Haines Dudley Papers mssDU

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© 2000
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org

Note

Finding aid last updated on December 6, 2023, by Melissa Haley.
Contributing Institution: The Huntington Library
Title: Thomas Haines Dudley papers
Identifier/Call Number: mssDU
Physical Description: 78.6 Linear Feet (73 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1841-1959
Date (bulk): 1861-1872
Abstract: The collection primarily contains correspondence and documents of Thomas Haines Dudley from 1861 to 1872.
Language of Material: English.

Conditions Governing Access

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Conditions Governing Use

In order to quote from, publish, or reproduce any of the manuscripts or visual materials, researchers must obtain formal permission from the office of the Library Director. In most instances, permission is given by the Huntington as owner of the physical property rights only, and researchers must also obtain permission from the holder of the literary rights. In some instances, the Huntington owns the literary rights, as well as the physical property rights. Researchers may contact the appropriate curator for further information.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Thomas Haines Dudley papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased through Stanley V. Henkels from E. Lawrence Dudley, grandson of Thomas Haines Dudley, 1923.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Addenda gift of Philip Van Doren Stern, date undetermined.

Biographical / Historical

Thomas Haines Dudley (1819-1893) was an American diplomat and politician. A New Jersey Quaker, he became active in the state and national Whig and then Republican politics in the early 1840s. As U.S. consul to Liverpool from 1861 to 1872, he was in charge of secret service throughout the Civil War and was active in attempts to prevent Confederate shipbuilding in England. From 1865 to 1872, he was involved in settling property claims arising out of the war. In the 1880s, he published a number of pro-protectionist pamphlets. His son, Edward Dudley, served as Vice Consul and Acting Consul in Liverpool in 1871 and 1872 and was a partner in his father's New Jersey law firm.

Scope and Contents

The collection primarily contains correspondence and documents of Thomas Haines Dudley. Dudley's personal and political correspondence, including 22 volumes of diplomatic correspondence, reflect his entire political career. Also present are 1 volume of copies of Confederate correspondence, documents (including 8 account books and 2 volumes of memoranda), 6 scrapbooks of newspaper clippings, and miscellaneous pamphlets, photographs, and other printed material. Subjects include Whig and Republican politics; local, state, and national elections and conventions, including the 1860 Republican National Convention; political affairs in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including information on Camden and Amboy Railroad and Transportation Company; the politics and government in the New England states, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois are covered to a somewhat lesser extent. There are some items relating to the U.S. Sanitary Commission. Items also document affairs of the American consulate in Liverpool, especially pertaining to Confederate shipbuilding and blockade running, British claims against the United States after the war and efforts to confiscate Confederate property in England, and routine consular matters. This portion of the collection includes photographs and drawings of Confederate ships. Dudley's legal practice and personal affairs, including his interest in political economy, are reflected in his correspondence with Henry Charles Carey. Presidential items in this collection include Chester A. Arthur letter to Thomas Haines Dudley, 1872 February 1 (DU 87); Ulysses S. Grant letter to Thomas Haines Dudley, 1866 March 9 (DU 1820); Andrew Johnson letter to Thomas Haines Dudley, 1865 December 24 (DU 2434).

Subject Matter

1843-1860

  1. Development & strengthening of Whig & Republican Parties
  2. Local, state & national elections, Fund raising for same
  3. Local and national conventions including 1860 Republican National Convention
  4. Politics and government of New Jersey & Pennsylvania - to a somewhat lesser extent, of the New England States and of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.
  5. Political economy (particularly in the letters of Henry Charles Carey)
  6. Camden & Amboy Ry. & Camden Ferry Co.
  7. Dudley's legal practice
  8. Personal correspondence (minor)

1861-1872

  1. Construction by British firms of warships for C.S.A. U. S. efforts (legal & diplomatic) to induce the British government to seize & detain then under Britain's Foreign Enlistment Act (a neutrality act)
  2. Blockade runners
  3. Detectives' report re. both the above. Photographs, sketches & descriptions for use of U.S. Navy
  4. Registry, manifests, statistics of ships clearing from British ports 1861-1865
  5. Confederate finances - including cotton loans, cotton warrants, activities of Fraser Trenholm & Co. (financial agent for C.S.A. in Great Britain)
  6. U.S. claims for & legal actions to obtain C.S.A. assets & property in Great Britain after the war.
  7. Sale of Confederate ships awarded to the U.S. by British Courts.
  8. Preparation of Alabam Claims for presentation to Geneva Tribunal of Arbitration as provided in 1871 Treaty of Washington.
  9. Preparation of & Interrogatories on Memorials to Mixed Commission on American and British Claims as provided in same Treaty for civilian suits.
  10. Protests, petitions, mass meetings & legal actions vs. Dudley by (or insigated by) disgruntled individuals.
  11. Consuls - regulations - assistance to distressed seamen
  12. Consular services to U.S. nationals &/or relatives in Lancashire, England
  13. Dudley's stock & bond transactions
  14. Designs & price estimates for house being built for Dudley in New Jersey. Equipment for same. Stocking of his farm
  15. U.S. politics & national elections - only a few items
  16. Immigration to U.S. - only a few items of any significance
  17. Personal correspondence - only a few items of any significance
  18. Potato famine - correspondence - mainly in letter books
  19. Cow cholera - correspondence - mainly in letter books
  20. U.S. Sanitary Commission & Sanitary Fairs

1872-1891

  1. Politics
  2. Agricultural organizations & conventions
  3. Tariff - including opposition of Cobdon Clubs
  4. Dudley's legal practice
  5. Personal correspondence

Processing Information

This finding aid was updated in 2022 by Melissa Haley as part of the American Presidential Papers Project with enhanced description of the presidential material present.

Persons And Organizations Represented by 15 or More Items

(exclusive of letter books & of detectives who made only routine reports)
  1. Abbot, George J 22 pieces
  2. Adams, Charles Francis 17 pieces
  3. Badeau, Adam 24 pieces
  4. Bemis 15 pieces
  5. Borthwick, Wark & Co 22 pieces
  6. Bright, John 35 pieces
  7. Carey, Henry Charles 109 pieces
  8. Chandler, George H 109 pieces
  9. Chandler, George H 16 pieces
  10. Cleveland, Charles Dexter 38 pieces
  11. Cook, William 40 pieces
  12. Cushing, Caleb 25 pieces
  13. Davis, John Chandler Bancroft 20 pieces
  14. Dayton, Williams Lewis 18 pieces
  15. De Costa, John 16 pieces
  16. Downward, William & Co 63 pieces
  17. Dudley, Thomas Haines 237 pieces
  18. Duncans, Squarey, Blackmore, Pearson & Hill 107 pieces
  19. Evarts, William Maxwell 23 pieces
  20. Field, Roscoe, Field & Francis 113 pieces
  21. Forbes, John Murray 27 pieces
  22. Fox, Alfred 16 pieces
  23. Freeman, Thomas F 15 pieces
  24. French, William 18 pieces
  25. Great Britain 82 pieces
  26. Hale, Charles 15 pieces
  27. Halligan, Thomas 80 pieces
  28. Harvey, Jevons & Ryley 104 pieces
  29. Heine, William 21 pieces
  30. Jevons, William Alfred 109 pieces
  31. Langley, J. Baxter 20 pieces
  32. Latham, John 23 pieces
  33. Maguire, Matthew 107 pieces
  34. McChesney, Joseph H 19 pieces
  35. Moran, Benjamin 235 pieces
  36. Morse, Freeman Harlow 86 pieces
  37. Murray, Andrew 16 pieces
  38. Prettyman John S 24 pieces
  39. Redfield, Isaac Fletcher 38 pieces
  40. Rothery & Co 20 pieces
  41. Seward, William Henry 20 pieces
  42. Squarey, Andrew 22 pieces
  43. Thomas, R. M 15 pieces
  44. Thompson, Charles 44 pieces
  45. Underwood, Warner Lewis 44 pieces
  46. Wells, David Ames 16 pieces
  47. West, William B 15 pieces
  48. Wilding, Henry 134 pieces
  49. Wilson, Charles Lush 51 pieces
  50. Winslow, John Ancrum 16 pieces
  51. Yonge, Clarence Randolph 29 pieces

Additional Information

Alternate Names of Ships

  1. Active - Beatrice - Rappahannock Scylla - Victor
  2. Echo - Jefferson Davis - Putnam
  3. Agincourt - No. 278
  4. Economist - Bonita
  5. Alabama - No. 290 - Enrica
  6. El Monassir - Laird's Ram - Wyvern
  7. Alabama 2-Canton of London Pampero - Texas - Tournado
  8. El Toussan - Laird's Ram - Scorpion (Sister ship to El Monassir)
  9. Agnes Louisa - Grapeshot
  10. Enrica (see Alabama)
  11. Alexandra - Mary
  12. Eureka - Joseph L. Gerrity - Gerrity
  13. F. Crenshaw - Gracie
  14. Annie Childs - North Carolina Victory - Julia Usher T.D. Wagner
  15. Florida - Malacca - Oreto - Manassas
  16. Georgia - Virginia 2 - Japan
  17. Antonica - Herald
  18. Gibraltar - Sumter
  19. Ariel - Colonel Lamb
  20. Giraffe - Robert E. Lee
  21. Atlanta - Tallahassee Chameleon
  22. Gracie - F. Crenshaw
  23. Bonita - Economist
  24. Granite City - Dundee
  25. Beatrice (see Active)
  26. Grapeshot - Agnes Louisa
  27. Bendige - Millie
  28. Herald - Antonica
  29. Canton of London (see Alabama 2)
  30. Joseph L. Gerrity - Gerrity - Eureka
  31. Chameleon (see Atlanta)
  32. Japan (see Georgia)
  33. Cherokee - Thistle
  34. Jefferson Davis (see Echo)
  35. Colonel Lamb (see Ariel)
  36. Julia Farmer - Martha Whitmore
  37. Conrad - Tuscaloosa
  38. Julia Usher (see Annie Childs)
  39. Danmark - Santa Maria
  40. Laird's Rams (see sister ships El Monassir and El Toussan)
  41. Defiance No. 292
  42. Lancashire - Stonewall - Sphinx Stoerkodder)
  43. Douglas - Margaret
  44. Dundee - Granite City
  45. Lilla - Mary Wright
  46. Malacca - (see Florida)
  47. Duntroon Castle - Shenandoah
  48. Richard Wright - Sea King
  49. Manassas - (see Florida)
  50. Eagle - Mary Anne
  51. Margaret - Douglas
  52. Martha Whitmore - Julia Farmer
  53. Scylla (see Active)
  54. Mary (see Alexandra)
  55. Scorpion (see El Toussan)
  56. Mary Anne - Eagle
  57. Sea Hawk - Merlin
  58. Mary Wright - Lilla
  59. Sea King (see Duntroon Castle)
  60. Merlin - Sea Hawk
  61. Shenandoah (see Duntroon Castle)
  62. Merrimac 1 - Virginia 1
  63. Stoerkodder (see Lancashire)
  64. Merrimac 2 - Nargis
  65. Stonewall (see Lancashire)
  66. Millie - Bendage
  67. Southerner - Westminster
  68. Mohawk - Pekin
  69. Sumter (see Gibraltar)
  70. Nargis - Merrimac 2
  71. T. D. Wagner (see Annie Childs)
  72. North Carolina (see Annie Childs)
  73. Tallahassee (see Atlanta)
  74. Oreto (see Florida)
  75. Texas (see Alabama 2)
  76. Pampero - (see Alabama 2)
  77. Thistle - Cherokee
  78. Pekin - Mohawk
  79. Tournado (see Alabama2)
  80. Princess Royal - Rosalind
  81. Tuscaloosa - Conrad
  82. Putnam (see Echo)
  83. Victor (see Active)
  84. Rappahannock (see Active)
  85. Victory (see Annie Childs)
  86. Richard Wright (see Duntroon Castle)
  87. Virginia 1 - Merrimac 1
  88. Robert E. Lee (see Giraffe)
  89. Virginia 2 (see Georgia)
  90. Rosalind - Princess Royal
  91. Westminster - Southerner
  92. Santa Maria - Danmark
  93. Wyvern (see El Monassir)
  1. Agrippina
  2. Helen Morris
  3. Tallahassee
  4. Ajax
  5. Hercules
  6. Thomas
  7. Alabama
  8. Japan
  9. Tuscarora
  10. Alexandra
  11. Joseph L. Gerrity
  12. Virginia
  13. Annie Childs
  14. Julia Usher
  15. Wasp
  16. Ariel
  17. Kearsarge
  18. White Inch
  19. Atlanta
  20. Laird's Rams
  21. Badgar
  22. Lark
  23. Bahama
  24. Louisa Ann Fannie
  25. Beatrice
  26. Laurel
  27. Canton of London
  28. Mary
  29. Chameleon
  30. Niagara
  31. City of Richmond
  32. No. 290
  33. Colonal Lamb
  34. Olinde
  35. Deerhound
  36. Oreto
  37. Owl
  38. Dolphin
  39. Pampero
  40. Duntroon Castle Edward Hawkins
  41. Penguin
  42. Emily St Piere
  43. Rappahannock
  44. Fingal
  45. Robert E. Lee
  46. Florida
  47. Rosine Ruby
  48. Fox
  49. St Thomas
  50. Georgia
  51. Sea King
  52. Gerrity
  53. Shenandosh
  54. Gibraltar
  55. Southerner
  56. Great Western
  57. Stonewall
  58. Hawk
  59. Sumter

Other Finding Aids

Of possible assistance in utilizing the collection are:
  1. Partial list of ships frequently mentioned (In Information File)
  2. List of alternate names of ships (In Information File)
  3. Register of official dispatches (DU 1070)
  4. Register of Confederate & suspicious ships (DU 1059)
  5. The English Blockade Steamers (DU 4057)

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Arthur, Chester Alan, 1901-1972
Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885
Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875
 

Interesting or Important Items

 

Account by Dudley of caucus at National Republican Convention which made possible the nomination of Lincoln-with explanation of reasons for Horace Greeley's erroneous report that Seward would be nominated. Undated but probably written c. 1885 DU 1274 1860

 

Account by Dudley of his appointment & initial experiences as Liverpool Consul-includes account of his interview with Lincoln. c. Mar. DU 1275 1884,

 

Letter from John Ancrum Winslow to Dudley giving detailed account of the sinking of C.S.S. Alabama. DU 4456 1864, June 24

 

Correspondence, court proceedings etc. in U.S. suit in Liverpool for extradition of certain Confederate seamen charged with piracy aboard S.S. Joseph L. Gerrity. 1864, Feb. & Mar.

 

Correspondence, statements & affidavits re. unauthorized (and highly unfavorable) settlement by Freeman Harlow Morse & Montgomery Gibbs of all U.S. claims for Confederate assets & property. 1866 & 1867. Letter (unofficial) from [UNK] Peshine Smith to Dudley re. State Departments' emergency steps. DU 3736 1866, Dec. 11

 

Letter from Joseph P. Bradley to Dudley re. confirmation of Bradley's appointment to U.S. Supreme Court. DU 266 1870, Apr. 1

 

Letter from Caleb Cushing to Dudley containing critical reference to Dr. Francis Lieber. 1867, Nov. 20

 

Letter from Erasmus Peshine Smith to Dudley criticizing Lieber. DU 3738 1867, Mar. 11

 

Correspondence between various U.S. & British officials re. ships being built for the Confederacy DU 2315

 

Letter from William Inman to Dudley re. competition with North German Lloyd Steamship Co. re. U.S. mails contract. 1864, Mar. 28

 

Bound Volumes Series 1

Box 65

U.S. Consulate, Liverpool. Official dispatches. DU 4573

 

Vol. 1 June 1861 - June 20, 1862

 

Vol. 2 1862, June 21-Dec.

 

Vol. 3 1863, Jan.-June

Box 66

U.S. Consulate, Liverpool. Official dispatches. DU 4573

 

Vol. 4 1863, July-Dec.

 

Vol. 5 1864

 

Vol. 6 1865

Box 67

U.S. Consulate, Liverpool. Official dispatches. DU 4573

 

Vol. 7 1866

 

Vol. 8 1867-1868

 

Vol. 9 1869

 

Vol. 10 1870

Box 68

U.S. Consulate, Liverpool. Official dispatches DU 4573

 

Vol. 11 1871, Jan.-Aug. 19

 

Vol. 12 Aug. 1871-July 1872

 

Vol. 13 1872, Aug.-Dec.

 

DUDLEY, Thomas Haines & others. [Consular and personal business correspondence] DU 4574

 

Vol. 1 1865-1868

 

Vol. 2 1867-1872

 

Vol. 3 1868-1879

Box 69

DUDLEY, Thomas Haines & others. [Consular and personal business correspondence] DU 4574

 

Vol. 4 1872, 1877-1878

 

U.S. Dept. of State and London Legation. To Thomas Haines Dudley & Henry Wilding: Dispatches DU 4575

 

Vol. 1 1861-1870

 

Vol. 2 1863-1868, 1871

 

Vol. 3 1855-1859, 1870-1872

 

C.S.A. War Dept. Ordance Office. [Correspondence intercepted by U.S. Secret Service] DU 4576 1863, Jan.-Oct.

Box 70

[U.S. Consulate, Liverpool. Copies of financial accounts of C.S.A. Treasury, Navy & other departments. DU 4577 1863-1868

 

[U.S. Consulate, Liverpool. Financial Accounts] DU 4578 1865-1870

 

[U.S. Consulate, Liverpool. Financial Accounts] DU 4579 1870-1872

 

[U.S. Consulate, Liverpool. Financial Accounts] DU 4580 1861-1864

 

[U.S. Consulate, Liverpool. Financial Accounts] DU 4581 1861-1872

 

[U.S. Consulate, Liverpool. Financial Accounts] DU 4582 1861-1872

Box 71

[U.S. Consulate, Liverpool. Financial Accounts] DU 4583 1863-1872

 

DUDLEY, Thomas Haines & Edward. [Correspondence re. Dudley's legal practice] DU 4584 1849-1880

 

DUDLEY, Thomas Haines. [Correspondence re. Dudley's legal practice & other business matters] DU 4585 1872-1878

Box 72

Volumes: DU 1059, DU 1070, DU 4057

 

Correspondence and documents Series 2

Box 1

1841-1853

Box 2

1854-1859

Box 3

1860 March-October

Box 4

1860 November-1861

Box 5

1862 January-June

Box 6

1862 July-August

Box 7

1862 September-November

Box 8

1862 December

Box 9

1863 January-March 25

Box 10

1863 March 26-April 21

Box 11

1863 April 22-May 27

Box 12

1863 May 28-July 7

Box 13

1863 July 8-August 25

Box 14

1863 August 26-September

Box 15

1863 October-November 14

Box 16

1863 November 15-December

Box 17

1864 January-February 19

Box 18

1864 February 20-April 12

Box 19

1864 April 13-June 19

Box 20

1864 June 20-August 12

Box 21

1864 August 13-September

Box 22

1864 October-November 15

Box 23

1864 November 16-December

Box 24

1865 January-March 12

Box 25

1865 March 13-May

Box 26

1865 June-August

Box 27

1865 September-December

Box 28

1866 January-April 16

Box 29

1866 April 17-July

Box 30

1866 August-November 15

Box 31

1866 November 16-December

Box 32

1867 January-February

Box 33

1867 March-May

Box 34

1867 June-August 20

Box 35

1867 August 21-December

Box 36

1868 January-April

Box 37

1868 May-August

Box 38

1868 September-December

Box 39

1869 January-March

Box 40

1869 April-June

Box 41

1869 July-December

Box 42

1870 January-April

Box 43

1870 May-July

Box 44

1870 August-December

Box 45

1871 January-May 26

Box 46

1871 May 27-August 4

Box 47

1871 August 5-September

Box 48

1871 October-December

Box 49

1872 January-March 14

Box 50

1872 March 15-May

Box 51

1872 June-August

Box 52

1872 September-December

Box 53

1873-1883

Box 54

1884-1886

Box 55

1887-1900

Box 56

1848-1863 oversize

Box 57

1864-1867 oversize

Box 58

1868-1871 oversize

Box 59

1872 oversize

 

Clippings, printed material, photographs Series 3

Box 60

DU 1824, printed material re: ships and Treaty of Washington

Box 61

DU 1785, DU 1786, Ephemera, Photographs, Miscellaneous Printed Matter

Box 62

Clippings 1860-approximately 1880

Box 63

Newspapers 1859-1887

Box 64

Clippings scrapbooks 1862-1889

Scope and Contents

Six volumes.
Box 73

Addenda: Research material re: Confederate ironclads 1861-1959

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