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Sir Frederick William Adolphus Bruce papers

 Collection
Identifier: D.34

Biographical / Historical note

Sir Frederick William Adolphus Bruce (1814-1867) served as the British representative in Washington, D.C. from March 1, 1865 until his death in Boston on September 19, 1867.

Scope and Contents

The correspondence in this collection covers his tenure in this office, and consists of retained copies of reports sent to Prime Minister Lord John Russell (31 letters), and the foreign ministers the Earl of Clarendon (40 letters) and Lord Stanley (37 letters).

The majority of the letters are in the hand of a secretary, but four of the reports (May 2, 1865; July 3, 1865; March 5, 1866; January 27, 1867) are drafts written in Bruce's own hand.

The letters cover various subjects of concern between the United States and Great Britain in the immediate post-Civil War and Reconstruction period. Topics include American politics, the Alabama Claims controversy, the Fenian movement, and United States-Mexican relations. Bruce also wrote extensively of his personal and professional impressions of President Andrew Johnson, Secretary of State William Henry Seward, and other American political leaders.

A complete list of the correspondence is included in this register.

Creator

Dates

  • Creation: 1865-1867

Language of Materials

English

Extent

108 item(s)

Access

The Sir Frederick William Adolphus Bruce Papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books, Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.

Use

In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], Sir Frederick William Adolphus Bruce Papers, D.34, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Related Archival Materials

Biographical information on Sir Frederick William Adolphus Bruce can be found in the Dictionary of National Biography.

Title
Sir Frederick William Adolphus Bruce papers
Author
Finding aid prepared by Rare Books and Special Collections staff
Date
undated
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Library Details

Part of the Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Library

Contact:
Rochester NY 14627-0055 USA