Contents

Collection Summary

Chronology of Events

Scope and Content Note

Organization of the Papers

Selected Search Terms

I: Incoming Correspondence, 1819-1917

II: Outgoing Correspondence, 1839-1912

III: General Correspondence, 1909-1965

IV: Financial Papers, 1818-1963

V: Business Papers, 1816-1963

VI: Subject File, 1792-1964

VII: Miscellany, 1835-1935

American Colonization Society Records

A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress

Prepared by Anita Nolen

2009

Chronology of Events

Return to the Table of Contents

Scope and Content Note

The records of the American Colonization Society span the years 1792-1964, with the bulk of the material concentrated in the period 1823-1912. The records include a variety of material, but in terms of content and physical size the various correspondence series predominate. The society's major interests and activities changed in emphasis during its long history, and this change is reflected in the voluminous correspondence, which ranges in subject from routine administrative and financial matters to the problems of slavery, the status of slaves and freedmen in society, and the advantages and disadvantages of emigration and colonization. The collection is organized in seven series: Incoming Correspondence, Outgoing Correspondence, General Correspondence, Financial Papers, Business Papers, Subject File, and Miscellany.

During the decades prior to the Civil War, the society sought to implement its solution to the slavery problem – colonization of Negroes in Africa – by establishing the colony of Liberia on the west coast of Africa and raising money to transport and support emigrants. Also during this period the society came under attack from critics, particularly William Lloyd Garrison and other abolitionists, who termed it proslavery and succeeded in winning over some previously ardent colonizationists, notably Gerrit Smith, a major contributor to the society's efforts prior to 1835. The efforts of the society to maintain neutrality on the slavery issue and to appeal to all sections of the country are also reflected in the correspondence. Notable correspondents of the pre-Civil War period include Lyman Hotchkiss Atwater, Benjamin Coates, Elliott Cresson, John H. Eaton, Henry Leavitt Ellsworth, Reverend R. S. Finley, Thomas R. Hazzard, Silas Howe, John H. B. Latrobe, John Maclean, and Anson Greene Phelps. An index to incoming correspondence for the period 1839-1855 is located in at the end of the Domestic Letters subseries of the Incoming Correspondence series.

Correspondence in the collection also reveals the difficulty the society experienced in obtaining funds to carry on its work. Letters document the largely unsuccessful efforts to get financial aid from the United States Congress and state legislatures, and reports received from agents around the country attest to the difficulty in obtaining individual contributions and the lack of cooperation from various state auxiliaries.

After the Civil War, the society's activities centered primarily on helping people who wished to emigrate and on providing funds for their support after arrival in Liberia. The correspondence, accordingly, is concerned mainly with obtaining funds for these purposes through private contributions and with counseling those who wished to emigrate. Letters requesting help in moving to Liberia are numerous until 1910, when the activity of the society in this area diminished. Lists of applicants for passage to Liberia appear in the correspondence during the late-nineteenth century as well as in separate registers and rolls contained in the Subject File series. Major figures in the society in this later period were William Coppinger and William McLain. Correspondents include D. C. Haynes, John H. B. Latrobe, John Orcutt, and Joseph Tracy. A large number of communications are from the firm of Yates & Porterfield of New York, through which the society arranged passage to Liberia for the emigrants.

After the turn of the century the society was primarily concerned with the support of education in Liberia, and correspondence is devoted chiefly to administrative and financial matters, particularly cooperation with the Phelps-Stokes Fund in support of the Booker Washington Agricultural and Industrial Institute founded at Kakata, Liberia, in 1929.

Throughout its history, the society received reports from Liberia telling of the conditions of the various settlements. Some of the earliest letters were written by Jehudi Ashmun, one of the society's first agents in Liberia, describing the progress and problems of the colony in 1823 and the need for American support. Later reports and dispatches from the colony come from Stephen Benson, Thomas Buchanan, first governor of Liberia under the commonwealth system, Edward W. Blyden, J. W. Lugenbeel, and Joseph Jenkins Roberts (1809-1876), who became the first president of the Republic of Liberia in 1847. There is also correspondence from ordinary settlers in which they relate their travel experiences, describe the settlements they established or into which they moved, and discuss future plans.

Additional records documenting the administrative functions of the society include financial ledgers, account books, and registers of names of contributors and subscribers to the African Repository, the society's journal. The original books of minutes and proceedings of the meetings of the society are also in the records as are drafts and manuscript copies of many of the annual reports. Letters from society members and reports from Liberia were often reprinted in the African Repository and annual reports. Many letters for the period prior to 1823 survive only in this form. A few letters printed in the annual reports of 1819-1821 were preserved by Peter Force, then printer for the society; these now form part of the Peter Force Papers in the Manuscript Division.

Return to the Table of Contents

Selected Search Terms

People

• Ashmun, J. (Jehudi), 1794-1828--Correspondence.
• Benson, Stephen Allen, 1816-1865--Correspondence.
• Buchanan, Thomas, -1841--Correspondence.
• Cresson, Elliott, 1796-1854--Correspondence.
• Hazard, Thomas R. (Thomas Robinson), 1797-1886--Correspondence.
• Latrobe, John H. B. (John Hazlehurst Boneval), 1803-1891--Correspondence.
• Lugenbeel, J. W. (James Washington), 1819?-1857--Correspondence.
• McLain, William. William McLain papers. 1831-1850.
• Roberts, Joseph J. (Joseph Jenkins), 1809-1876--Correspondence.
• Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874--Correspondence.

Organizations

• American Colonization Society.
• American Society for Colonizing the Free People of Colour of the United States. American Society for Colonizing the Free People of Colour of the United States records.
• Massachusetts Colonization Society. Massachusetts Colonization Society letterbooks. 1856-1875.

Subjects

• African Americans--Colonization--Africa.
• Education--Liberia.
• Freedmen--Colonization--Africa, West.
• Slavery--United States.

Places

• Liberia--Colonization.

Return to the Table of Contents

Organization of the Papers

The collection is arranged in seven series:

• I: Incoming Correspondence, 1819-1917
• II: Outgoing Correspondence, 1839-1912
• III: General Correspondence, 1909-1965
• IV: Financial Papers, 1818-1963
• V: Business Papers, 1816-1963
• VI: Subject File, 1792-1964
• VII: Miscellany, 1835-1935

Return to the Table of Contents

Container List

I: Incoming Correspondence, 1819-1917

A: Domestic Letters, 1823-1912

Letters received by the society from within the United States concerning all areas in which the society was involved and letters from Liberia before 1833. Subjects include memberships, contributions, finances, emigration, and the African Repository, as well as the views of the society's officers and members on the question of slavery and the position of slaves and free blacks in the United States.

Correspondence is bound in volumes and generally arranged in chronological order. Most of the volumes dated after 1839-1840 contain an alphabetical index to the letters within.

1823, July 17-1926, Nov. 12

1826, Nov. 14-1827, Jan. 19

1827

Jan. 20-Mar. 20

Mar. 21-June 28

June 29-Aug. 14

Aug. 15-Oct. 21

Oct. 22-Dec. 11

1827, Dec. 12-1828, Feb. 9

1828

Feb. 12-May 5

May 7-Aug. 4

Aug. 5-Oct. 19

Oct. 20-Dec. 27

1828, Dec. 29-1829, Feb. 7

1829

Feb. 9-Apr. 27

Apr. 28-June 26

June 29-July 21

July 22-Aug. 25

Aug. 26-Oct. 31

Nov. 1-Dec. 19

1829, Dec. 21-1830, Feb. 11

1830

Feb. 12-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 1

June 2-July 6

July 7-15

July 16-Aug. 8

Aug. 9-31

Sept. 1-Oct. 5

Oct. 6-Nov. 6

Nov. 7-Dec. 31

1831

Jan. 1-Mar.31

Apr. 2-June 19

June 21-July 15

July 16-Aug. 16

Aug. 17-Sept. 15

Sept. 16-Nov. 4

Nov. 5-Dec. 14

1831, Dec. 15-1832, Jan. 18

1832

Jan. 19-Feb. 22

Feb. 23-Apr. 5

Apr. 6-May 14

May 16-July 3

July 4-22

July 23-Aug. 8

Aug. 9-Sept. 5

Sept. 6-Oct. 4

Oct. 5-Nov. 5

1832, Nov. 8-1833, Jan. 24

1833

Jan. 25-Mar. 16

Mar. 18-Apr. 24

Apr. 25-June 10

June 11-July 15

July 16-Aug. 6

Aug. 7-Sept. 17

Sept. 18-Oct. 15

Oct. 16-Nov. 20

Nov. 21-Dec. 30

1834

Jan.-Apr.

A-C

D-H

J-W

May-Dec.

A-B

C-E

F-H

I-M

N-S

S-Y

1835

Jan.-May

A-G

H-W

May-Aug.

A-F

G-M

N-W

Sept.-Dec.

A-G

H-W

1836

Jan.-Apr.

A-J

J-Z

May-Aug.

A-H

J-Z

Sept.-Dec.

A-G

H-W

1837

Jan.-Apr.

A-D

E-L

M-W

May-Sept.

A-G

H-W

Oct.-Dec.

A-W

1838

Jan.-June

A-G

H-Y

June-Sept.

A-H

J-W

Oct.-Dec.

A-G

H-W

1839, Jan. 3-1842, Feb. 7

1839

Jan. 1-Feb. 9

Feb. 11-Mar. 30

Apr. 1-May 13

May 14-June 29

July 1-31

Aug. 1-Sept. 30

Oct. 2-Nov. 26

Nov. 27-Dec. 31

1840

Jan. 1-Feb. 1

Feb. 2-Mar. 30

June 1-30 (nos. 1-90)

Apr. 1-10 (nos. 91-112)

Apr. 11-May 30 (nos. 113-229)

July 1-31

Aug. 1-Sept. 29

Oct. 1-Nov. 24

Nov. 25-Dec. 24

1841

Jan. 4-Feb. 2

Feb. 3-Mar. 22

Apr. 1-May 11

May 12-June 29

July 1-31

Aug. 1-29

Aug. 30-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Nov. 15

Nov. 16-Dec. 31

1842

Jan. 1-Feb. 11

Feb. 12-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-May 17

May 18-July 16

July 1-Sept. 28

Oct. 1-Nov. 22

Nov. 23-Dec. 31

1843

Jan. 2-Feb. 14

Feb. 15- Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 8

May 1- June 29

June 1-Aug. 5

Aug. 6-16

Aug. 17-Nov. 10

Nov. 11-Dec. 30

1844

Jan. 1-Feb. 15

Feb. 16-Mar. 30

Apr. 1-June 29

July 1-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Nov. 29

Nov. 30-Dec. 27

1844, Dec. 12-1845, Feb. 10

1845

Feb. 11-Mar. 31

Jan. 8-June 30

July 1-Aug. 15

Aug. 16-Sept. 29

Oct. 1-Nov. 1

Nov. 5-Dec. 31

1844, Dec. 2-1846, Feb. 9

1846

Feb. 10-Mar. 30

Feb. 5-May 12

May 13-June 30

July 1-Aug. 17

Aug. 18-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-23

Oct. 24-Nov. 24

Nov. 25-Dec. 31

1847

Jan. 1-Feb. 10

Feb. 11-Mar. 31

Jan. 20-May 10

May 11-June 29

Mar. 3-Sept. 16

Aug. 1-31

Sept. 17-30

Oct. 1-30

Sept. 12-Oct. 30

Nov. 1-Dec. 3

Dec. 4-31

1848

Jan. 1-24

Jan. 25-Feb. 26

Feb. 27- Mar. 31

July 8-May 10

May 11-June 30

Feb. 18-July 26

July 27-Aug. 28

Aug. 29-Sept. 30

May 29-Nov. 6

Nov. 7-Dec. 4

Dec. 5-30

1849

Jan. 1-18

Jan. 19-Feb. 16

Feb. 17-Mar. 31

Apr. 2-May 8

May 9-June 30

July 1-Aug. 9

Aug. 10-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Nov. 19

Nov. 20-Dec. 31

1850

Jan. 1-Feb. 25

Feb. 26-Mar. 30

Apr. 1-May 17

May 18- June 30

July 1-Aug. 6

Aug. 7-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Nov. 16

Nov. 18-Dec. 31

1851

Jan. 1-Feb. 5

Feb. 6-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-May 8

May 9-June 30

July 1-Aug. 7

Aug. 8-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Nov. 21

Nov. 22-Dec. 31

1852

Jan. 1-Feb. 16

Feb. 17-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-May 6

May 7-June 30

July 1-Aug. 11

Aug. 12-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Nov. 15

Nov. 16-Dec. 31

1853

Jan.1- Feb. 11

Feb. 12-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-May 8

May 9-June 30

July 1-Aug. 9

Aug. 10-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Nov. 16

Nov. 17-Dec. 31

1854

Jan. 1-Feb. 9

Feb. 10-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-May 5

May 6-June 30

July 1-Aug. 11

Aug. 12-Sept. 30

R 74Oct. 1-Nov. 12

Nov. 13-Dec. 30

1855

Jan. 1-Feb. 6

Feb. 7-Mar. 10

Mar. 11-31

Mar. 31-July 10

Apr. 1-May 11

May 12-June 30

July 2-Aug. 7

Aug. 8-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Nov. 8

Nov. 9-Dec. 31

1856

Jan. 1-Feb. 18

Feb. 19-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-May 9

May 10-June 30

July 1-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Nov. 14

Nov. 15-Dec. 31

1857

Jan. 1-Feb. 13

Feb. 14-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-May 7

May 8-June 29

July 1-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Nov. 9

Nov. 10-Dec. 31

1858

Jan. 1-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 30

July 1-Sept. 30

Oct.1-Dec. 31

1859

Jan. 1-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-May 9

May 10-June 30

July 1-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Dec. 31

1860

Jan. 1-Feb. 19

Feb. 20-Mar. 31

Apr. 2-May 22

May 23-June 30

July 2-Sept. 29

Oct. 1-Dec. 31

1861

Jan. 1-Mar. 30

Apr. 1-June 29

July 1-Sept. 30

Oct. 2-Dec. 31

1862

Jan. 1-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 30

July 1-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Dec. 31

1863

Jan. 1-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 30

July 1-Sept. 29

Oct. 1-Dec. 31

1864

Jan. 4-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 29

July 1-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Dec. 31

1865

Jan. 3-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 30

July 1-Sept. 29

Oct. 2-Dec. 30

1866

Jan. 1-Mar. 30

Apr. 2-June 30

July 1-Sept. 29

Oct. 1-Nov. 4

Nov. 5-Dec. 31

1867

Jan. 1-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 29

July 1-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Dec. 31

1868

Jan. 1-Feb. 25

Feb. 26-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-27

Apr. 28-June 30

July 1-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Dec. 31

1869

Jan. 1-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 30

July 1-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Dec. 30

1870

Jan. 2-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 30

July 1-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Dec. 31

1871

Jan. 2-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 30

July 1-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Dec. 30

1872

Jan. 1-Mar. 30

Apr. 1-June 29

July 1-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Dec. 31

1873

Jan. 1-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 30

July 1-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Dec. 31

1874

Jan. 1-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 29

July 2-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Dec. 31

1875

Jan. 2-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 30

July 1-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Dec. 31

1876

Jan. 3-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 29

July 1-Sept. 29

Oct. 1-Dec. 30

1877

Jan. 1-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 30

July 2-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Dec. 31

1878

Jan. 1-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 29

July 1-Sept. 31

Oct. 4-Dec. 31

1879

Jan. 1-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 30

July 1-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Dec. 31

1880

Jan. 1-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 30

July 1-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Dec. 31

1881

Jan. 1-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 29

July 1-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Dec. 30

1882

Jan. 1-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 30

July 1-Sept. 29

Oct. 1-Dec. 31

1883

Jan. 1-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 30

July 2-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Dec. 31

1884

Jan. 2-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 30

July 1-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Dec. 31

1885

Jan. 1-Mar. 31

Apr. 2-June 29

July 1-Sept. 30

Oct. 2-Dec. 31

1886

Jan. 1-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 30

July 1-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Dec. 31

1887

Jan. 1-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 30

July 1-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Dec. 31

1888

Jan. 1-Mar. 31

Apr. 1-June 30

July 1-Sept. 30

Oct. 1-Dec. 31

1889

Jan.-Mar. (13 folders)

Apr.-June (11 folders)

July-Sept. (10 folders)

Oct.-Dec. (12 folders)

1890

Jan.-Mar. (15 folders)

Apr.-June

Index and nos. 1-25 (6 folders)

Nos. 126-374 (10 folders)

July-Sept.

Index and nos. 1-200 (9 folders)

Nos. 201-277 (3 folders)

Oct.-Dec.

Index and nos. 1-400 (17 folders)

Nos. 401-437 (2 folders)

1891

Jan.-Mar. (19 folders)

Apr. -June (18 folders)

July (6 folders)

Aug.-Sept. (14 folders)

Oct. (7 folders)

Nov.-Dec. (16 folders)

1892

Special letters

Index and nos. 1-150 (7 folders)

Nos. 151-284 (5 folders)

Mar.-June (14 folders)

June-Dec. (16 folders)

1893, Jan.-1894, Jan.

Index and nos. 1-200

Nos. 201-382 (7 folders)

1892, Nov.-1894, July (15 folders)

1894, July-Dec. (14 folders)

1894, Dec.-1895, June

Index and nos. 1-150 (7 folders)

Nos. 151-387 (9 folders)

Index and nos. 1-300 (13 folders)

Nos. 301-500 (4 folders)

1894-1896, Feb.

Index and nos. 1-450 (19 folders)

Nos. 451- 610 (7 folders)

1896, Feb.-1897, Apr.

Index and nos. 1-400 (17 folders)

Nos. 401-662 (11 folders)

1897, Apr.-1899, Mar. and 1893-1897

Index and nos. 1-200 (9 folders)

Nos. 201-381 (7 folders)

1899, Mar.-1903, May (17 folders)

1899, Mar.-1903, May (17 folders)

1902, May-1906, June

Index and nos. 1-150 (7 folders)

Nos. 151-384 (9 folders)

1904, Mar.-1906, June

Index and nos. 1-250 (11 folders)

Nos. 251-364 (4 folders)

1906, July-1908, July (16 folders)

1908, July-1912, Mar. (16 folders)

Miscellaneous letters, 1911-1912 (2 folders)

Register of incoming letters (1816-1823)

Index to letters received (1839-1855)

Incoming letter register (1863)

B: Letters from Liberia, 1833-1917

Letters received by the society from colonists and society and colony officials in Liberia.

Letters from Liberia before 1833 are interfiled in Series I-A. Arranged chronologically.

1833, Feb. 1-1836, Dec. 18

1839, Nov. 12-1842, June 20

1847, July 24-1848, Dec. 11

1848, Jan. 3-1850, May 16

1850, July 9-1851, Nov. 6

1851, Nov. 29-1853, Jan. 13

1853, Jan. 20-Oct. 3

1853, Jan. 29-1854, Aug. 15

1854, Aug. 16-1856, May 14

1856, May 10-1857, Apr. 2

1857, Apr. 23-Dec. 21

1858

Jan. 11-July 16

July 17-Nov. 16

1858, Nov. 20-1859, Feb. 29

1859, Mar. 1-Nov. 16

1859, Dec. 2-1860, July 2

1860, July-Oct. 22

1860, Oct. 22-1861, Dec. 11

1861, Nov. 26-1863, Dec. 16

1864, Jan. 7-1866, Dec. 15

1867, Jan. 10-1868, Jan. 18

1868, Jan. 21-Dec. 29

1869, Jan. 4-1870, Dec. 27

1870, Dec. 31-1871, Dec. 29

1872, Jan. 10-1873, Apr. 28

1873, Apr. 29-Dec. 25

1874, Jan. 8-1875, Nov. 7

1876, Feb. 11-1877, Aug. 29

1877, Sept. 3-1878-Dec. 23

1879, Jan. 1-Oct. 3

1879, Oct. 6-1880, Dec. 29

1881, Jan. 18-Sept. 13

1881, Sept. 30-1882, Dec. 28

1883, Jan. 15-1884, May 23

1884, May 24-Dec. 30

1885

Jan. 1-July 7

July 8-Dec. 26

1886

Jan. 1-July 7

July 19-Dec. 30

1874, Sept. 20-1878, Sept. 8

1887

Jan. 8-June 27

June 28-Dec. 27

1888

Jan. 5-May 14

May 16-Dec. 24

1889, Jan. 4-Dec. 27

1893, Apr. 24-1897, June 7

1897, July 12-1899, Sept. 19

1899, Sept. 25-1903, Mar. 23

1903, Feb. 2-1917, June 8

Miscellaneous, 1840-1848

Dispatches of Thomas Buchanan, 1839-1841

Dispatches from Joseph Jenkins Roberts, 1840-1848

Letters from J. N. Lewis and J. W. Lugenbeel, 1841, 1848

C: Herndon Slaves, 1854

Letters received by the society in response to a special circular appealing for funds to send the slaves liberated by T. D. Herndon of Virginia to Liberia.

Arranged chronologically.

Aug. 4-21

Aug. 21-Dec. 2

D: William McLain Private Letters, 1831-1850

Letters received by McLain from friends and members of his family generally concerning personal matters.

Arranged chronologically.

1831, Oct. 27-1836, Sept. 6

1836, Sept. 13-1837, Dec. 23

1838, Jan. 9-1839, Nov. 6

1839, Nov. 30-1840, Dec. 28

1841, Jan. 28-1843, Jan. 16

1843, Jan. 24-1844, Dec. 23

1848, Jan. 16-1849, Sept. 6

1849, Sept. 13-1850, Dec. 28

E: Miscellaneous, 1819-1912

Letters received. Much of the early material consists of letters from Jehudi Ashmun in Liberia concerning the conditions and problems in the colony in the 1820s.

Arranged chronologically.

1819-1839, letters received, domestic

1823, letters from Liberia

1829

1840-1843 (2 folders)

1845-1855 (4 folders)

Agreement between the American Colonization Society and the Republic of Liberia, 1849, Mar. 23-1856, Dec. 13

1856-1859

1860, “Liberated Slaves”

1860-1864 (10 folders)

1864-1889 (16 folders)

1890

Jan.-Aug. (3 folders)

Nov.-Dec.

Sept.-Oct.

1891

Jan.-Feb. (2 folders)

Apr.

Mar.

May-Dec. (8 folders)

1892

Jan.-Feb. (4 folders)

Mar -Dec. (4 folders)

1893, Jan.-Dec.

1894, Jan.-July

Report on missionaries, 1894

1894, Sept.-Oct.

1895-1897 (3 folders)

1899

1898

1909 (2 folders)

1910 (2 folders)

1911 (3 folders)

1912

Undated

1900-1908 (3 folders)

II: Outgoing Correspondence, 1839-1912

Domestic Letters, 1839-1912

Letters sent by society's administrative officers, chiefly the current secretary, concerning general matters.

Arranged chronologically.

Wilkeson, Samuel, and others

1839, May 7-1840, Sept. 25

1840, Sept.25-1841, Aug. 13

McLain, William, and others

1841, Aug. 13-1843, July 24

1843, July 25-1845, Mar. 10

1845, Mar. 10-1846, Nov. 24

1846, Nov. 25-1848, Aug. 12

1848, Aug. 14-1849, Nov. 16

1849, Nov. 16-1851, Mar. 3

1851, Mar. 5-1852, Mar. 26

1852, Mar. 26-Nov. 2

1852, Nov. 2-1853, Sept. 17

1853, Sept. 19-1854, July 19

1854, July 22-1855, May 29

1855, May 29-1856, Oct. 29

1856, Oct. 30-1858, July 10

1858, July 13-1860, Dec. 17

1860, Dec. 18-1862, Aug. 26

1862, Aug. 27-1865, May 10

1865, June 10-1867, Nov. 15

1867, Nov. 15-1870, Oct. 22

1870, Oct. 22-1873, Jan. 31

Coppinger, William, and others

1864, Jan.-1865, Oct. 14

1865, Oct. 16-1868, Feb. 18

1868, Feb. 18-1870, Apr. 14

1870, Apr. 15-1872, May 31

1872, June 5-1874, June 9

1874, June 10-1877, June 28

1877, June 30-1879, Sept. 29

1879, Oct. 1-1881, June 28

1881, June 29-1883, June 21

1883, June 22-1885, Mar. 7

1885, Mar. 9-1886, Dec. 11

1886, Dec. 13-1888, Oct. 19

1888, Oct. 22-1890, Sept. 26

1890, Sept. 27-1892, Feb. 22

Wilson, Ormand J., and others

1892, Feb. 22-1893, June 29

1893, June 26-1895, Aug. 13

1895, Aug. 13-1898, Dec. 22

1898, Dec. 23-1904, Nov. 29

1904, Nov. 30-1912, Apr. 27

Ralph R. Gurley Letterbooks, 1856-1866

Letters written by Gurley when he was corresponding secretary of the society.

Arranged chronologically.

1856, Jan. 1-Sept.

1856, Sept. 2-1857, Sept. 23

1857, Sept. 25-1859, Mar. 31

1859, Apr. 1-1861, Jan. 23

1861, Jan. 24-1866, Sept. 7

Joseph Tracey Letterbooks, 1856-1873

Letters of the secretary of the Massachusetts Colonization Society concerning matters involving that organization, particularly its relations with the parent society.

Arranged chronologically.

1856, June 20-1859, May 24

1859, June 1-1867, May 7

1867, May 9-1873, Aug. 20

Letters from Liberia, 1843-1874

Letters received from Liberia.

Arranged chronologically.

1843, July 13-1852, Oct. 1

1850, Dec. 13-1856, June 19

1856, July 31-1862, Mar. 7

1862, Mar. 7-1873, Jan. 30

Sailings to Liberia and related matter, 1848-1853

From J. W. Lugenbeel, 1852-1857

From Ralph R. Gurley, 1858-1864

From legation of Liberia, 1865-1874

III: General Correspondence, 1909-1965

Incoming and outgoing correspondence relating chiefly to administrative matters when the activity of the society was limited and membership dwindled.

Arranged chronologically.

1909-1918

1910-1939

A-F

G-S

T-Z

1935-1941

1942-1948

1949-1954

1954-1956

1957-1960

1960-1963

Financial, 1960-1965

IV: Financial Papers, 1818-1963

Receipts, account books, ledgers, statements, and miscellaneous papers of a purely financial nature. A small amount of correspondence concerning financial matters is included.

Arranged by type of material and therein chronologically.

Accounts and receipts

1832-1859

1850-1859

1854-1858

1859-1860

1860-1864

1850s-1865

1860-1909

1861-1868

1869-1879

1871-1874

1874-1878

1878-1884

1885-1888

1889-1899

1895-1909

1905-1909

1910-1929, undated

Bills of lading, 1845-1865

Bills and receipts

Financial reports

1912, 1942-1948

1949-1963

Insurance policies

Leases

Leases

Miscellaneous

Notes and statements from James L. Norris, treasurer

1898-1901

1902-1907

Treasurer's vouchers and auditors' reports

1912-1917

1918-1938

Miscellaneous account books and books listing donations

American Security & Trust Co., correspondence and statements, 1912-1939

Finance letters, 1839-1840

Account books

1827, Mar. 10-1830, Jan. 1

1830, Jan. 2-1831, Dec. 31

1832, Jan. 3-1834, Apr. 24

1832, Jan. 2-1840, Dec. 21

Accounts

1885, Oct. 7-1892, June 28

1957-1963

Ledger accounts

1830, Jan. 2-1831, Dec. 31

1833-1839

Ledger, 1818-1829

Ledger B, 1834-1837

Index to ledger B

Ledger C, 1836-1842

Ledger D, 1842-1845

Ledger E, 1846-1854

Ledger F, 1855-1859

Ledger G, 1859-1876

Index to ledger G

Ledgers

1898-1930

1931-1963

Accounts ledger, 1907

Ledger, auxiliary society, 1820-1830

Journals

1827, Aug. 20-1830, Apr. 1

1831-1832

1834, Jan. 22-1840, Jan. 20

1842, Jan.-1845, Dec.

1846, Jan.-1854, Dec. 30

1850, July 1-1854, Dec. 30

1855, Jan.-1859, Dec.

1859, Dec. -1865, Dec.

1866, Jan.-1875, Dec.

1876, Jan. 1-1877, Dec. 31

1876, Jan.-1904, Feb.

1907

Massachusetts Auxiliary

1845-1849

1849-1929, Sept.-1854, Apr.

1854, May 1-1867, Apr. 30

1820-1842

1898-1958

Cashbook, 1849, Jan. 9-1853, May 6

Treasurer's accounts

1847-1872

1853, May 6-1857, Nov. 19

1857, Nov. 26-1866, Dec. 31

1867, Jan. 7-1876, Jan. 21

Cash accounts, 1895, Jan. 1-1911, Jan. 13

Cashbook, 1907-1963

Liberia accounts

1841-1842

1841-1842

1841-1845

1841-1848

1842

Monrovia, Liberia, journal accounts, 1839, Mar, 20-1847, Dec. 30

Check stubs, 1863-1865, William McLain

Memoranda of legacies, 1851-1876

Accounts of rents, 1891-1904

Rents, 1904-1906

Receipt book, 1845, Jan. 4-1861, May

Receipts, 1851-1853

Invoice book, 1860-1861

Register of letters, 1832

Bills payable, 1842

Accounts payable, 1899

Accounts receivable

1893-1909

1893-1901

Stock book, 1851-1862

Stock inventory, 1841, Jan. 1-1851, Sept.

Liberia inventory, 1851

Store inventory, 1828

Daybook, 1828, Mar. 26-Nov. 1

Account book, National Bank of Washington

1869, Oct. 2-1890, June 30

1890, July-1892, Mar. 22

Record of accounts, Graham legacy fund, 1871, Dec. 12-1876, Sept. 30

James Saul fund, 1883-1888

Register of payments, 1820-1832

List of contributions, 1820-1832

Contributions, 1832-1834

Expenditures, 1832-1834

Record of contributions, 1832

Medicines sent to Liberia

V: Business Papers, 1816-1963

Annual reports, proceedings and minutes of the annual meetings of the board of directors and the executive committee, membership and donation records, and papers concerning the African Repository.

Arranged by type of material and therein chronologically.

Annual reports and special reports, 1818, 1840, 1843-1855

Annual reports

1856-1866

1867-1876

1877-1884

1885-1888

1889-1892

Proceedings, 1816, Dec. 21-1825, Feb. 19; constitution

Board of managers

Proceedings, 1817, Mar. 4-1828, Oct. 15

Minutes

1828, Oct. 17-1833, Dec. 18

1834, Jan. 6-1842, Jan. 20

Proceedings, 1842, Jan. 20-1869, Jan. 20

Minutes

1869, Jan. 19-1912, Feb. 8

1913-1923

1923-1952

1953, Jan. 20-1963, Feb. 16

Docket for executive committee meetings

1859, June 4-1868, Sept. 18

1868, Oct. 2-1879, Mar. 7

1879, Apr. 4-1893, Apr. 6

Board of directors, executive committee journal

1838, Dec. 13-1845, Mar. 14

1845, Apr.-1854, Dec.

1855, Jan. 12-1868, Dec. 4

1869, Jan. 15-1886, Nov. 4

1886, Dec. 26-1912, Feb. 26

Annual meeting minutes

1864-1871

1872-1878

1879-1885

1885-1891

Executive committee minutes, 1895, Nov. 12

Board of directors minutes, extracts, 1838-1863

Bylaws of the board of managers adopted, 1827, Jan. 25

Board of directors and executive committee miscellany

African Repository subscription book

Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan, 1846-1858

Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, 1845-1857

Pennsylvania, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, and foreign, 1845-1856

Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, 1845-1856

Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, 1845-1855

1845-1856, bills sent, 1869

Accounts, 1840-1848

Subscription book

Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan

North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Alabama

Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and California

Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont

New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania

African Repository subscription lists

Newspaper subscription list

New England subscribers, 1845-1876

Subscription book, 1846-1854, A-M

List of subscribers

List of subscribers

Subscription book, 1846-1855

List of subscribers

List of subscribers, 1854-1858

List of subscribers

List of subscribers

1849-1875

1846-1856

1846-1855

African Repository, vol. 13, index

Subscription lists

Membership list, circa 1881-1891

Original subscription list, 1817

List of life members

VI: Subject File, 1792-1964

Correspondence, manuscripts, reports, legal papers, and other material.

Arranged alphabetically by subject.

Acquisition of land in Africa, 1821

Acquisition of St. Paul's territory, journal, treaty, accounts, and miscellany, 1825-1826 (printed copies and an 1831 draft)

Advisory committee on education in Liberia and Booker Washington Agricultural and Industrial Institute, Kakata, Liberia

1929-1934

1935-1939

1940

African Repository miscellany

Agents of the society

Agreements concerning recaptured Africans

Agreements regarding U.S. Government stores in Liberia, 1844

American Colonization Society v. Kelly, 1931-1932

Analostan Island and Georgetown property, Washington, D.C.,1901-1936

Auxiliary societies

Bacon, Samuel, extracts from journal

Benjamin Coates Primary School, 1892-1893

Benjamin Coates fund

Bills of lading, 1845-1865

Booker Washington Agricultural and Industrial Institute, Kakata, Liberia

1928-1933

1933-1940, minutes of trustee meetings

1939-1952

Port de Bordeaux, commerce avec le Sénégal, 1892

Right Reverend Robert E. Campbell, 1926-1933

Charter parties, 1843-1865

Colonization building, 450 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, D.C., 1911-1930, May

Congressional bills regarding trade and commerce, 1890-1894

Constitution of the American Colonization Society, draft

Contracts with U.S. government

Crozer, Samuel A., biographical material

Currency

Dailey v. American Colonization Society

Deeds

Charles Irving to John Coles, 1792

Lands in Africa, 1822-1834

Purchase agreements, 1840-1845

1846-1848

1859-1872

Documents regarding dispute between Governor Thomas Buchanan and Methodist missionaries, 1840-1841

Donovan, Caroline

Trust fund

1910-1919

1920-1924

Court papers

Education in Liberia and Booker Washington Agricultural and Industrial Institute, Kakata, Liberia

1942-1945

1950

Emigration

List of applicants for passage to Liberia, 1850-1893

1912-1921, undated

1914-1934

Gibson, Nugent H., former agent in Liberia, 1910-1928

Golconda (ship)

General

Partial loss, 1868-1871

Graham trust fund, 1910-1925

Graham School No. 1, reports, 1896-1911

Graham School No. 2, reports, 1897-1904

Graham School No. 3, reports, 1898-1911

Graham School No. 4, reports, 1899-1900

Hall School, 1891-1909

History

Hurd, Samuel, estate, 1843-1872

Indentures

Industrial Home School, report, 1902

Inventory of office furnishings, circa 1910

Johnson, Henry L. E., 1912-1915

Johnson, William G., 1919-1929

Jones, James David, biographical material

“The Junk Establishment”

Kosciuszko, Thaddeus, wills and estate, 1798-1827

Land holdings in Liberia, 1915

Lane Seminary Trustees v. American Colonization Society, 1929-1932

League of Nations, 1933

Legal papers, miscellaneous

Liberia College, Monrovia, Liberia, 1918-1936

Liberia

Government of

Agreement between Republic of Liberia and American Colonization Society, 1848

“Sketch of the History of Liberia”

Neutrality of Liberia, 1914

Resolutions for closer relations with England

Treaty with native kings, 1840, Apr. 6

Visit of Henry L. West in 1932

Liberian loan, 1920-1921

Life membership certificates

Plate

Samples

Lusk, Robert, estate, 1853-1857

Lyon, Ernest, consul general of Liberia in the United States, 1913-1921

McLain, William, nomination and appointment as minister of Liberia to the United States, 1850

Manuscripts

Manuscripts, articles, and reports, circa 1940-1948

Manuscript articles on Africa by Hugh Thomas Douglas, 1889 (3 folders)

Manuscript regarding early colonization efforts of the American Colonization Society

Manuscript “England and Liberia”

Manuscript “Steam Communication between the United States and the West Coast of Africa,” by E. E. Smith

Manuscript regarding Liberia by Henry L. West

Maps

Map of Liberia, 1845

Maps of Liberia, 1857, 1862

Map of Liberia by Hugh Thomas Douglas, 1889

Maryland in Liberia, resolutions on the death of James Hall and John H. B. Latrobe

Membership

Milton, Thomas Hector, 1937

Miscellaneous lists of names, unidentified

Miscellany

New York State Colonization Society

Overs, Reverend Walter H., 1922-1926

Oxley, Howard W., 1931

Pennsylvania Colonization Society, resolutions on the death of Elliot Cresson, 1854

Peters, John R., legacy, 1914-1919

Petitions to Congress

Plans and specifications for cottages in Liberia

“Plan of the town of Messurado, Western Africa,” 1823, Apr.

“Platt of lands Located in the Settlement of Johnsonville. . . . .”

Sibley, James L., 1925-1929

Sippel, Franz, 1924-1927

Smith, E. E., agent of the society, report of Oct. 1892

Smith, Oliver, estate, 1859-1861

State Department, 1922-1925, 1932-1936

Stevens, John, Maryland State Colonization Society v. American Colonization Society, 1868

Stevens v. American Colonization Society, 1923-1924

Treaties

Trust funds

Histories of

Miscellaneous

Virginia, an act making appropriations for the removal of free persons of color, 1850

Walker, Walter F., agent in Liberia, 1914-1921

“A West African Journey,” by Claude A. and Etta Moten Barnett, 1947

West, Henry L., 1929-1939

Wills

A-P

Myers, Margaret J.

R-Z

Wills and estates, printed matter regarding H. F. Worley, 1920-1922

Register of emigrants, 1835, Mar. 4-1857, July 3

Emigration register, 1820-1832

Applicants for emigration, 1826-1856

Applicants for passage to Liberia, 1856-1889

Laws and land records of Liberia

Travel pictures of Liberia by J. Buttikofer, 1890

“The One Thousand Agents,” circa 1856

“An Essay on the Late Institution of ’The American Society for Colonizing Free People of Colour of the United States'”

VII: Miscellany, 1835-1935

Unidentified indexes and memorandum books, printed matter, and newspaper clippings.

Arranged by type of material and therein chronologically.

Unidentified indexes

Miscellaneous memorandum books

Map, survey for Booker Washington Institute, Kakata, Liberia, 1935

Printed matter

Printed matter

Newspaper clippings

Printed matter, including issues of African Repository, 1835-1892, and Liberia Bulletin, 1905-1909

Clippings

Newspaper clippings

1892-1893

1893-1894

1894-1895

1895-1896

1896-1898

1898-1899

1899-1901

1901-1903

1903-1905

1905-1909

1909-1910

1913-1916