Collection Summary
Duff Green Papers
1716-1883
(bulk 1827-1845)
1716-1883
(bulk 1827-1845)
Green, Duff,
1791-1875
725 items
3 containers plus 1 oversize
1.6 linear feet
3 microfilm reels
English
Collection material in
English
Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress
Washington, D.C.
Journalist, politician,
entrepreneur, and industrial promoter. Correspondence, writings, maps, and
printed matter reflecting Green’s political service and views on Southern
culture.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Buchanan, James, 1791-1868--Correspondence.
Cabell, John J., 1772-1834--Correspondence.
Calhoun, John C. (John Caldwell), 1782-1850--Correspondence.
Cass, Lewis, 1782-1866--Correspondence.
Cobden, Richard, 1804-1865--Correspondence.
Crallé, Richard K. (Richard Kenner), 1800-1864--Correspondence.
Dallas, George Mifflin, 1792-1864--Correspondence.
Eaton, John Henry, 1790-1856--Correspondence.
Ellis, Henry, 1777-1869--Correspondence.
Everett, Edward, 1794-1865--Correspondence.
Green, Duff, 1791-1875.
Green, Lucretia Maria, 1792-1863--Correspondence.
Harrison, William Henry, 1773-1841--Correspondence.
Hill, Isaac, 1789-1851--Correspondence.
Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845--Correspondence.
Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845.
Kendall, Amos, 1789-1869--Correspondence.
MacGregor, John, 1825-1892--Correspondence.
Madison, James, 1751-1836--Correspondence.
Peel, Robert, 1788-1850--Correspondence.
Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850--Correspondence.
Tyler, John, 1790-1862.
Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862--Correspondence.
Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852--Correspondence.
Subjects
Elections--United States.
Free trade.
Freedom of the press.
International trade.
Oregon question.
Presidents--United States.
Slavery--Texas.
Slavery.
States' rights (American politics)
Tariff--United States.
Places
France--Foreign relations--United States.
Great Britain--Commerce--United States.
Great Britain--Foreign relations--United States.
Northwest boundary of the United States.
Southern States--Politics and government.
United States--Commerce--Great Britain.
United States--Commerce--History--19th century.
United States--Foreign relations--France.
United States--Foreign relations--Great Britain.
United States--Politics and government--19th century.
Occupations
Entrepreneurs.
Journalists.
Politicians.
Promoters.
Provenance
The papers of Duff Green, journalist, politician, entrepreneur, and
industrial promoter, were given to the Library of Congress by various
descendants of Green and by St. George L. Sioussat, 1904-1961.
Processing History
The papers of Duff Green were arranged and described in 1974. The
collection was microfilmed in 1975 and the finding aid revised in 2000.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Duff Green is
governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The papers of Duff Green are open to research. Researchers are advised
to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are
stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for
research use.
Microfilm
A microfilm edition of these papers is available on three reels.
Consult a reference librarian in the Manuscript Division concerning
availability for purchase or interlibrary loan.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the
following information: Container or reel number, Duff Green Papers, Manuscript
Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1791, Aug. 15
Born, Woodford County, Ky.
1813
Married Lucretia Edwards
1823
Member, Missouri legislature
Owner,
St. Louis Enquirer
, supporting Andrew Jackson in
presidential election of 1824
1825
1836
Owner-editor,
United States Telegraph
, Washington, D.C.
1827
1832
Printer to Congress
1828
1830
Member, “Kitchen Cabinet” of President Andrew
Jackson
1836
Organized Union Potomac Co., Va.
Founded the
Reformer
, Washington, D.C.
1839
Organized Union Co., Md.
1840
Founded the
Pilot
, Baltimore, Md.
Established American Land Co., Md.
1840
1844
Unofficial representative of the United States to England and
France
1844
Established the
Republic
, New York
Appointed consul, Galveston, Tex.
1857
Published the
American Statesman
, Washington, D.C.
1861
Organized Duff Green and Son, Ironworks, Jonesboro, Tenn., and
Planters Insurance Trust and Loan Co., Ga.
1861
1865
Operated iron manufacturing plants for Confederacy during the
Civil War and acted as adviser on fiscal and foreign policy to Confederate
leaders
1865
1875
Organized several railroads, including the Sabine & Rio
Grande and the Selma, Rome & Dalton
1867
Organized the Maryland Industrial Agency and the Mississippi
American Industrial Agency 1875, June 10 Died, Dalton, Ga.
1875, June 10
Died, Dalton, Ga.
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Duff Green (1716-1883) span the years 1716-1883, with
the bulk of the material in the period 1827-1845. The papers consist largely of
correspondence, financial and legal records, speeches and writings, maps,
printed matter, and several oversize items.
The correspondence documents Green’s interest in the defense of the
political rights of the South in the Union, the retention of a free press, the
promotion of industrial enterprise, and the political and economic realities of
international trade. Many of Green’s social and political ideas are contained
in letters to John J. Cabell, editor of the
Jeffersonian
, Lynchburg, Virginia, and to Richard K.
Crallé focusing largely on issues such as states rights, tariff laws, and
slavery, and on Green’s support of various presidential candidates. Letters
to George M. Dallas, John H. Eaton, William Henry Harrison, and Zachary Taylor
reveal Green’s influence in shaping public opinion during the course of
several presidential elections.
Correspondence during his tenure as unofficial representative of
President John Tyler in England and France from 1840-1844, reflects Green’s
free trade ideas and his desire to obtain commercial treaties between the
United States and England and demonstrates his concern over his many business
ventures at home. Letters for the period 1842-1859 also cover such topics as
the abolition of slavery in Texas, the Oregon question, and what Green saw as
the conflict between states rights and the power of the federal government.
Among the correspondents for this period are James Buchanan, Lewis Cass,
Richard Cobden, Sir Henry Ellis, Edward Everett, John Macgregor, Sir Robert
Peel, and Daniel Webster. Typed copies of letters from Duff Green to his wife,
Lucretia, are also included for the period August-November 1859.
Important supplements to the correspondence are two letterbooks in the
miscellany file. The first contains copies of outgoing letters for the period
August 1827-April 1830, during part of which time Green was a member of Andrew
Jackson’s "Kitchen Cabinet." An alphabetical index lists correspondents
addressed in this volume, the more prominent being John C. Calhoun, Isaac Hill,
Andrew Jackson, Amos Kendall, James Madison, and Martin Van Buren. The second
letterbook contains copies of letters exchanged by Green and Edward Everett
from May to December 1843 concerning Green’s status as unofficial
representative in England.
Arrangement of the Papers
Arranged alphabetically by type or topic of material; correspondence
is arranged chronologically within.
Catalog Record: [https://lccn.loc.gov/mm75023978]
Container List
Available on microfilm. Shelf no.16,257
Container
Reel
Contents
1
1
Correspondence
1
1
1716, Dec.-1842, July
1716, Dec.-1842, July
(6
folders)
2
2
1842, Aug.-1857, Sept.
1842, Aug.-1857, Sept.
(6
folders)
3
3
1858, Nov.-1879, June, undated
1858, Nov.-1879, June, undated
(3
folders)
3
3
Miscellany
3
3
Financial and legal papers,
1813-1863
1813-1863
3
3
Last will and testament,
1865
1865
3
3
Letterbooks,
1827, Aug.-1830, Apr.; 1843, May-Dec.
1827, Aug.-1830, Apr.; 1843, May-Dec.
(2
folders)
3
3
Lists of subscribers to the
Southern Review
,
undated
undated
3
3
Maps,
undated
undated
3
3
Photograph of Duff and Lucretia
Green,
undated
undated
3
3
Printed matter,
1834-1883, undated
1834-1883, undated
3
3
Speeches and writings,
1857-1869, undated
1857-1869, undated
3
3
“The United States and
England,”
Great Western Magazine
,
1842
1842
4 (OV 1)
3
Oversize
4 (OV 1)
3
Certificate of appointment as
consul for Galveston, Tex., and consul circulars,
1838-1840
1838-1840
4 (OV 1)
3
Passports,
1841-1844
1841-1844
4 (OV 1)
3
Grant of amnesty,
1865
1865