Collection Summary
William Lindsay Scruggs
Papers
1828-1955
(bulk 1893-1898)
1828-1955
(bulk 1893-1898)
MSS39347
Scruggs, William Lindsay,
1836-1912
4 microfilm
reels
English
Spanish
Collection material in
English and
Spanish
Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress
Washington, D.C.
Editor and diplomat.
Microfilm of correspondence, memoranda, diaries, articles and other writings,
notes, speeches, financial papers, annotated scrapbooks, and other papers
pertaining primarily to Scruggs's service as United States minister to Colombia
and Venezuela, and United States consul in China.
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
Andrade, José, 1838-1902--Correspondence.
Foster, John Watson, 1836-1917--Correspondence.
Loomis, Francis B. (Francis Butler), 1861-1948--Correspondence.
Rojas Paúl, Juan Pablo, 1826-1905--Correspondence.
Scruggs, William Lindsay, 1836-1912.
Places
China--Foreign relations--United States.
Colombia--Foreign relations--United States.
Guyana--Boundaries--Venezuela.
United States--Foreign relations--China.
United States--Foreign relations--Colombia.
United States--Foreign relations--Venezuela.
Venezuela--Boundaries--Guyana.
Venezuela--Foreign relations--United States.
Occupations
Diplomats.
Editors.
Provenance
The papers of William Lindsay Scruggs, editor and diplomat, were
microfilmed by the Library of Congress with the permission of the private
owners of the material. Part I was reproduced by permission of Mrs. C. A.
Horne, Margaret Scruggs McMillan, and Mrs. Sam P. McKenzie, of Atlanta, Ga.;
Part II by permission of Mrs. Walter M. Robinson, Jr., of Nashville, Tenn.; and
Part III consists of material in the possession of William H. Oldknow, Los
Angeles, Calif.
Processing History
The first segment of the Scruggs Papers was filmed in 1966, the second
in 1974, and the third in 1998. The finding aid was revised in 2011.
Copyright Status
Copyright in the unpublished writings of William Lindsay Scruggs in
these papers and in other collections in the custody of the Library of Congress
is reserved. Consult a reference librarian in the Manuscript Division for
further information.
Access and Restrictions
The microfilm of the papers of William Lindsay Scruggs 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
The microfilm of these papers is available on four 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: Reel number, William Lindsay Scruggs Papers, Manuscript
Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1836, Sept. 14
Born near Knoxville, Tenn.
1858
Principal, Hamilton Male Academy, Harrison, Tenn., following
graduation from Strawberry Plains College in East Tennessee
Married Judith Ann Potts (died 1897)
1861
Moved to Georgia and was admitted to the bar
1862
1865
Edited Columbus
Daily Sun
1870
1872
Edited Atlanta
New Era
1873
1876
U.S. minister to Columbia
1878
1882
U.S. consul at Chin-Kiang, and then at Canton, China
1882
1885
U.S. minister to Columbia
1889
1892
U.S. minister to Venezuela
1894
Appointed legal adviser and special agent of Venezuelan
government, particularly with respect to the boundary dispute with Great
Britain
1898
Published
Brief concerning the Question of Boundary between Venezuela
and British Guiana
1912, July 18
Died, Atlanta, Ga.
Scope and Content Note
The microfilm of the papers of William Lindsay Scruggs (1836-1912)
spans the years 1828-1955, with the bulk of the material from the period
1893-1898. Filmed in three parts from papers in private hands, the collection
contains correspondence, memoranda, diaries, articles and other writings,
notes, speeches, financial papers, scrapbooks, and miscellaneous papers
pertaining primarily to Scruggs's service as United States minister to Colombia
and Venezuela and United States consul in China. It includes material
concerning Scruggs's work as special agent and general counsel to the
Venezuelan government, particularly in relation to the disputed boundary
between Venezuela and Guyana (British Guiana). Correspondents include Jose ́
Andrade, John Watson Foster, Francis B. Loomis, and Juan Pablo Rojas Paùl.
Collection material is in English and Spanish. The special correspondence in
Part I was filmed as received, reflecting the arrangement imposted by
Scruggs.
The scrapbooks in Part II are heavily annotated and consist of
correspondence as well as newspaper clippings, brochures, and pamphlets.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged as filmed.
Catalog Record: [https://lccn.loc.gov/mm79039347]
Container List
Part I available on microfilm. Shelf no. 13,464, Part II available
on microfilm. Shelf no. 16,096 and Part III available on microfilm. Shelf no.
21,497.
Container
Contents
1
Part I (Available on microfilm.
Shelf no. 13,464)
1
Special correspondence,
1888-1889
1888-1889
1
Andrade, to Scruggs,
1895, June 28-Sept. 26
1895, June 28-Sept. 26
1
Principally letters between
Rojas Paùl and Scruggs
1
Rojas and Scruggs,
1896, Jan. 27-Mar. 31 (“The Yuruan Incident”)
1896, Jan. 27-Mar. 31 (“The Yuruan Incident”)
1
Andrade, to Scruggs, 1896, Oct.
8-Dec. 23, Venezuelan Legation, Washington, D.C.
1
Scruggs to Rojas Paùl,
drafts, 1896,
Nov. 13-1897, Mar. 3
Nov. 13-1897, Mar. 3
1
Andrade, Loomis, Mathieu, and
Rojas Paùl to Scruggs,
1897, May 29-1898, Mar. 31
1897, May 29-1898, Mar. 31
1
John Watson Foster to Scruggs,
1893, Jan. 26, resignation
1
“Folio II,” correspondence
with Venezuelan government regarding Boundary Commission,
1896, May 19-Aug. 9
1896, May 19-Aug. 9
1
1896, Aug. 10-Oct. 20,
Venezuelan brief
1
1895-1899, various
1895-1899, various
1
General correspondence,
1828-1955
1828-1955
1
1828-1876
1828-1876
1
1877-1887
1877-1887
1
1890-1891
1890-1891
1
1892
1892
1
Jan.-June
Jan.-June
1
July-Sept.
July-Sept.
1
1893
1893
1
1894-1898
1894-1898
1
1900-1907
1900-1907
1
1908-1955
1908-1955
2
Miscellaneous
2
Memoranda
2
“Basis of Agreement for
Arbitration of the Guayana Boundary Dispute”
(11 parts listed on
folder)
2
“The Cuyuni
Incident”
2
“Memorandum on the
Boundary Question between Venezuela and British Guiana,” communicated to
Gresham [Seixas claim]
2
“The Seixas Case and My
Unofficial Connection with It,”
1909, Apr.
1909, Apr.
2
“Synopsis of Previous
Correspondence in the Seixas Claim”
2
Various
2
Agreement, rough draft of
agreement of arbitration, United States and Columbia,
1874
1874
2
List, partial list of maps
(1745-1895) submitted to Venezuela Boundary Commission
2
Seixas claim, exhibits “A”
and “B”
2
Speeches, articles, and other
writings
2
“Ethics of the Legal
Profession”
2
“Evolution of the
Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments”
2
“The Monroe Doctrine and
Its Future”
2
“Our Diplomatic and
Consular Service”
2
“The Venezuela
Question”
2
Fragments
2
Appointments
2
Financial papers (filmed in
part)
2
Printed matter (not filmed)
2
Envelopes and scraps (not
filmed)
1
Part II (Available on microfilm.
Shelf no. 16,096)
1
Scrapbooks
1
1867-1871
1867-1871
1
1871-1889
1871-1889
1
1894-1895
1894-1895
1
1895-1896
1895-1896
1
1896-1900
1896-1900
1
1889-1903
1889-1903
1
1903-1907, 1912
1903-1907, 1912
1
Part III (Available on microfilm.
Shelf no. 21,497)
1
Diary, minister to Colombia,
10
June-7 Sept. 1873
10
June-7 Sept. 1873
1
Diary/narrative, consul to
Chin-Kiang and Canton, China,
1888
1888
1
Note on constitutional history,
undated
undated