Collection Summary
Edmund Roberts Papers
1803-1905
(bulk 1832-1836)
1803-1905
(bulk 1832-1836)
MSS37960
Roberts, Edmund,
1784-1836
1,000
items
5 containers
2 linear feet
3
microfilm reels
English
Chinese
Portuguese
Spanish
Collection material in
English,
Chinese,
Portuguese, and
Spanish
Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress
Washington, D.C.
Merchant and diplomat.
Official and family correspondence, journals, manuscript drafts of Roberts' s
book Embassy to the Eastern Courts of Cochin-China, Siam, and Muscat
. . . During the Years 1832-34, diplomatic documents, legal and financial papers, and miscellaneous
material chiefly documenting his service as a special agent of the U.S. to
negotiate treaties with Siam, Muscat, and Cochin 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
Dickerson, Mahlon, 1770-1853--Correspondence.
Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845.
Livingston, Edward, 1764-1836--Correspondence.
Roberts family--Correspondence.
Roberts, Edmund, 1784-1836.
Roberts, Edmund, 1784-1836. Embassy to the eastern courts of Cochin-China, Siam, and Muscat; in the U.S. sloop-of-war Peacock ... during the years 1832-3-4. 1837.
Vail, Eugene A.--Correspondence.
Woodbury, Levi, 1789-1851--Correspondence.
Organizations
Peacock (Sloop of war)
United States. Navy--Foreign service--Pacific Area.
Subjects
Arts--Asia.
Arts--South America.
Diplomatic and consular service, American.
Places
Asia--Description and travel.
Asia--Languages.
Asia--Religion.
Asia--Social life and customs.
Japan--Foreign relations--United States.
Muscat (Oman)--History.
Oman--Foreign relations--United States.
South America--Description and travel.
South America--Languages.
South America--Religion.
South America--Social life and customs.
Thailand--Foreign relations--United States.
United States--Foreign relations--1829-1847.
United States--Foreign relations--Japan.
United States--Foreign relations--Oman.
United States--Foreign relations--Thailand.
United States--Foreign relations--Vietnam.
Vietnam--Foreign relations--United States.
Occupations
Diplomats.
Merchants.
Provenance
The papers of Edmund Roberts, merchant and diplomat, were deposited
in the Library of Congress in 1910 by the estate of Mrs. J. V. L. Pruyn and
converted to a gift in 1914.
Processing History
The papers of Edmund Roberts were arranged and described in 1973. The
finding aid was revised in 2012.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Edmund Roberts
is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The papers of Edmund Roberts 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 reference staff in the Manuscript Division concerning availability for
purchase or interlibrary loan. To promote preservation of the originals,
researchers are required to consult the microfilm edition. 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, Edmund Roberts Papers,
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1784, June 29
Born, Portsmouth, N. H.
1808
Married Katherine Langdon Whipple
1827
Sailed in ship Mary Ann to
Zanzibar
1832
Appointed special agent of the United States to negotiate
treaties with Siam, Muscat, and Cochin China
Sailed on the U.S. sloop Peacock
1833
Concluded treaties of amity and commerce with Siam and Muscat
1836, June 12
Died, Macao, China
1837
Posthumous publication of
Embassy to the Eastern Courts of
Cochin-China, Siam and Muscat . . . During the Years 1832-1834
. New York: Harper and Brothers
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Edmund Roberts (1784-1837) span the years 1803 to 1905,
with the bulk of the material between 1832 and 1836. The papers include
journals, drafts of his book,
Embassy to the Eastern Courts of Cochin-China, Siam, and Muscat .
. . During the Years 1832-34,
family and official correspondence, diplomatic documents, legal and
financial papers, and miscellaneous items consisting of maps, drawings, and
various types of printed matter. Collection material is in English, Chinese,
Portuguese, and Spanish.
Robert's journal material and the drafts he used in writing his book
describe the people, customs, languages, religions, and arts Roberts
encountered in South America and Asia. Although the drafts are undated, an
attempt has been made to arrange them in sequence.
Roberts's correspondence with his wife and children, like his
journals, is filled with commentary on his travels and personal experiences.
Some official correspondence in later years reflects his difficulties in
obtaining remuneration from Congress for expenses incurred during his voyages.
Correspondents include Mahlon Dickerson, Edward Livingston, Eugene A. Vail, and
Levi Woodbury. A file of diplomatic documents treats Roberts's service as a
special agent of the United States to negotiate treaties with Siam, Muscat, and
Cochin China.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged by type of material as reproduced on
microfilm.
Container List
Available on microfilm. Shelf no. 16,069
Container
Contents
1
1
Journals
1
1
1804, 1805
1804, 1805
1
1
1805
1805
1
1
1829-1830
1829-1830
1
1
1832
1832
1
1
1832-1834
1832-1834
1
1
Drafts of
Embassy to the Eastern
Courts
,
1837
1837
1
1
"Passage from Rio de Janeiro" to
"From Mozambique"
1
1
"Bombay" to "Passage from
Anjier"
1
1
"Sailing from Boston" to
"Sailing from Lintin"
1
1
"Siam"
2
1
"Passage from the Red Sea" to
"Voyage from Muscat"
2
1
Miscellany
(2
folders)
2
1
Family correspondence
2
1
1803-1831
1803-1831
2
1
1832
1832
2
1
1833
1833
2
1
1834
1834
2
1
1835-1836
1835-1836
2
1
1842, undated
1842, undated
2
1
Official correspondence
2
1
1818-1831
1818-1831
2
1
1832
1832
2
1
1833
1833
2
1
1834
1834
2
1
1835
1835
2
1
1836
1836
2
1
1837
1837
2
1
1869, 1904, undated
1869, 1904, undated
3
2
Diplomatic documents
3
2
Bound copy of treaties with Siam,
Muscat and United States
3
2
Presidential letters of
introduction,
1832
1832
3
2
Papers stating objective of
visit,
1833, Jan. 6
1833, Jan. 6
3
2
Letter from envoy to King of
Cochin China,
1833, Jan. 7
1833, Jan. 7
3
2
Letter from envoy announcing his
arrival,
1883, Jan. 7
1883, Jan. 7
3
2
Letter from envoy to minister of
commerce,
1833, Jan. 30
1833, Jan. 30
3
2
Letter from envoy to
superintendent general,
1833, Feb. 18
1833, Feb. 18
3
2
Treaty of amity,
1833
1833
3
2
Mar. 5
Mar. 5
3
2
Mar. 10
Mar. 10
3
2
Mar. 15
Mar. 15
3
Mar. 20
Mar. 20
3
2
Mar. (rejected copy)
Mar. (rejected copy)
3
2
Papers relating to Muscat,
1833-1835, undated
1833-1835, undated
3
2
Miscellaneous papers
3
2
In English,
1835-1836
1835-1836
3
2
In Vietnamese,
1832, undated
1832, undated
4
Legal and financial papers relating
to Roberts's voyages
4
3
1828-1832
1828-1832
4
3
1833
1833
4
3
1834
1834
4
3
1835
1835
4
3
1836, undated
1836, undated
4
3
Transcripts,
1804-1905
1804-1905
4
3
Family
correspondence
4
3
1807-1830
1807-1830
4
3
1832
1832
4
3
1833
1833
4
3
1834
1834
4
3
1835-1836
1835-1836
4
3
Official
correspondence
4
3
1823-1828
1823-1828
4
3
1832
1832
4
3
1833
1833
4
3
1834
1834
4
3
1835
1835
4
3
1836-1905
1836-1905
5
3
Biographical material,
undated
undated
5
3
Diplomatic documents,
1832-1833
1832-1833
5
3
Extracts from,
Narrative of a Voyage Round the World During the Years
1835, 1836, and 1837,
by William Samuel Waithman Ruschenberger
5
Journal extracts and related
material,
1804-1833, undated
1804-1833, undated
5
3
Miscellany
5
3
Invitations,
1835-1836
1835-1836
5
3
Drawings
5
3
Maps
5
3
Christian catechism translated
into Siamese
5
3
Printed material,
1830-1837, undated
1830-1837, undated
5
3
Canton Gazette
,
1832
1832
5
3
Fragments and unidentified
material
5
3
Unused notebook