Collection Summary
James Alexander Robertson Papers 1816-1939
(bulk 1898-1939)
1816-1939
(bulk 1898-1939)
MSS38000
Robertson, James Alexander,
1873-1939
22,000 items
59 containers plus 1 oversize
22.8 linear feet
English
French
Spanish
Collection material in English, French, and Spanish
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Editor, biographer, and archivist.
Correspondence, diaries, notes, writings, subject files, and miscellany relating
primarily to Robertson's activities and scholarship in Hispanic studies, especially
Florida and the Philippines.
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
Blair, Emma Helen, -1911--Correspondence.
Bond, Carroll T. (Carroll Taney), 1873-1943--Correspondence.
LeRoy, James A. (James Alfred), 1875-1909--Correspondence.
Robertson family--Correspondence.
Robertson family.
Robertson, Cora Halsey, circa 1878- --Correspondence.
Robertson, James Alexander, 1873-1939.
Wright, Irene Aloha, 1879-1972--Correspondence.
Organizations
Florida State Historical Society.
Maryland. Archives Division.
Places
Florida--History.
France--Description and travel.
Italy--Description and travel.
Latin America--History--Periodicals.
Latin America--History.
Philippines--History.
Portugal--Description and travel.
Spain--Description and travel.
Titles
Hispanic American historical review.
Occupations
Archivists.
Bibliographers.
Editors.
Provenance
The papers of James Alexander Robertson, editor, bibliographer, and first archivist
of the state of Maryland, were given to the Library of Congress by James A. Robertson
and family, 1930-1960. Additional material was deposited by John B. Stetson, Jr.,
via Cora Halsey Robertson, in 1940; other material was given by Curtis Wilgus in
1975.
Processing History
The papers of James Alexander Robertson were processed in 1981. The finding aid was
revised in 2012.
Transfers
Items have been transferred from the Manuscript Division to other custodial divisions
of the Library. Photographs have been transferred to the Prints and Photographs
Division. Serials have been transferred to the Serial and Government Publications
Division. All transfers are identified in these divisions as part of the James
Alexander Robertson Papers.
Other Repositories
Manuscripts by Robertson relating to Florida are in the Florida Historical Society,
Cocoa, Fla. A collection of Robertson papers on the Philippines is in the David M.
Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, Durham, N.C.
Copyright Status
Copyright in the unpublished writings of James Alexander Robertson in these papers
and in other collections of papers in the custody of the Library of Congress has been
dedicated to the public.
Access and Restrictions
The papers of James Alexander Robertson 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.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information:
Container number, James Alexander Robertson Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1873, 19 Aug.
Born, Corry, Pa.
1896
Ph.B., Adelbert College, Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
1903
1909
Co-edited with Emma Helen Blair
The Philippine Islands,
1493-1803.
Cleveland: A. H. Clark. 55 vols.
1906
L.H.D., Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
1916
1917
Research assistant, Carnegie Institution, Washington, D.C.
1910
1916
Librarian, Philippine Library, Manila, Philippine Islands.
1912
Married Cora Moore Halsey
1916
Founded
Hispanic American Historical Review
1917
1923
Served in Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, Commerce Department
1918
1922
Managing editor,
Hispanic American Historical Review
(also in
1926-1939)
1923
1933
Research professor, American history, John B. Stetson University: Deland,
Fla.
1923
1939
Executive secretary, Florida State Historical Society
1931
Organized Inter-American Bibliographical Association
1932
Translated and edited
True Relation of the Hardships Suffered by
Governor Fernando de So . . .
Deland, Fla: Florida State Historical
Society. 2 vols.
1935
Appointed archivist, state of Maryland
1936
Awarded Cervantes Medal for outstanding contributions in field of Florida
history
1938
Elected vice president, Society of American Archivists
1939, 10 Mar.
Died, Annapolis, Md.
Scope and Content Note
The papers of James Alexander Robertson (1873-1939) extend from 1816 through 1939, with
the bulk of the material dated 1898-1939. The major portion of the papers focuses on
Robertson's career as editor, bibliographer, librarian, and educator, a professional
life that spanned the first four decades of the twentieth century and was devoted to the
study of Hispanic America, Florida, and the Philippines. The collection is organized into six series: [Diaries](Diary), [Correspondence](Corr),
[Subject File](Subj), [Writings File](Write), [
Miscellany](Misc), and [Oversize](Over).
The [Correspondence](Corr) series constitutes the bulk of the collection and
is divided into three subseries: Family, Special, and General. Some correspondence is in
Spanish and French. The [Writings File](Write) includes translations
and editorial notes by Robertson as well as his poems and miscellaneous writings.
Included in the papers are two manuscripts pertaining to Americans in Latin America,
1835 and 1845.
Robertson's letters to his wife, Cora Halsey Robertson, began in 1910, two years prior
to their marriage and continued to 1938. The [Family
Correspondence](famcor) also includes exchanges with his children and relatives. This
correspondence is particularly revealing for his work on the Philippines from 1910 to
1915, and it gives a daily account of his private and family life. Much of the
correspondence dated 1939 relates to his illness and death.
Robertson's contribution as compiler and coeditor of the fifty-five volumes of
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803
is described in the [Special Correspondence](speccor) from his collaborator, Emma Helen
Blair. This correspondence also gives an account of his travels to Spain, Portugal,
Italy, and France from 1902 to 1907. Other Special Correspondents include Carroll T.
Bond, James A. LeRoy, and Mabel P. LeRoy. Letters to and from Bond relate to Robertson's
appointment as archivist for the State of Maryland. The LeRoy correspondence concerns
research and translations for
The Philippine Islands
project.
The [General Correspondence](gencor) dates from 1898 to 1939 and covers
Robertson's professional activities in an uninterrupted sequence. It includes copies or
carbons of Robertson's outgoing letters, memoranda, notes, and telegrams. From 1898 to
1900 the letters refer to
The Jesuit Relations
project. In addition to
the material of Emma Helen Blair in the [Subject File](Subj) series, much of the
General Correspondence file from 1900 to 1907 includes Blair-Robertson correspondence.
Although the letters and other manuscript materials relating to the
Hispanic
American Historical Review
(1916-1918) are a part of the Subject File,
correspondence for the years 1920-1939 in the General Correspondence also concerns
HAHR matters. This is especially true of letters between 1923 and 1929,
the period in which Robertson served as managing editor of the journal. Letters
relating to the activities of the Florida State Historical Society and Robertson's
duties as executive secretary of that organization and as general editor of its
publications date from March 1923 to 1932. Specific business letters, reports, and
minutes of the society are a part of the Subject File.
The [Subject File](Subj) details the founding of the
Hispanic American
Historical Review.
Documents and correspondence in the American Historical
Association and
Hispanic American Historical Review
files refer to this
phase of the journal's history. Most of the research and duplication of Spanish
manuscripts relating to the history of Florida in the archives of Spain was the work of
Irene Aloha Wright. In a file for Wright are letters and financial records relating to
her work.
Of special interest in the [ Miscellany](Misc) series are the writings of
Robertson's colleagues and the reproduction of Cabeca de Vaca's
Relacion de la
Florida
(Zamora, 1542).
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged in six series:
-
[Diaries, 1902-1911](Diary)
-
[Correspondence, 1896-1939](Corr)
-
[Subject File, 1835-1938](Subj)
-
[Writings File, 1901-1939](Write)
-
[Miscellany, 1816-1939](Misc)
-
[Oversize](Over)
Catalog Record: [https://lccn.loc.gov/mm81038000]
Container List
Container
Contents
1
Diaries, 1902-1911
1902-1911
Diaries and journals kept by Robertson.
Arranged chronologically.
1
1902-1903, 1910-1911, undated
1902-1903, 1910-1911, undated
(2 folders)
2-44
Correspondence,
1896-1939
1896-1939
2-4
Family Correspondence, 1910-1939
1910-1939
Letters sent and received between family members, including with Robertson's
wife, Cora Halsey Robertson, and children.
Arranged chronologically within each file. Letters of condolence on the death
of Robertson are arranged alphabetically by name of correspondent.
2
Wife, Cora M. Halsey Robertson
2
1910-1915
1910-1915
(5 folders)
3
1916-1927
1916-1927
(5 folders)
4
1928-1938
1928-1938
4
Children, 1922-1927
1922-1927
4
Miscellaneous, 1911-1934
1911-1934
4
Illness and death, 1939
1939
4
Death notices, 1939
1939
4
Condolences on death, 1939
1939
(4 folders)
5-6
Special Correspondence, 1902-1935
1902-1935
Letters from Emma Helen Blair to Robertson concerning his early research and
publishing ventures. Includes letters to and from Carroll T. Bond and James A.
LeRoy and Mabel LeRoy and letters relating to Robertson's tenure and activities
in the Philippines.
Arranged alphabetically by name of correspondent or subject and therein
chronologically.
5
Blair, Emma Helen, 1902
1902
5
General, 1902-1911, undated
1902-1911, undated
(3 folders)
5
Concerning death of, 1911-1912
1911-1912
5
Bond, Carroll T., 1935
1935
5
LeRoy, James A., 1904-1909
1904-1909
(3 folders)
6
Le Roy, Mabel P., 1909-1913
1909-1913
6
Philippine affairs, 1909-1917
1909-1917
(4 folders)
7-44
General Correspondence, 1896-1939
1896-1939
Letters received and copies of letters sent, memoranda, and miscellaneous
attachments.
Arranged chronologically by month.
7
1896-1903
1896-1903
7
Jan.-July
Jan.-July
(4 folders)
8
1904-1906
1904-1906
(3 folders)
8
1907
1907
8
Jan.-May
Jan.-May
9
June-Dec.
June-Dec.
9
1908-1909
1908-1909
(4 folders)
10
1910-1917
1910-1917
(6 folders)
11
1918
1918
(5 folders)
11
1919
1919
11
Jan.-Mar.
Jan.-Mar.
12
Apr.-Dec.
Apr.-Dec.
(3 folders)
12
1920
1920
12
Jan.-Mar.
Jan.-Mar.
13
Apr.-Dec.
Apr.-Dec.
(3 folders)
13
1921
1921
13
Jan.-Sept.
Jan.-Sept.
(2 folders)
14
Oct.-Dec.
Oct.-Dec.
14
1922
1922
14
Jan.-Sept.
Jan.-Sept.
(4 folders)
15
Oct.-Dec. (2 folders)
Oct.-Dec. (2 folders)
15
1923
1923
15
Jan.-Sept.
Jan.-Sept.
(3 folders)
16
Oct.-Dec.
Oct.-Dec.
(2 folders)
16
1924
1924
16
Jan.-Sept.
Jan.-Sept.
(3 folders)
17
Oct.-Dec.
Oct.-Dec.
17
1925
1925
17
Jan.-Nov.
Jan.-Nov.
(4 folders)
18
Dec.
Dec.
18
1926
1926
18
Jan.-May
Jan.-May
(5 folders)
19
June-Nov.
June-Nov.
(6 folders)
20
Dec.
Dec.
20
1927
1927
20
Jan.-Apr.
Jan.-Apr.
(3 folders)
21
May-Sept.
May-Sept.
(5 folders)
22
Oct.-Dec.
Oct.-Dec.
(3 folders)
22
1928
1928
22
Jan.
Jan.
23
Feb.-June
Feb.-June
(5 folders)
24
July-Nov.
July-Nov.
(6 folders)
25
Dec., undated
Dec., undated
(2 folders)
25
1929
1929
25
Jan.-Apr.
Jan.-Apr.
(4 folders)
26
May-Oct.
May-Oct.
(5 folders)
27
Nov.-Dec.
Nov.-Dec.
(3 folders)
27
1930
1930
27
Jan.
Jan.
(2 folders)
28
Feb.-May
Feb.-May
(5 folders)
29
June-Nov.
June-Nov.
(6 folders)
30
Dec.
Dec.
30
1931
1931
30
Jan.-Apr.
Jan.-Apr.
(5 folders)
31
Apr.-July
Apr.-July
(6 folders)
32
Aug.-Nov.
Aug.-Nov.
(6 folders)
33
Nov.-Dec.
Nov.-Dec.
(3 folders)
33
1932
1932
33
Jan.-Feb.
Jan.-Feb.
(4 folders)
34
Mar.-Aug.
Mar.-Aug.
(6 folders)
35
Sept.-Dec., undated
Sept.-Dec., undated
(5 folders)
35
1933
1933
35
Jan.-Mar.
Jan.-Mar.
(3 folders)
36
Mar.-Aug.
Mar.-Aug.
(6 folders)
37
Sept.-Dec., undated
Sept.-Dec., undated
(5 folders)
37
1934
1934
37
Jan.-Mar.
Jan.-Mar.
(3 folders)
38
Apr.-Sept.
Apr.-Sept.
(7 folders)
39
Oct.-Dec., undated
Oct.-Dec., undated
(4 folders)
39
1935
1935
39
Jan.-Apr.
Jan.-Apr.
(4 folders)
40
May-Dec., undated
May-Dec., undated
(9 folders)
40
1936
1936
40
Jan.
Jan.
41
Feb.-Aug.
Feb.-Aug.
(7 folders)
42
Sept.-Dec., undated
Sept.-Dec., undated
(5 folders)
42
1937
1937
42
Jan.-Aug.
Jan.-Aug.
(8 folders)
43
Sept.-Dec., undated
Sept.-Dec., undated
(5 folders)
43
1938
1938
43
Jan.-June
Jan.-June
(6 folders)
44
July-Dec.
July-Dec.
(6 folders)
44
1939
1939
44
Jan.-Oct., undated (4 folders)
Jan.-Oct., undated (4 folders)
(4 folders)
45-49
Subject File, 1835-1938
1835-1938
Correspondence, memoranda, minutes, reports, notes, manuscripts, and financial
statements.
Arranged alphabetically by subject and therein chronologically.
45
American Historical Association, Conference on
Hispanic American History, Canada, 1932
1932
45
Florida
45
Florida State Historical Society, 1929-1930
1929-1930
45
Correspondence
45
Minutes, reports
45
French Florida, 1933
1933
45
Correspondence, 1924-1935
1924-1935
(2 folders)
45
Footnotes
(2 folders)
46
Index
46
Narrative
46
Pictures
46
Miscellaneous
46
Harris, Alta California, 1846
1846
46
Hispanic American Historical Review
46
Correspondence, 1916-1917
1916-1917
(2 folders)
47
Reports, minutes, 1916-1932
1916-1932
47
Inter-American Historical Series,
Correspondence, 1929-1939
1929-1939
47
Mollan, R. C., 1835
1835
47
Monday, H. A., inventory of collection
47
Pan American Institute of Geography and
History, 1929-1930
1929-1930
47
Pan American Union, Advisory Committee on
Bibliography, minutes, 1930
1930
47
Philippine Customary Law Project,
correspondence, 1932-1938
1932-1938
47
Spanish Institute of Florida
47
Union Catalog of Floridiana, proposal
47
Wright, Irene Aloha
47
Correspondence
47
1923
1923
48
1924-1935
1924-1935
(5 folders)
48
Financial statements
Financial statements
48
1922-1923
1922-1923
49
1924-1931
1924-1931
(4 folders)
50-56
Writings File, 1901-1939
1901-1939
Transcripts, typescripts, and handwritten copies of lectures, draft copies of
articles, books, manuscripts, and miscellaneous writings.
Arranged by type of material and chronologically within each file.
50
Articles on
50
Philippines
50
Miscellaneous topics
50
"Cartography, 1492-1867"
1492-1867"
50
Correspondence/notes, 1916-1932
1916-1932
50
Notes/drafts
(2 folders)
51
(2 folders)
51
"Flora and Fauna," notes
51
"Florida"
51
Notes
(2 folders)
51
Notes, "Monroe Doctrine, United States
Foreign Policy"
52
"Florida Missions"
52
Draft
52
Notes/draft
52
"Leyes de Indias,"
notes
52
Louisiana under the Rule of Spain, France, and the United States,
notes
1785-1807, 1911
1785-1807, 1911
52
"The Luna Papers"
52
"McCartney Mission to China," notes
52
"Panama," notes/draft
52
"Rivers," notes
52
“Gentlemen of Elvas”
52
Correspondence, 1932-1939
1932-1939
52
Draft
53
"The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents"
53
The Philippine Islands,
1493-1803
1493-1803
53
Notes
(2 folders)
54
(2 folders)
54
Poems, 1901-1928, undated
1901-1928, undated
54
Translations (Spanish to English)
54
Early Spanish documents (1513)
54
Jesuit letter from Siam (1686)
54
Letter from China (1745)
55
Pavón, José María
55
The Ancient Legends of the Island of Negros
55
Stories of the Indios of This Island (Negros)
55
Rochmanteux, Camille, The Jesuits and New France
55
Translations, English to Spanish, "How the War
Came to America," 1917
1917
55
Miscellaneous
55
Concerning libraries and archives
55
Concerning Hispanic American history and
others
(2 folders)
56
Unidentified fragments
56-59
Miscellany, 1816-1939
1816-1939
Cards, clippings, printed matter, and writings by others.
Arranged alphabetically by type of material or topic.
56
Cards
56
Certificates, awards, and memorabilia [
See Oversize
](OV56)
56
Clippings
56
Examinations
56
Invitations
56
Legal documents
56
Notes
57
Notes
57
Printed matter
57
Programs
57
Receipts
57
Reproduction, Cabeca de Vaca,
Relacion de
la Florida
57
Writings by others
(2 folders)
58
Speeches and lectures
58
Writings
58
Biographical file
58
Short stories
58
Introductions and foreword
58
"Bits about Masonry in Former Spanish
Countries"
58
British seamen
58
Florida and Louisiana
58
Latin America
58
Philippine Islands
58
Spain
58
Spanish exploration
58
"Suggestions regarding Translation and
Typographical Style"
58
Pardo de Tavera, T. H., "Resena Historica"
58
Cleary, R., "Brazil under the Monarchy"
58
Notebook
58
Notes on colonization
58
Notes re Philippine Islands
58
Notes from Jose Montero y Vidal
58
Miscellaneous notes
59
Subject files
59
American Mestizo Protective Association,
report, 1914
1914
59
Instituto Historico e Geographico Brasileiro,
1922
1922
59
Inter-American Historical Series, report,
circa 1934
circa 1934
59
Official names of Barrios, Philippine
Islands, 1911
1911
59
Ordinances for the Treatment of the Indians
59
Puente de Espana, 1875
1875
59
Sanitation in Mexico
59
Stafford
(schooner), invoice, 1816-1817
1816-1817
59
War Trade Board records
59
General
59
Greece
59
Latin America
59
Report of the Near Eastern Division
59
Ultra-Mayan
59
Duplicates
59
Bibliographical material
59
Miscellany
OV 1
Oversize
Certificates, awards, and memorabilia.
Described according to the series, container and folder from which the items were
removed.
OV 1
Miscellany
OV 1
Certificates, awards, and
memorabilia (Container 56)