Descriptive Summary |
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| Creator: | Brodhead, John Romeyn, 1814-1873 |
| Title: | John R. Brodhead Papers |
| Dates: | 1613-1883 |
| Quantity: | 6.6 cubic feet (2 cartons, 6 manuscript boxes, 1 oversize box) |
| Abstract: | John R. Brodhead's papers consist of correspondence, 1831-1871, including drafts of letters sent; European diaries, 1839-1849 with gaps; writings and related notes, primarily concerning early New York State history; lists, transcripts and translations of documents from archives in Holland, London and Paris; papers (some printed) concerning service in the 63rd Brigade, New York Infantry, 1836-1838; papers (some printed) concerning the New York Historical Society; speeches; legal and financial documents, some concerning real estate; press clippings; scrapbooks (primarily containing press clippings but also including a broadside and pamphlets such as printed New York State legislative documents); certificates; and other papers, including photographs of Brodhead and copies of his bookplate. Also present are papers relating to Brodhead's relatives, especially Brodhead's father, the Rev. Jacob Brodhead; his father-in-law, Simeon DeWitt Bloodgood; and Goose Van Schaick and other members of the Van Schaick family of Albany, N.Y. In addition, the papers include Dutch naval documents, 1613-1781, that Brodhead collected. |
| Collection No.: | MC 1458 |
| Language: | English and Dutch |
| Repository: | Rutgers University Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives |
John Romeyn Brodhead (1814-1873) was a historical scholar and collector who was appointed by New York governor William Seward to procure transcriptions of documents relating to the early history of the state from various Dutch, English, and French archives. The edited transcriptions were published by the state as Documents relative to the colonial history of New York: procured in Holland, England, and France (15 vols., 1853-1883). Brodhead was also the author of the History of the state of New York (2 vols., 1853-1871).
John R. Brodhead's papers consist of correspondence, 1831-1871, including drafts of letters sent; European diaries, 1839-1849 with gaps; writings and related notes, primarily concerning early New York State history; lists, transcripts and translations of documents from archives in Holland, London and Paris; papers (some printed) concerning service in the 63rd Brigade, New York Infantry, 1836-1838; papers (some printed) concerning the New York Historical Society; speeches; legal and financial documents, some concerning real estate; press clippings; scrapbooks (primarily containing press clippings but also including a broadside and pamphlets such as printed New York State legislative documents); certificates; and other papers, including photographs of Brodhead and copies of his bookplate. Also present are papers relating to Brodhead's relatives, especially Brodhead's father, the Rev. Jacob Brodhead; his father-in-law, Simeon DeWitt Bloodgood; and Goose Van Schaick and other members of the Van Schaick family of Albany, N.Y. In addition, the papers include Dutch naval documents, 1613-1781, that Brodhead collected.
Of John R. Brodhead's more notable correspondents, those represented by the most letters are George Bancroft and Everett Everett. Among his other correspondents are Lord Aberdeen [sent to Everett but concerning Brodhead's work], Prince Adolphus (the Duke of Cambridge) [recipient not actually stated], Harmanus Bleecker, William H. Campbell, Lewis Cass, George Catlin [a letter of introduction], Lyman Draper, Evert Duyckinck, Hamilton Fish, James Lenox, Benson J. Lossing, Charles Lyell, Lord Palmerston, Benjamin P. Poore, William H. Seward [including a letter sent to Washington Irving], Henry Stevens, Peter D. Vroom and Daniel Webster. A red-brown imperforate 5-cent postage stamp depicting Benjamin Franklin appears on one of the Everett letters, while another letter (apparently from Henry T. Tuckerman) includes a green 2-cent Boyd's City Express stamp. Also included with the correspondence is a visiting card for Leiut. Genl. U.S. Grant (in a small envelope addressed to Brodhead at the Union Club) and several letters not addressed to Brodhead, including items from James Buchanan (1845), Winfield Scott (undated) and P.T. Barnum (1883).
John R. Brodhead's diaries were written during his travels to and from the Netherlands (on the packet-ship Gladiator in 1839 and on the steamship President in 1840) and during his service in The Hague as secretary to the American chargé d'affaires, September 1839-October 1840; in the Netherlands, England and France, May 1841-February 1844, while searching archives to secure copies of records; and during his service as secretary of the U.S. legation in London, October 1846-August 1849. The diary kept while serving under Ambassador George Bancroft in London has been described as presenting "an intimate glimpse of the personalities, politics and culture of the period." It also includes some information regarding Brodhead's activities as Herman Melville's literary agent in Great Britain.
The writings present in John R. Brodhead's papers primarily consist of chapters and notes for his History of the State of New York.
Jacob Brodhead's papers include letters that he received from N[icholas] Bleecker, Jr., who acted as his agent in Albany.
The correspondents of S. De Witt Bloodgood, in addition to John R. Brodhead, consist chiefly of Nicholas Biddle, Thomas Cole, Caleb Cushing, James Hogg, Elisha Kent Kane, James Sheridan Knowles, Samuel F.B. Morse, Jared Sparks, Daniel Webster and Nathaniel Parker Willis. Also represented is James M. Gray, evidently the son of the Rev. James Gray; in 1836 he seeks copies of James Hogg letters. The letters from John R. Brodhead comprise about nine items and were written from Europe, 1841-1843.
The Dutch naval manuscripts that John R. Brodhead collected consist of twenty-five items, 1613-1677 and 1781, alienated from the Ministerie van Marine in The Hague when, along with many other documents, they were tossed out of a burning building during a fire in January 1844. Many of these items pertain to the Anglo-Dutch wars.
Researchers can facilitate access to related materials in other collections by searching the Rutgers University Libraries' online public catalog and other union catalogs under the following index terms used for people, organizations, and subjects represented in these records.
John R. Brodhead Papers. MC 1458. Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries.
This section provides descriptions of the materials found within each series. Each series description is followed by a container list, which gives the titles of the "containers" (for example, folders, volumes, or cassettes) and their locations in the numbered boxes that comprise the collection. The availability of any digital items from a container is indicated with a hyperlink.
| JOHN R. BRODHEAD PAPERS | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| 1 | Correspondence, 1831-1871 | ||||||||||
| Arranged alphabetically, including some drafts written by Brodhead; also letters, 187 4, involving Mrs. Brodhead. | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| 2 | Papers, 1836-1838 | ||||||||||
| Concerning the 63rd Brigade, New York Infantry; New York Historical Society papers; miscellaneous writings; photographs, portraits and original drawings. | |||||||||||
| Jacob Brodhead: letters received, 1825-1839 | |||||||||||
| Largely from N. Bleecker; correspondence, I 826-1865 with gaps, of S. DeWitt Bloodgood with Jacob and John R. Brodhead; diplomas, receipts, etc. | |||||||||||
| S.D. Bloodgood: letters received, undated | |||||||||||
| Harriet Romayne: letters received, undated | |||||||||||
| Van Schaick family papers, undated | |||||||||||
| . | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| 3 | Brodhead family miscellany, undated | ||||||||||
| Accounts, articles of agreement, bills, bonds, boundary documents, conveyances of land, deeds, family miscellany (genealogy, etc.), insurance policies, leases, legal documents (miscellaneous), maps, mortgages and tax bills. | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| 4 | Diaries, 1839-1855 | ||||||||||
| September 1839-March 1840; diary, March-July 1840; diary, August-October 1840; diary, May-July 1841; diary, July-September 1841; diary, October-December 1841; diary, December 1841-February 1842; diary, March 1842-February 1843; diary, February 1843-February 1844; diary, October 1846-December 1847; diary, January-December 1848; diary, January-August 1849; and formal invitations, 1850-1855. | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| 5 | Miscellany, undated | ||||||||||
| Family and personal bills, receipts, manuscripts of orations, galley proofs, diplomas and certificates, scrapbooks and clippings; materials relating to the early history of New York state. | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| 6 | Notes towards published writings, undated | ||||||||||
| (e.g., The History of the State of New York): primarily manuscripts of chapters, plus lists, transcripts and translations of documents from Holland, London and Paris. | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| 7-8 | Notes towards the writing of The History of the State of New York (volume II), undated | ||||||||||
| Box 7: manuscripts of table of contents and chapters I through IV. | |||||||||||
| Box 8: chapters IV through VII; also "The Government of Jacob Leisler over New York in 1689 and 1690" (incomplete?); and "N.Y.H.S./Oration/ 1864" (incomplete?). | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| 9 | Certificates of Jacob Brodhead, 1833-1848 with gaps | ||||||||||
| Dutch naval documents, 1613-1843 | |||||||||||
| Brodhead presumably purchased these documents after the fire on January 28, 1844 at the Ministry of Naval Affairs building in The Hague, where the admiralty archives were kept. The smoldering archives were thrown out of the windows and scattered through the city. Only part of the burnt materials were returned and are now kept in the National Archives. Other materials ended up in the hands of collectors. | |||||||||||
| Letter from J.A. de Zwaan Czn., National Archives, the Hague, concerning a promotion he received by royal decree because of his work with Brodhead in 1841, with copies of the decree and a letter from Minister W.A. Schimmelpenick van der Oye, 1842-1843 | |||||||||||
| Autograph letters and documentsfrom naval commanders, stadtholders, and politicians concerning administrative matters relating to the Dutch wars with Spain, France, and England, originating from the Archives of the Admiralties of Zeeland, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam, 1613-1677, 1781 | |||||||||||
| Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, States General, The Hague, to unknown admiralty, May 9, 1613 | |||||||||||
| Request to provide Pieter Willemszn. Jager a position, when a vacancy arises, for reasons explained in Jager's petition. | |||||||||||
| Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, States General, The Hague, to the Admiralty of Rotterdam, August 6, 1613 | |||||||||||
| Letter concerning sending Capiteyn Vinck with a good warship carrying letters from Johan van de Veken. | |||||||||||
| Maurits, Prince of Orange, Earl of Nassau, Marquis [of Veere and Vlissingen], to the [Admiralty of Zeeland], December 25, 1624 | |||||||||||
| Request to allow French ambassador D’Espesses, returning to France, the use of a warship to reach Calais without hindrance after having done important business for the country. | |||||||||||
| Johan Evertsen, from the ship [illegible] to unknown admiralty: , May 30, 1629 | |||||||||||
| Contents illegible. | |||||||||||
| Admiral Johan Evertsen, ship "Vlissingen" in the anchorage of The Downs, to the Admiralty of Zeeland, October 2, 1639 | |||||||||||
| Letter concerning the announcement of British admiral John Penington that the King of England has ordered the Spanish ships to leave, with request to send fireships and warships. | |||||||||||
| M[aarten] Harpertzoon Tromp, ship "Amelia" at Grevelingen, to Admiralty of Zeeland, June 19, 1644 | |||||||||||
| Request to send forty big bundles of breaming rope for distribution among the ships, with report of progress against the French. | |||||||||||
| Joan Braemse and Cornelis de Witte, [fort] Lillo (North of Antwerp), to the Admiralty of Zeeland, July 9, 1644 | |||||||||||
| Notification that skipper Harman Barentsen Haaechman from Amsterdam had not declared four large quarters of syrup to be shipped to the enemy and was therefore taxed for this. | |||||||||||
| Cornelis de Witt from warship at Zwemershouck to [Admiralty of Zeeland], June 8, 1645 | |||||||||||
| Letter accompanying a list of all ships and goods that have passed the warship in the past two weeks during the blockade of the Flemish coast. | |||||||||||
| [Maarten Harpertzoon Tromp], ship "Amilia," to unknown admiralty, August 5, [1645] | |||||||||||
| Request to send warships to prevent the opening of trade to Flanders following negotiations after the capture of Bourbourg by the Duke of Orleans. | |||||||||||
| [Willem II], Prince of Orange, The Hague, to Admiralty of Zeeland, December 27, 1649 | |||||||||||
| Request to allow Mr. De Bregij, French Ambassador to Poland, the use of a warship for transport to France when he arrives in Zeeland. | |||||||||||
| Michiel de Ruyter, ship "De Neptunis," August 28, 1652 | |||||||||||
| Resolution of the Commander and Council of War to capture or at least destroy the fleet of Admiral George Ayscue during its retreat for repairs while they are not expecting it and before they are able to get assistance after losing the battle of Plymouth. | |||||||||||
| [Admiral] Witte Corneliszn de Witt, ship "Princesse Longsou," to the Admiralty of Zeeland, October 4, 1652 | |||||||||||
| Letter concerning men who are sent back with Captain Jan Pouwells, because they are unable to serve in Vice Commander De Ruyter's squadron, with request to provide them with appropriate means at the place they sailed from. | |||||||||||
| Admiral Johan Evertsen, ship "Holland" at Blanckenbergen, to [Admiralty of Zeeland], December 5, 1652 | |||||||||||
| Request to send extra sailors with his son Captain Cornelis Evertsen the Younger to supplement the number of sailors on the rolls of Captain Adriaen Bancker. | |||||||||||
| Admiral Witte Corneliszn de Witt, ship "Lieuwaerden" at Schoonevelt, to the Admiralty of Zeeland, April 26, 1653 | |||||||||||
| Request to allow new water supplies for Jan van Acker's ship after taking twenty-seven casks of water for the use of other ships, of which eight still have to be returned. | |||||||||||
| Johan de Witt, States General, The Hague, to [the Admiralty of Zeeland], September 5, 1658 | |||||||||||
| Letter accompanying the resolution of the Estates General concerning the deployment of the fleet of [rear admiral] Cornelis Evertsen [the Older]. | |||||||||||
| Johan de Witt, States General, The Hague, to unknown admiralty, September 9, 1658 | |||||||||||
| Request to notify the States General about the whereabouts of the warships and their requested meeting in Terschelling, as stipulated in the resolution of September 4, 1658. | |||||||||||
| Aert van Nes, ship "Princess Louise" behind Pontal, Brazil, to the Admiralty of Rotterdam, August 21, 1661 | |||||||||||
| Account of the ship's journey sailing with Captain De Liefde from July 27 to Pontal via Cadiz, Portugal, where they met with Vice-Admiral Michiel de Ruyter and eight ships. | |||||||||||
| Egbert Meeuwsz Cortenaer from the ship "Prins [Maurits]" to Admiralty of Rotterdam, September 27, 1661 | |||||||||||
| Account of ship's journey visiting Falmouth, cruising with Captain Mangelaer's ship, and being held up by many storms, with request for provisions. | |||||||||||
| John Maurice, Prince of Nassau-Siegen, Cleve, to the Admiralty of Rotterdam, July 1, 1664 | |||||||||||
| Letter of recommendation on behalf of skipper Lammerts, arrested at Rotterdam because he did not declare certain goods other than iron thread. | |||||||||||
| Godefroi, count d’Estrades (French ambassador) to the Estates General, June 18, 1665 | |||||||||||
| Request to release the ship "La Margueriette" carrying goods from Scotland, captured at sea and held for a long time in the Rotterdam harbor, as it is against the rules of free trade (letter in French). | |||||||||||
| Jan de Liefde, ship "Groot Hollandia" at Bommershooft near Bergen, Norway, to [Admiralty of Rotterdam?], August 29, 1665 | |||||||||||
| Account of a meeting with the Admiralty's deputies about accompanying the ships from the Dutch East India Company and other Dutch ships after altercation with the English; and the supply of water, beer, and food. | |||||||||||
| Michiel van Gogh, Dutch ambassador to England, Oxford, to admiralty [of Zeeland], October 19, 1665 | |||||||||||
| Letter concerning the capture and imprisonment of Andries de Mister and Jan Roeloffs, who have been allowed to stay with van Gogh in his lodgings after his intercession. | |||||||||||
| [William III], Prince of Orange, Kwartier tot Alphen, to Admiralty of Zeeland, February 10, 1673 | |||||||||||
| Intercession on behalf of the Grand Duke of Tuscany concerning the ship "the Constantinople" of skipper Steven Dring, from London to Livorno, held up at Vlissingen while carrying certain goods (listed). | |||||||||||
| Jan van Nes from het Nieuwe Diep, Texel, to unknown admiralty, June [8], 1677 | |||||||||||
| Account of arrival at Texel and request to receive orders, with notice of additional recruits and the absence of Captains Pieter van de L[illegible] and C. van der Hoeve. | |||||||||||
| William, Prince of Orange, to the Admiralty of Amsterdam, November 17, 1781 | |||||||||||
| Letter in support of the request by Johan Christoff Munsterman, who was employed by vice Admiral Zoutman and lost his left arm during the battle on August 5, to pay him a silver ducat a week as compensation throughout his life instead of the promised three hundred and fifty guilders. | |||||||||||