Scope and Contents of the Collection
Selected index to correspondence
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| Creator: | Bancroft, George, 1800-1891. |
| Title: | George Bancroft Correspondence |
| Inclusive Dates: | 1844-1881 |
| Quantity: | 1 folder (SC) |
| Abstract: | Papers of the American historian, diplomat. Bancroft served as U.S. Secretary of the Navy under James K. Polk, and later as U.S. minister to Great Britain (1846-1849), to Prussia (1867-1871), and to the German Empire (1871-1874). Consists of correspondence, chiefly outgoing; includes recommendations for appointments, letters of introduction, responses to social invitations, and acknowledgements of receipt of books, historical documents, and various other items. Correspondents include A.D. Bache, John H. Campbell, G.W. Childs, Joel Munsell, Ambrose Sevier, Edward H. Wright, and Hendrick B. Wright. |
| Language: | English |
| Repository: | Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Library 222 Waverly Avenue Syracuse, NY 13244-2010 http://scrc.syr.edu |
George Bancroft (1800-1891) was an American historian and statesman, and an active promoter of secondary education both in his home state and at the national level. As U. S. Secretary of the Navy under James K. Polk, Bancroft established the Naval Academy at Annapolis and later served as U.S. Minister to Great Britain (1846-1849), Prussia (1867-1871), and the German Empire (1871-1874). He is best remembered however for his 10-volume History of the United States, a work which fellow historian Leopold von Ranke called "the best book ever written from the democratic point of view." [From the Dictionary of American Biography.]
The George Bancroft Correspondence consists of 22 letters, chiefly outgoing. Characteristic of his assignments as Secretary of the Navy and foreign minister, Bancroft's correspondence consists largely of recommendations for appointments (Mrs. Duncan, Ambrose H. Sevier), letters of introduction (A.D. Bache, John H. Campbell), responses to social invitations (Hendrick Wright), and acknowledgements of receipt of various items, including books (Mr. AUstin, Joel Munsell, Mr. Trumbull), historical documents (Baron Parke, Mr. Phelps) and edibles (Mrs. Edward Pierrepont). A devotee of the opera, Bancroft extended invitations to various New York and Berlin productions (Mrs. Faulkner, Mrs. Wright).
Yet predictably it is his observations about historical events which reveal Bancroft's analytical mind at work. Writing of the Civil War, Bancroft notes (3 Sept. 1863):
I remain of the opinion which I have held from the first, that the insane & senseless hatred of the poor negro is the great difficulty. It has prolonged the war & is the only obstacle to its close.
Taking an optimistic view of the sweep of events, Bancroft waxes philosophical (4 Nov 1847):
The study of history confirms faith in Providence, for even the defeat of well-considered designs of good men, often leads to results most favorable to human happiness.
Correspondence is arranged chronologically. A Selected index to correspondence is provided at the end of this inventory.
There are no access restrictions on this material.
Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
George Bancroft Correspondence,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Library
Created by: KM
Date: Jun 1989
Revision history: 4 Jan 2008 - converted to EAD (MRC)
| Correspondence | |||||||||||
| SC 103 | 1844-1847 (6 letters) | ||||||||||
| SC 103 | 1853-1863 (6 letters) | ||||||||||
| SC 103 | 1871-1872 (5 letters) | ||||||||||
| SC 103 | 1875-1881 (4 letters) | ||||||||||
| SC 103 | Undated (3 letters) | ||||||||||
