An Overview
Abstract
This guide is an overview of manuscript collections and printed items at the Massachusetts Historical Society that contain information about the Mexican-American War.
Introduction
This guide is an overview of collections and items at the Massachusetts Historical Society related to the Mexican-American War. While it includes a substantial amount of relevant materials, it is not intended to be comprehensive. The guide focuses on manuscript and printed material created shortly before, during, and shortly after the war. Materials related to the longer history of relations between Mexico and the United States prior to the war and to the legacy of the war beyond its immediate aftermath are not included, with the exception of published editions of primary sources.
The majority of materials listed in this guide document the perspective of New Englanders. Taken together, they provide a sense of regional attitudes towards the war and related political issues. The guide is organized thematically, with sections for personal papers and accounts, anti-war and abolitionist material, political speeches and papers, the war's aftermath, maps and pictorial works, and miscellaneous materials.
The MHS Collections Online page "Volunteers for the War!" provides background regarding the First Massachusetts Regiment of Volunteers for the War, the only regiment of soldiers recruited from New England for the Mexican-American War. The MHS holds the personal papers of multiple individuals involved with this regiment, as well as the papers of individuals enlisted in the U.S. Army.
For more information or to request materials described in this overview, researchers may consult several MHS resources. The society's online catalog, ABIGAIL, contains collection-level descriptions of manuscript collections and most photograph collections. In addition to these catalog records, some manuscript and photograph collections are further described in detailed collection guides. Many of these guides are fully searchable at the MHS website, and more are added on a regular basis. Copies of paper collection guides not yet converted to electronic format are available in the MHS Reading Room.
The manuscript card catalog contains descriptions of approximately 320,000 individual items; very few of these appear in ABIGAIL. The published Catalog of Manuscripts of the Massachusetts Historical Society (G. K. Hall, 1969; 1980 supplement), available in more than 150 U.S. libraries, contains photocopies of these catalog cards. Although almost all of the collection-level descriptions in the Catalog have been revised or superseded in ABIGAIL, the published catalog remains a useful resource for descriptions of individual manuscript items. The MHS card catalog, now available on microfiche in the society's Reading Room, contains the cards in the published Catalog, as well as many additions and corrections.
Detailed Description
Personal papers and accounts
Arranged alphabetically.
Benjamin K. Andrews papers, 1847-1849
Benjamin K. Andrews served as an adjutant and later a major in the 1st Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment in Monterey and Matamoras, Mexico, during the Mexican-American War. A former coachman for John Quincy Adams, Andrews enlisted as a private in the 1st Massachusetts Volunteers and quickly became an officer. As regimental adjutant, Andrews kept official records that are interspersed with more revealing personal letters to a brother at home in Boston.
George Bancroft papers, 1815-1908
This collection documents Bancroft's studies at Harvard University and the University of Göttingen in Germany; his travels throughout Europe; his founding of the Round Hill School in Northampton, Massachusetts; the research, writing, and publication of the many volumes of his History of the United States; and his involvement in Massachusetts and U.S. politics. The Mexican-American war is a prominently discussed topic.
Thomas Greaves Cary papers, 1832-1885; bulk: 1884-1885
This collection consists primarily of 30 notebooks of sketches written by Thomas Greaves Cary, Jr. describing events in the history of California, including early Anglo settlement, the Gold Rush, vigilance committees, and the Mexican-American War.
Chamberlain, Samuel E. My Confession. New York: Harper, ca. 1956.
Conner, Philip Syng Physick. The Home Squadron Under Commodore Conner in the War with Mexico, Being a Synopsis of Its Services: (With an Addendum Containing Admiral Temple's Memoir of the Landing of Our Army at Vera Cruz in 1847) 1846-1847. [Philadelphia?: s.n.], 1896.
Dwight family papers, 1815-1942; bulk: 1847-1885
This collection contains information relating to the service of Aaron Dwight Stevens, who, as a teenager in Connecticut, ran away from home to join the 1st Massachusetts Volunteers in the Mexican-American War. Stevens would gain fame and notoriety as one of abolitionist John Brown's principal lieutenants in Kansas and at Harpers Ferry.
Frederick Lewis Gay family papers, 1374-1902; bulk: 1690-1858
Letters of Willard Gay and others in this collection, written to George Gay, include accounts of the Mexican-American War.
George H. Gordon papers, 1842-1885, bulk: 1861-1865
The papers of George H. Gordon include letters describing his 1847 military service with General Winfield Scott during the Mexican-American War, specifically at the battles of Vera Cruz, Jalapa, Pueblo, Contreras, and Churubusco.
John C. Henshaw papers, 1846-1847
This collection consists of papers of John C. Henshaw, captain of the 7th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American War. Included is a diary, kept in Mexico from 1-10 May 1847, noting troop movements and skirmishes with Mexican forces; an annotated list of officers who participated in the August 1847 march towards Mexico City under the direction of General Winfield Scott; and two letters written by Henshaw to his wife Amelia, dated 21 August and 13 September 1847, describing his participation in the war.
Henry Lee correspondence, 1838-1874
Letters in this collection written by Henry Lee, Sr. discuss the economics of slavery in various parts of the country, as well as costs of the Mexican-American War.
Stevens, Isaac Ingalls. Campaigns of the Rio Grande and of Mexico: With Notices of the Recent Work of Major Ripley. New York: D. Appleton and Co., 1851.
Anti-war and abolitionist material
Arranged alphabetically.
Gallatin, Albert. Peace with Mexico. New York: Bartlett & Welford, 1847.
Gannett, Ezra S. Peace—Not War: A Sermon Preached in the Federal Street Meeting-House, December 14, 1845. Boston: Joseph Dowe, 1845.
Massachusetts General Court. Report and Resolutions of Mr. Keyes, of Dedham, upon the Mexican War and Slavery. Boston: s.n., 1847.
Massachusetts State Texas Committee subscriptions, 1842-1843
This small manuscript collection consists of a subscription list of the funds for 1842 or 1843 to the Massachusetts State Texas Committee, a group opposed to the proposed annexation of Texas to the United States due to the committee's opposition to slavery.
Moody, Loring. Facts for the People: Showing the Relations of the United States Government to Slavery, Embracing a History of the Mexican War, Its Origin and Objects. Compiled from Official and Other Authentic Documents. Boston: Anti-Slavery Office, 1847.
Shackford, Charles C. A Citizen's Appeal in Regard to the War with Mexico: A Lecture, Delivered at Lyceum Hall, Lynn, January 16, 1848. Boston: Printed by Andrews & Prentiss, 1848.
Tilden, William P. "Shall the Sword Devour Forever?": A Discourse Suggested by the Death of Lieut. Edward Eastman, of the U.S. Army, Who Died at Camargo, October 26, 1846, Aged 28. Concord [N.H.]: Granite Freeman Press, 1847.
Tolman, Richard. Evil Tendencies of the Present Crisis: A Discourse, Delivered July 4, 1847. Danvers [Mass.]: Printed at the Courier Office, 1847.
Political speeches and papers
Arranged alphabetically.
Ashmun, George. Speech of Mr. Ashmun, of Massachusetts, Delivered in the House of Representatives, Monday, July 27, 1846, in Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union, on the Bill for the Erection of Additional Fortifications. [S.l.: s.n., 1846?].
Cass, Lewis. Letter from Hon. Lewis Cass, of Michigan, on the War and the Wilmot Proviso. Washington: Printed at the Office of Blair and Rives, 1847.
Anthony B. Cleveland speech, 1848
This campaign speech was delivered by Anthony B. Cleveland for the Free Soil Party and its presidential candidate, Martin Van Buren, in several Connecticut towns in 1848. The speech concerns slavery, the war with Mexico, the Wilmot Proviso, and presidential candidates Lewis Cass and Zachary Taylor.
Delano, Columbus. Speech of Mr. Columbus Delano, of Ohio, Against the Bill Declaring that "a State of War Exists by the Act of the Republic of Mexico." [Washington]: J. & G. S. Gideon, printers, [1846].
Hale, John P. Speech of John P. Hale, of New Hampshire, on the Increase of the Army in Mexico: Delivered in the Senate of the United States, January 6, 1848. [Washington, D.C.]: Towers, printer, corner of D and 7th sts. opposite National Intelligencer, [1848].
King, Daniel P. Speech on the General Appropriation Bill and the Mexican War: Delivered in the House of Representatives of the U.S., Feb. 4, 1847. Washington: Printed by J. & G. S. Gideon, 1847.
Winthrop, Robert C. Mr. Winthrop's Vote on the War Bill. [Boston]: Eastburn's Press, [1846].
The war's aftermath
Arranged alphabetically.
Benton, Thomas Hart. The Mexican Treaty. Speech of Mr. Benton, of Missouri, on the Bill to Appropriate Ten Millions. Delivered in the House of Representatives, June 26, 1854. Washington: Congressional Globe Office, 1854.
Capen, Nahum. The Republic of the United States of America: Its Duties to Itself, and Its Responsible Relations to Other Countries; Embracing also a Review of the Late War between the United States and Mexico[...] New York: D. Appleton; Philadelphia: G. S. Appleton, 1848.
Haven, Solomon G. Remarks of Mr. S. G. Haven, of New York, on the Bill to Enable the President to Fulfil the Third Article of the Treaty Between the United States and the Mexican Republic: Known as the Ten Million Mexican Treaty Bill. Washington: Printed by John T. and Lem. Towers, 1854.
Jay, William. A Review of the Causes and Consequences of the Mexican War. Boston: B. B. Mussey & Co. [et al.], 1849.
Jenkins, John S. History of the War Between the United States and Mexico: From the Commencement of Hostilities to the Ratification of the Treaty of Peace. Auburn [N.Y.]: Derby, Miller & Co., 1849.
Livermore, Abiel Abbot. The War with Mexico Reviewed. Boston: Wm. Crosby and H. P. Nichols, 1850.
Parker, Theodore. A Sermon of the Mexican War: Preached at the Melodeon, on Sunday, June 25, 1848. Boston: Coolidge and Wiley, 1848.
Maps and pictorial works
Arranged alphabetically.
Arista, Mariano. A Correct Map of the Seat of War in Mexico: Being a Copy of Genl. Arista's Map, Taken at Resaca de la Palma, with Additions and Corrections [...] New York: J. Disturnell, 1847.
Barton, Charles Crillon. Landing of the U.S. Army Under General Scott, on the Beach Near Vera Cruz March 9th 1847. Philadelphia: Published by P. S. Duval, 1847.
Battle of Churubusco. [Hartford: Case, Tiffany, 1851].
Devereux, George T. The American Fleet Saluting the Castle After the Capture of Vera Cruz. [Hartford: Case, Tiffany, 1851].
Elam, J. M. Western Boundary of Louisiana in Connexion with Mexican War. [S.l. : s.n., 1846].
Hardcastle, Edmund Lafayette. Battles of Mexico: Line of Operations of the U.S. Army Under the Command of Major General Winfield Scott on the 8th, 12th and 13th of September, 1847. Philada. [i.e. Philadelphia]: P. S. Duval's Lith., [1847?].
Hardcastle, Edmund Lafayette. Map of Genl. Worth's Operations on the 20th of Augt. 1847. [United States?: s.n., 1847?]
McClellan, George B. Battles of Mexico: Survey of the Line of Operations of the U.S Army, Under the Command of Major General Winfield Scott, on the 19th. & 20th. August & on the 8th. 12th. & 13th. September, 1847. [Washington? D.C.: s.n., 1848].
McClellan, George B. Siege of Vera Cruz by the U.S. Troops Under Major General Scott, in March 1847 [...] [S.l. : s.n., 1847].
Thompson, D. George. The Battle of Vera Cruz: Night Scene. Boston: S. Walker, [18--].
Miscellaneous materials
Arranged alphabetically.
Conner, Philip Syng Physick. The Castle of San Juan de Ulloa and the Topsy-Turvyists, Philadelphia: [s.n.], 1897.
Jenkins, John S. History of the War Between the United States and Mexico: From the Commencement of Hostilities to the Ratification of the Treaty of Peace. Auburn [N.Y.]: Derby, Miller & Co., 1849.
Pamphlets Historical, compiled by Charles Francis Adams
To the Voters of Charlestown!: A Town Meeting Is to be Held on Next Friday Next, to Consider the Expediency of Advancing a Sum of Money for the Necessaries of Our Patriotic Fellow-Citizens. Charlestown: Caleb Rand, 1847.
United States Army. Official List of Officers Who Marched with the Army Under the Command of Major General Winfield Scott: From Puebla upon the City of Mexico, the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Tenth of August, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty-Seven, and Who Were Engaged in the Battles of Mexico. Mexico: American Star Imprint, 1848.
Veracruz to the Honest Men in tehe [sic] Enmy's [sic] Camp: You Are Brought Here to Make Us an Unjust War. [Mexico: s.n., 1847].
Preferred Citation
When using the items described in this guide, researchers should cite the collection containing the item.
Access Terms
For information about the collections and items described in this guide, consult, ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society.