By William E. Bigglestone
Title: James Monroe Papers, 1819-1898
ID: RG 30/022
Primary Creator: Monroe, James (1821-1898)
Extent: 12.4 Linear Feet
Arrangement:
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series 1. Correspondence (Indexed and Calendared), 1841-98, undated (6.4 linear feet)
Consists of chronologically arranged correspondence, accessible through an index and calendar (ca.1952). Of the more than 5,000 letters, 175 are outgoing letters, not including 13 photostats received from the Rutherford B. Hayes Library.
Series 2. Files Relating to U.S. Consulate, Rio de Janeiro, 1861-70 (1.5 linear feet)
Documents Monroe's activities and duties as U.S. Consul to Rio de Janeiro. Records include chronologically maintained ledgers which indicate the volume and nature of American trade with Rio de Janeiro from 1861 to 1869. Other material consists of miscellaneous papers, invitations, calling cards and bills. Organized in two subseries: 1. Ledgers and 2. Papers and Records.
Series 3. Files Relating to Political Service, ca.1856-84 (1.6 linear feet)
The bulk of the records in this series pertain to Monroe's tenure as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, 1871-81. A few miscellaneous papers relate to his term in the Ohio Legislature, 1856-62. Documentation includes bills (manuscript and printed), printed material, petitions and materials used in canvasses from 1874-84. Arranged in two subseries: 1. Files Relating to State Government (Ohio) and 2. Files Relating to U.S. Congress.
Series 4. Files Relating to Ministerial Career, 1848-92, undated (0.3 linear feet)
Monroe's ministerial career is documented in manuscript sermons, include sermons from his stint at Sandusky, Ohio, in 1849. Other materials include marriage licenses and Bible Class papers.
Series 5. Speeches and Addresses, 1840-98 (1.6 linear feet)
Numerous speeches by Monroe, both manuscript and printed are included here. The speeches are largely political, although some earlier addresses provide evidence of his antislavery oration. Arranged in three subseries: 1. "Thursday Lectures" (organized by published table of contents), 2. Manuscript Addresses and Speeches (arranged chronologically with undated material at the rear), and 3. Printed Addresses and Sermons (chronological).
Series 6. Teaching Materials, ca.1883-96 (0.4 linear feet)
Contains lectures and other teaching material primarily from Monroe's political economy courses (1883-1896). There is no material relating to any of his earlier instruction.
Series 7. Miscellaneous Files, 1819-96 (0.6 linear feet)
This series contains a rich assortment of receipts and accounts as well as subscription books for fund-raising, including the Oberlin-Wellington Rescue defense fund and the James A. Garfield Monument fund. Monroe's diplomas as well as his first wife's (Elizabeth Maxwell) diploma are to be found here.
Date Acquired: 11/21/1968. More info below under Accruals.
Subjects: Abolitionists--Sources, American Anti-Slavery Society--Sources, Campaign literature--19th century--Republican--Sources, Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873--Archives, Commons, John R. (John Rogers), 1862-1945--Archives, Cox, Jacob D. (Jacob Dolson), 1828-1900--Archives, Diplomatic and consular service, American--19th century--Sources, Finney, Charles G., 1792-1875--Archives, Monroe, James, 1821-1898--Archives, Monroe, Julia Finney, 1837-1930--Archives, Oberlin College--History--19th century--Sources, Ohio--Politics and government--19th century--Sources, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)--History--19th century--Sources, Temperance--Sources, United States--Politics and government--19th century--Sources, Webb, J. Watson (James Watson), 1802-1884--Archives
Forms of Material: diplomas, lecture notes, manuscripts, publications, records (documents), sermons, speeches
Languages: English
The papers of James Monroe relates to the career of this antislavery orator, minister, professor, state legislator, U.S. congressman, and U.S. Consul to Rio de Janeiro. The collection richly illustrates the life of a second-rank national figure who personified the Oberlin ethos. The papers are organized into seven distinct series which parallel Monroe's career phases: 1. Correspondence (Indexed and Calendared); 2. Files Relating to U.S. Consulate, Rio de Janeiro; 3. Files Relating to Political Service; 4. Files Relating to Ministerial Career; 5. Talks, Speeches, and Addresses; 6. Teaching Materials; and 7. Miscellaneous Files.
The correspondence series contains over 5,000 letters received by Monroe covering the period from 1841 to 1898. Some 175 letters sent by Monroe (outgoing) are also filed in this indexed and calendared records series. A number of the comparatively small proportion dating from the 1840s and 1850s deal with the antislavery movement. The major portion of the correspondence is political, relating to Monroe's service in the Ohio state legislature, 1856-62, U.S Consul to Rio de Janeiro, 1863-69, and as a U.S. Congressman, 1871-81. Significant correspondents include the following: Salmon P. Chase (1808-1873); John R. Commons (1862-1945, A.B. 1888, A.M. 1890, Hon. LL.D. 1915); Jacob Dolson Cox (1828-1900, A.B. 1851, A.M. 1854); James H. Fairchild (1817-1902, A.B. 1838, B.D. 1841); Cyrus W. Field (1819-1892); Charles Grandison Finney (1792-1875); James A. Garfield (1831-1881); Joshua R. Giddings (1795-1864); Rutherford B. Hayes (1822-1893); Frances Parkman (1823-1893); A.I. Root (1839-1923); Giles W. Shurtleff (1831-1904, A.B. 1859); and James Watson Webb (1802-1884). There is at least one letter each from Frederick Douglass (1817?-1895); William Lloyd Garrison (1805-1879); Carl Schurz (1829-1906); William H. Seward (1801-1872) and Frances E. Willard (1839-1898). A twelve page supplement of letters covering the years 1872-74 has been added to the index and calendar.
Files relating to Monroe's service as U.S. Consul to Rio de Janeiro provide material for the study of Brazilian-American relations, particularly during the American Civil War. Much of the Civil War era documentation relates to claims arising from the capture of shipping in Brazilian waters by Confederate cruisers. Monroe's efforts to assist in the relief of destitute American emigrants to Brazil are also chronicled in these records. Four ledgers, 1861-69, list in column form the date, name of ship, services performed by the consulate, and charges for the services. An account ledger (cash book) notes fees received by the consular office and an explanation of how that money was expended. These ledgers were microfilmed by the Oberlin College Archives in 1971. Other miscellaneous papers add to the understanding of Monroe's duties and activities.
Records of the political career of James Monroe are best understood when viewed in conjunction with the correspondence series and his speeches and addresses. Documentation covers subjects such as civil service reform, temperance, free silver, and Republican platforms. Monroe's political records primarily center upon his tenure as a U.S. Congressman from 1871 to 1881. There is scant material on his period as a member of the Ohio state legislature from 1856 to 1862. Records of Monroe as a U.S. Congressman include copies of bills in both manuscript and printed form, petitions (mainly regarding post offices in Ohio and elsewhere) and documents from the Committee on Education and Labor. Records used in canvasses from 1874 to 1884 include newspapers, speeches and other printed material used to gauge the outcome of elections. Monroe remained active in the Ohio Republican party which accounts for post-1881 records.
Although Monroe held only one full-time pastorate (Sandusky, Ohio, 1849) he was a frequent visitor to the pulpit as evident in the manuscript sermons. Records of his ministerial career contain sermons on specific Biblical texts as well as on general themes and topics.Many of his sermons were delivered in several different cities which have been annotated on the manuscripts. Several early sermons, dating from 1849, also have the order of service outlined on the manuscript. Marriage licenses, ca.1848-61 and Bible Class papers, 1884-92 also attest to his continued devotion to the ministry.
The numerous talks, speeches and addresses delivered by Monroe attest to the diversity of his interests and activities. His public presentations run the gamut from abolition to diplomacy and international law, dating from 1840 to 1898. Of particular interest is a manuscript copy of Monroe's 1846 Commencement address on abolition entitled, "Moral Heroism." Many of the addresses and speeches are political, explaining the Republican platform or rebuking the opposing party's claims. Frequently the manuscripts contain the dates and places where the addresses were given. Monroe's speeches exist in both manuscript draft and printed form, although the bulk of his printed addresses relate to various issues arising from his term in Congress. A series of his addresses were compiled and published as Oberlin Thursday Lectures: Addresses and Essays (Oberlin, 1897). Drafts and typescript versions of these published lectures are present in this series and have been segregated from the other manuscript and printed addresses.
Monroe's career as a professor which began in the mid-1840s and ended in 1896 is only partially documented here. The majority of his lectures and teaching materials date from the mid-1880s. Included are lectures in political economy, modern history, and rhetoric.
The final series is comprised mainly of miscellany associated with Monroe. The Oberlin College diploma of his first wife (Elizabeth Maxwell) is recorded here as are three of his diplomas. Several certificates are found among the miscellany, including the 1862 document naming Monroe as U.S. Consul to Rio de Janeiro which is signed by both Abraham Lincoln and William Seward. The 1819 marriage license of his parents accounts for the earliest span date in his papers. A brief autobiographical account begun around 1840 provides a yearly account of his activities beginning retrospectively in 1821 and ending in 1869.
A large assortment of receipts from 1852 to 1893 provides a rare glimpse into expenditures for a late 19th century household. Receipts include grocery and hardware purchases. Several account and subscription books attest to Monroe's success as a fundraiser. Of special interest are two subscription books listing donors to the Oberlin-Wellington Rescue defense fund in 1859, and an account book of subscribers to temperance fund drives.
James Monroe (1821-1898, A.B. 1846, B.D. 1849, A.M. 1850) was born of Quaker parents on July 18, 1821, in Plainfield, Connecticut. He was well-educated in both public and private schools, and began teaching in the public schools at the age of fourteen. The humanitarian values of his parents, who advocated abolition and the importance of non-violence, prompted him to support the cause of temperance and the antislavery movement.
In 1841, he attended a meeting of the Connecticut State Anti-Slavery Society. The meeting, which convinced him to postpone his plans for college, led him to lecture for the American Anti-Slavery Society. Over the next two-and-one-half years he delivered several hundred addresses on the lecture circuit. His antislavery efforts provided him frequent contact with the most prominent eastern abolitionists, such as William Lloyd Garrison (1805-1879), Wendell Phillips (1811-1884), Charles Burleigh (1810-1873), Alvan Stewart (1790-1849), William Goodell (1792-1878) and Frederick Douglass (1817?-1895). In fact, Douglass, in his autobiography, recalled that Monroe was one of the few white abolitionists who worked against Northern racism.
Burdened with poor health, Monroe resolved to leave the lecture circuit and attend college. Initially he planned to attend Yale. Antislavery friends intervened, however, and urged him to consider Oberlin College because of its spreading reputation for opposition to slavery. In Massachusetts he met Amasa Walker (1799-1875), professor of Political Economy at Oberlin College, who resided in nearby Brookfield. In encouraging him to attend Oberlin, Walker suggested that Monroe consult Charles Grandison Finney (1792-1875) who happened to be visiting in nearby Boston. Finney assured Monroe that Oberlin would provide the proper grounding in the classics and language that he sought.
In the spring of 1844 Monroe arrived at Oberlin and gained standing as a member of the junior class. He served as both an assistant teacher and a tutor between 1845-48. Monroe earned the A.B. in 1846 and his theology degree in 1849. At the 1846 Commencement Monroe delivered an address entitled, "Moral Heroism." His speech, a defense of abolitionists, prompted the Cleveland Herald to write that the young graduate was destined to "leave the impress of his own mind and genius upon the age."
Following his graduation from the theological department in 1849 he held a pastorate at a Congregational church in Sandusky, Ohio. After six months in Sandusky he was offered the position of professor of Rhetoric and Belles Lettres at Oberlin which he quickly accepted.
At Oberlin, Monroe was engaged in fund-raising for the College, and succeeded in raising nearly one third of the $100,000 endowment in 1851. During this early period at Oberlin his political views continued to evolve and develop. He made an important break with his Garrisonian past and became an advocate of the Liberty party. Gradually he embraced the Free-Soil ideology, accepting the more moderate goal of containment of slavery rather than outright abolition. He endorsed the Free-Soil ticket in 1852 before joining the ranks of the newly created Republican party.
As Monroe's political thinking evolved so did his interest in a more active role in politics. After joining the Free-Soil party, he was approached in 1851 and 1853 to run on the third-party ticket for the state legislature. He declined both times, not yet convinced of the wisdom of an active political role. In 1855, as a Republican, his thinking had changed such that he accepted the new party's nomination for a seat in the state legislature. Before accepting the Republican nomination Monroe listened to a strong appeal from his future father-in-law Charles Grandison Finney (1792-1875) who urged him not to run for fear of compromising his high moral standards.
Despite Finney's misgivings, Monroe accepted the nomination and won easily, receiving close to 90 percent of the popular vote. He also retained his professorship since the legislature met only briefly at the start of each year when classes were not in session. In 1859 he was elected to the Ohio Senate, and served as president pro-tempore of that body from 1861 to 1862.
During his seven years in the state legislature Monroe developed an impressive record of reform legislation. In 1856, he introduced a bill to strengthen habeas corpus protection for escaped slaves. He helped secure legislation to protect and expand the common school system and was considered one of the leading authorities on educational issues. Monroe also proposed extending suffrage to black males, but was convinced by fellow Republicans not to force a vote on the proposal. His advocacy of black suffrage, however, raised the ire of women suffragists in Oberlin who were disgusted that he was willing to strike "white" and not "male" from qualifications to vote.
Events in the 1850s prompted Monroe to take a more active role in the abolition of slavery. Although he did not take part in the infamous Oberlin Wellington Rescue of 1858, Monroe led the subscription drive for a "rescue fund" and succeeded in raising over $200 while serving as the fund's treasurer. When the martyred prisoners were returned to Oberlin in 1859 Monroe delivered the keynote address at a rally welcoming the returning heroes.
In December 1859 Monroe journeyed to Virginia in an effort to recover the body of John Copeland, the black Oberlin resident who was executed for his part in John Brown's failed raid on Harper's Ferry. Monroe reluctantly agreed to make the dangerous trip after Copeland's father was prevented from doing so since Virginia law forbade the admission of free blacks. Monroe received a hostile reaction in Virginia and was forced to return to Oberlin without the body which was never recovered.
As the Civil War erupted and emancipation became more probable, Monroe appeared ready for a change in career. Frustrated by his apparent lack of influence in Columbus, despite his reelection in 1861, Monroe was eager to serve in Congress or the Lincoln administration. During the 1860 presidential campaign, Monroe campaigned hard for Lincoln, delivering more than thirty speeches. His effort was rewarded with a huge victory in Oberlin and a Republican majority in Ohio.
The sudden death of Monroe's wife Elizabeth Maxwell (1825-1862, Lit. 1846) on February 20, 1862, cast him into a state of depression. Monroe sought a change of scenery and hoped that he could provide more than his $600 salary could do for his four children (Emma Elizabeth, 1848-1939, Lit. 1869, Mary Katherine, 1854-1917, L.B. 1874, Charles Edwin, 1857-1931, A.B. 1877 and William Maxwell, 1858-1932). Monroe learned of the opening in the U.S. consulship in Rio de Janeiro from his friend Richard C. Parsons (b. 1826) of Cleveland who was resigning from the post. Monroe prevailed upon his friendship with Salmon P. Chase (1808-1873) to obtain the consulship. Chase lobbied Secretary of State William Seward (1801-1872) and secured the post for Monroe. Monroe resigned his professorship and his legislative seat and prepared for his new duties.
On December 19, 1862, Monroe bade his children farewell and left for Baltimore where he booked passage on the barque "Crickett" for Rio de Janeiro. He arrived in Rio de Janeiro on February 28, 1863, and quickly established himself in the consulship. In the midst of the American Civil War, his consular responsibilities included providing for the crews of captured ships which were put ashore in Brazil. Confederate cruisers, most notably the Alabama prowled the South Atlantic, preying on shipping. Monroe gathered numerous facts which aided the Department of State in pressing claims for damage in the final adjustment with Great Britain.
At the conclusion of the Civil War Monroe took a leave of absence and returned to Oberlin to be reunited with his children. While on leave he was approached by James Harris Fairchild (1817-1902) and offered the presidency of Oberlin College. Charles Grandison Finney was preparing to step down as Oberlin's second president and had identified Monroe as a worthy successor. Monroe declined the offer which was ultimately accepted by Fairchild. On November 30, 1865, Monroe married Julia Finney (1837-1930) the daughter of President Finney. On January 15, 1866, after an eventful leave of absence, Monroe set sail for Rio de Janeiro, this time with his new wife and family.
During this second period in Rio de Janeiro Monroe was preoccupied with providing for destitute American emigres, many of whom left the South in search of new opportunities. Although many of the emigres no longer had claims on American citizenship, Monroe nonetheless provided for them and booked return passage on naval vessels. He resigned his post and set sail for New York on September 25, 1869, having served for some months as Charge d'Affaires ad interim.
Upon returning to Oberlin he resumed his political career. In October 1870 he was elected as representative from the 19th Ohio district (reconfigured as the 17th district during his final term) to the U.S. House of Representatives. Monroe was an able if not spectacular Congressman, serving ten years from March 4, 1871, to March 4, 1881, when he declined renomination. During this ten-year period he served on the Committee on Banking and Currency, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Committee on Appropriations, and was chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor. He was a solid backer of Republican policies and a defender of human rights and national economic stability.
His decision not to seek renomination in 1880 was tempered by his hopes of gaining another political post. Monroe had numerous well placed friends in the Republican party, including his long-time friend President James A. Garfield. Garfield had intimated that a post, probably in the diplomatic service, would be forthcoming. When Garfield was felled by an assassin's bullet on July 2, 1881, Monroe's appointment prospects faded. An offer of the presidency at Ohio State University likewise failed to materialize.
Monroe's brother-in-law, Jacob Dolson Cox (1828-1900, A.B. 1851, A.M. 1854), began to promote a new teaching position. Lacking sufficient funds with which to endow a new professorship, Monroe's friends contributed $30,000 in pledges and endowed a new chair in Political Science and International Law to be held by Monroe. In the fall of 1883 Monroe resumed his teaching career, teaching courses in political economy and modern history.
Monroe continued to teach until the age of 75, retiring in 1896, exactly 50 years after he had graduated. In retirement he was much in demand performing community service and delivering speeches. In 1897, he published a volume of his speeches and addresses in the book Oberlin Thursday Lectures: Addresses and Essays. He also managed to find time to continue leading a large adult Bible class in the First Congregational Church.
On July 7, 1898, James Monroe died at his home in Oberlin. The city mourned the loss of one of its most famous citizens by closing businesses and lowering flags to half mast.
Abolitionists--Sources
American Anti-Slavery Society--Sources
Campaign literature--19th century--Republican--Sources
Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873--Archives
Commons, John R. (John Rogers), 1862-1945--Archives
Cox, Jacob D. (Jacob Dolson), 1828-1900--Archives
Diplomatic and consular service, American--19th century--Sources
Finney, Charles G., 1792-1875--Archives
Monroe, James, 1821-1898--Archives
Monroe, Julia Finney, 1837-1930--Archives
Oberlin College--History--19th century--Sources
Ohio--Politics and government--19th century--Sources
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)--History--19th century--Sources
Temperance--Sources
United States--Politics and government--19th century--Sources
Webb, J. Watson (James Watson), 1802-1884--Archives
Repository: Oberlin College Archives
Accruals: Accesions: 66, 130, 1978/32.
Access Restrictions: Unrestricted.
Acquisition Method: The James Monroe papers were donated to Oberlin College by his second wife, Julia Finney Monroe (1837-1930) and two of his children, Charles E. Monroe (1857-1931) and Emma Monroe Fitch (1848-1939). The donation came about in 1930 at the urging of President Ernest Hatch Wilkins (1880-1966) and Librarian Julian Fowler (1890-1975) (See Annual Report, 1929-30 pp. 94-95.) Shortly after their arrival, the papers were placed under the care of Historian Robert S. Fletcher (1900-1959, A.B. 1920), who supervised the preparation of an index under NYA auspices (See Fletcher's Partial List of Sources, A History of Oberlin College, 1943, p. 931.) The index and calendar was not completed, however, until 1952. The papers resided in the College Library before their subsequent transfer to the Oberlin College Archives on accession #66, November 21, 1968. Two later installments, accessions #130 and 1978/32 received from the College Library included Monroe material which had been separately cataloged (diploma of Monroe's first wife Elizabeth Maxwell (1825-1862), and two books of political clippings c. 1871-78.)
Related Materials:
Additional material regarding James Monroe may be found in the following institutional collections: Oberlin College Board of Trustees and Prudential Committee (1), Papers of President James Harris Fairchild (2/3) (note: Monroe correspondence is conspicuously absent from the papers of President Charles Grandison Finney), Records of the Office of the Secretary (5), Office of the Treasurer (7) and Alumni Records (28). Notes of Monroe's lectures may be found in Student Notes (19/6). Monroe's will and other related material appears in the papers of his second wife, Julia Finney Monroe (30/1). Monroe also appears as a correspondent in the papers of George Frederick Wright (30/21) and as a research subject in the papers of Robert S. Fletcher (30/24).
The James Watson Webb Papers, held in the New York Public Library and Yale University include extensive correspondence from James Monroe. Several dispatches from Rio de Janeiro during the tenure of James Monroe are included in the National Archive's holdings in Record Group 59 (General Records of the Department of State).
Finding Aid Revision History: Processed by William E. Bigglestone.
