Justin H. Smith Collection

Transcriptions accumulated by Smith in the preparation of his works on the annexation of Texas and the U.S.-Mexico war of 1846-1848, as well as notes for publications, teaching, and speeches; page proofs from The War with Mexico; correspondence; a diary; and assorted material.

Transcriptions are of documents in archives, libraries, and private holdings in the United States, Mexico, Spain, France, England, and Cuba. They include excerpts from the correspondence of U.S. ministers, consuls, and Spanish agents in Mexico (1825-1848); diplomatic correspondence with England and France on relations between Mexico and the U.S. (1830-1848); reports of U.S. agents and others in Texas (1836-1845); reports of U.S. military operations in Mexico, California and New Mexico (1846-1848); materials about political, social, economic, and military conditions in Mexico from 1844 to 1848; letters from Antonio López de Santa Anna relating to the U.S.-Mexico war; and diaries and memoirs of participants and others. A few items relate to Smith's 1903 work, Arnold's march from Cambridge to Quebec, 1775-1776.

Correspondence dates from 1878 and 1897-1929 (bulk 1915-1929). Some letters pertain to the publication of Smith's works on Texas and Mexico; the rest concern various personal and professional matters. The diary dates from 1914-1920; although it consists of only 11 leaves, it contains entries relating to Smith's travels in pursuit of research, his progress in writing The War with Mexico, and his professional and social activities.

The date span covered by the information in the papers is 1825-1848; however, because the papers are comprised primarily of transcripts of archival holdings and of notes made by Smith, the papers physically date from 1878-1929.

Most materials are in English, with some items in Spanish.