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William Short Papers, 1772-1931

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Collection Overview

Title
William Short Papers, 1772-1931
ID
Mss. 39.2 Sh9 and 1995.33
Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet
Primary Creator
Short, William (1759-1849)
Arrangement
Organization: This collection is organized into 5 series. Series 1 contains correspondence; Series 2 contains manuscript volumes; Series 3 contains photographs; Series 4 contain artifacts; and Series 5 contains miscellaneous. Arrangement: Series 1 is arranged chronologically.
Date Acquired
07/26/1934
Forms of Material
Correspondence
Languages
English

Restrictions

Access
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Use
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Letters, [1772], 1789, 1839, and 1846-1847, of William Short, while a diplomat in France, and later while living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with the later letters discussing the settlement of his estate with his nephew, Charles W. Short (1794-1863), of Louisville, Kentucky. Also includes copies of Short's appointment to various diplomatic posts, 1790-1794; a copy of George Washington's letter to the King of Spain explaining Short's departure from Spain, 1796; his will; a genealogical chart of the Short family; an article of his love affair with the Duchess de la Rochefoucauld; and his watch and fob.

Acc. Mss 1995.33 addition:

ALS from William Short to P.S. DuPonceau, n.d., regarding indisposition, preparation of him into  "Our Society" and the delay of packets.

Acc. Mss 1982.06 addition:

Photocopy of typescript of an article regarding Short and Duchesse de la Rouchefoucauld and miscellaneous photocopied material.

Biographical Note

William Short was born in Surry County, Virginia, in 1759, the son of William Short and Elizabeth (Skipwith) Short. He graduated in 1779 from the College of William and Mary where he had been one of the founders of Phi Beta Kappa. He acted as Thomas Jefferson's private secretary in Paris and as secretary of legation and charge d'affairs. He was minister to The Hague. He participated in negotiations of the Pinchney Treaty with Spain. Short died in 1849. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: <a href="http://scrc.swem.wm.edu/wiki/index.php/William Short (1759-1849)">http://scrc.swem.wm.edu/wiki/index.php/William Short (1759-1849)</a>.

Subject/Index Terms

Box and Folder Listing


Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Mss.39.2 Sh9, 1789-1847, 1931],
[Series 2: Mss.Acc.1995.33, Undated],
[All]

Series 1: Mss.39.2 Sh9, 1789-1847, 1931
Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1789-1847
Item 1: William Short, Paris, [France], to [?] Donald, n.p., October 8 1789
Mentions that [Thomas] Jeffferson is at Havre; trusts his opinion of whether the warrants should be sold at a loss to purchase certificares by Jan[uar]y 1; mentions that the market will probably be good for wheat and flour. 1p. ALS. Including typescript. 1p.
Item 2: Commission signed by President George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, New York, [New York], April 20 1790
Commission signed by President George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, New York, [New York], appointing William Short Charge des Affaires for the United States to France. 1 p. Pst of DS.
Item 3: Commission signed by Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, September 1 1790
Commission signed by Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, authorizing William Short to borrow money to finance the public and foreign debt of the United States. 2 pp. Pst of DS. See Medium Oversize File.
Item 4: Certificate of appointment of William Carmichael and William Short as commissioners plenpotentiary from the United States to the King of Spain, March 18 1792
Signed by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, with the seal of the United States affixed. 1p. Cy of DS. See Medium Oversize File.
Item 5: French Passport issued to William Short as Minister to France, December 29 1792
French Passport issued to William Short as Minister to France. 1 p. Pst of DS.
Item 6: Appointment, signed by President George Washington and Edmund Randolph, of William Short, July 11 1794
Appointment, signed by President George Washington and Edmund Randolph, of William Short, giving him the authority to negotiate with the King of Spain concerning the navigation of the Mississipi River. 1 p. Pst of DS. See Medium Oversize File.
Item 7: George Washington, President [of the United States], to Charles IV, King of Spain, June 11 1796
George Washington, President [of the United States], to "Our Great and Good Friend His Catholic Majesty," [Charles IV, King of Spain], n.p. Explains the departure of William Short, Minister, being due to ill health.  [Accession information states that this letter was William Short's personal copy]. 1 p. Cy of LS.
Item 8: William Short, Philadelphia, [Pa.], to Henry Dilworth Gilpin, n.p., May 15 1839
William Short, Philadelphia, [Pa.], to Henry Dilworth Gilpin, n.p. Recommending a young man for a position at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. 2 pp. ALS.
Item 9: William Short, Philadelphia, [Pa.], to Charles W. Short, Louisville, Kentucky., November 14 1846
Mentions his failing health; gives his opinion of Charles' son's marriage; states that the last letter received was accompanied by the deed. 2pp. ALS.
Item 10: William Short, Philadelphia, [Pa.], to Charles W. Short, Louisville, Kentucky., March 20 1847.
Mentions defeating the descendants of William Penn; asks that Charles make sure that his favorite sister, Martha, is provided for; states he has made a deed naming Charles heir to his house. 4 pp. ALS. Including postscript from William Short, Philadelphia, [Pa.], to Charles W. Short, Louisville, Kentucky, 21 March [1847], concerning revision of the deed to his house, future care of his eldest sister Martha, and other financial information. 4 pp. ALS.
Item 11: William Short, n.p., to Charles W. Short, Louisville, Kentucky., March 29 1847
Expresses his opinion concerning wills and his desires concerning the handling of his personal will. 2 pp. ALS. Including postscript, from William Short, n.p., to Charles W. Short, Louisville, Kentucky, 30 March [1847], concerning relatives previously left out of his will that he wishes to include. 1 p.
Item 12: Will of William Short., September 11 1847
Will of William Short. 5 pp. ADS. Certified copy attached.
Subseries 2: Manuscript Volume, 1772
Item 1: Book of Robert Munford, including the name William Short, 1772
Book of Robert Munford containing the rules for calculating currency discounts, including the name William Short. 86 pp.
Subseries 3: Photographs, 1983 and Undated
Item 1: Photograph, 8"x10",  black and white, of the watch and fob once owned by William Short, November 1983
Photograph, 8"x10",  black and white, of the watch and fob once owned by William Short. No negative available. 1 item. Ph. Including Documentation, 3 November 1983, by the National Museum of American History, giving a detailed analysis of the watch. 1 p.
Item 2: Photograph of "Rosalie", the Duchesse de la Rochefoucald, Undated
Photograph, oval cut mounted on 3 1/2"x4 1/2" mat, color,  of "Rosalie", the Duchesse de la Rochefoucald. No negative available. 1 item. Ph. including documentation of the photograph. 4 pp. Also including an article entitled "Our First Career Diplomat and the Duchesse" or "Uncle Willie's Wallet and the Lady Inside", by Lucille McWane Watson. 18 pp.
Subseries 4: Artifacts
Item 1: Watch and fob owned and worn by William Short
Watch and fob owned and worn by William Short. See Artifact File.
Subseries 5: Miscellaneous, 1931
Item 1: Genealogical chart of descendants of William Short, 1931
Genealogical chart of descendants of William Short, compiled by William Allen Richardson. Blue Print. 1 item. See Oversize File.
Series 2: Mss.Acc.1995.33, Undated
Item 1: William Short, n.p., to P.S. DuPonceau, n.p., Undated
Mentions his indisposition, the reception of "our friend" into "our Society", his apprehension over the condition of Mde. G., and his hope to see him in the course of the day. 1 p. ALS.

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Mss.39.2 Sh9, 1789-1847, 1931],
[Series 2: Mss.Acc.1995.33, Undated],
[All]

Administrative Information

Repository
Special Collections Research Center
Acquisition Method

Gift: 1 item, undated. Gift: 1 item, 07/26/1934. Gift: 6 items, 1938. Gift: 1 item, 04/15/1942. Gift 1 item, 04/30/1945. Gift: 1 item, 01/1967. Acc. No. 82-6; Gift: 5 items, 01/1982. Acc. No. 1995.33; Purchase: 1 item, 06/16/1995.

 

1938.201:  Will of William Short, Sept 11,1847. certified copy, Mary Churchill and Fanny Short descendants of Peyton Short, brother of William Short

1934.09:  Watch Fob, Gift of Ms Mary Short through EG Swem

1840.87:  Blueprint of Short Genealogy, gift of W.H. Corutenay

1935.45:  Arithmetic Book, purchase, Mrs. Camilla Short

1982.06:  Gift of Mrs. E. Alban Watson

1995.33:  ALS from William Short to P.S. DuPonceau, Purchased from Timothy Bakken

Related Materials
65 Sh9 William and Peyton Short Papers
Preferred Citation
William Short Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Other Note
A PDF document of this inventory is available online.
Other URL
http://scrc.swem.wm.edu/findingaids/39_2_Sh9_Short__William.pdf
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