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Creator
Belmont, August, 1813-1890
Call number
MssCol 257
Physical description
.8 linear feet (3 boxes)
Language
Materials in English
Preferred Citation

August Belmont papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library

Repository
Manuscripts and Archives Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.

Collection consists of Belmont's letter books, 1853-1858, as United States Chargé d'Affaires and Minister to the Netherlands; correspondence as a director and president of the New York Academy of Music; visiting list, 1853-1854, at the Hague; several letters to his wife, Catherine Slidell Perry Belmont, from European figures; and family memorabilia. Correspondents include Charles R. Fowler, D. Kingslund Macy, J.H. Mapleson, Levi P. Morton, Royal Phelps, C.A. Seward, and B. Ullman. Also, personal and household papers, photograph of Belmont, and copper plates for invitations, calling cards and admission cards.

Biographical/historical information

August Belmont, Sr. was a banker, diplomat, and a patron of the arts. He was born in the German Rhine Province in 1816 to Jewish parents. He married Caroline Slidell Perry, daughter of Commodore Matthew Perry (1794-1858), in 1949. Belmont began his career at the age of 14 in the office of the Rothschilds. He established the internationally known banking-house August Belmont & Co. during the financial panic of 1837. He served as Minister to the Netherlands from 1854 to 1857 under the Pierce administration. Belmont was appointed director of the New York Academy of Music in 1878; this appointment, which he held until 1884, was intended to resolve problems arising from previous bad management. In addition, Belmont collected objects d'art. He died in 1890.

Scope and arrangement

The collection contains Letterbooks, Correspondence, and Minor Series. The five Letterbooks (1853-1858) record outgoing letters from the period that Belmont served as Minister at the Hague; many of these letters are to William Learned Marcy (1786-1857), Secretary of State, 1853-1857. Correspondence (ca. 1878-1884) consists of letters regarding the management of the New York Academy of Music; correspondents include Levi P. Morton (1824-1920) and Charles Seward. There is also a file of personal letters which includes letters between Mrs. Belmont and Samuel Wylie Crawford (1829-1892), an author of books about the Civil War. Minor Series contain a Photograph, Personal and Household Papers, a Register, and Copper-plates. The Photograph is of Belmont; Personal and Household Papers include various memoranda and a record of Belmont's wine-cellar; the Register is a copy of visiting lists from the Hague and New York City; eight Copper-plates are for invitations, calling cards, and admission cards.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Received from Mrs. August Belmont, Jr., 1954

Processing information

Compiled by Julia Todd, 1988-04-06

Using the collection

Location

Manuscripts and Archives Division
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788
Brooke Russell Astor Reading Room, Third Floor, Room 328