Joel Barlow papers

1779-1936

Joel Barlow (1754-1812) was an American poet, businessman, and diplomat. The collection consists of miscellaneous autograph material, transcripts and printed matter reflecting Joel Barlow's personal, business and literary affairs, and his diplomatic post as U.S. Minister to France, 1812. Present are three letters by Barlow to various recipients regarding personal and literary matters, 1788-1807; a letter to Mr. Fitzgerald, a merchant in Alexandria, Va.,regarding the Scioto Land Company, 1790; Barlow's autograph translation of an agreement employing Etienne Sulpice Hallet with the Scioto Land Company, 1790; and two documents signed as U.S. Minister Plenipotentiary to France dated 28 Feb. 1812 and 13 Aug. 1812. Also, a printed decree giving Barlow the title and rights of French citizenship, 23 Feb. 1793; two engraved portraits, one with a clipped autograph receipt dated 1779; a signed check, 1811; and a binding cover with signed fly leaf. Transcripts include Barlow's correspondence regarding the purchase of wine for the Scioto Company, 1789-1790; a Bible inscription for his sister Huldah, 1805; a letter to his brother Jacob, 1809; and a photostat copy of a letter to H.P. Dering, 1809. With clippings of material by and about Barlow from periodical literature, auction catalogs and newspapers, 1787-1936.