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Creator
Field, Cyrus W. (Cyrus West), 1819-1892
Call number
MssCol 993
Physical description
11 linear feet (20 boxes)
Language
Materials in English
Preferred Citation

Cyrus W. Field 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 contains correspondence, legal and financial documents, estate papers, inventories, notes, maps, photographs, and printed materials that document Field's business activities and estate. General correpondence, 1846-1892 (mostly incoming letters), concerns business matters. Business papers, 1858-1891, consist of correspondence and legal and financial documents relating to Field's involvement with various telegraph, railroad and newspaper companies. Land papers, 1831-1895, pertain to properties in New York State (with information about the Croton Aqueduct), New York City and Massachusetts. Field's estate papers, 1851-1905, include wills, insurance policies, stock, correspondence, legal papers, and claims against Field's estate. Financial papers, 1843-1892, contain account books, accounts, receipts, and cancelled checks. Also, inventories of Field's estate, notes on the Field family, papers regarding Major John André monument and James Garfield memorial, maps, photographs, printed matter, and miscellaneous papers.

Biographical/historical information

Cyrus West Field, merchant, capitalist and promoter of the first Atlantic Cable, was born on November 30, 1819 in Stockbridge, Massachusetts to Submit Dickinson and David Dudley Field. Field's business ventures include his own firm the 'Cyrus W. Field & Co.; the New York Elevated Railroad and ownership of The Mail and Express Company. Field owned the latter from 1880-1890, until he had to sell the newspaper to pay off debts from a series of bad investments.

Field is well known for the first cable linking, the United states with the European continent. This venture failed in 1858, after working only a few days but Field's determination made it a success in 18651866. Field amassed a great deal of wealth during his lifetime but through bad advice, investments and family problems Field died in bankruptcy on July 12, 1892. Field was survived by several children, his wife Mary Bryon Stone having died a year earlier.

Scope and arrangement

The Papers consists of General Correspondence, 1846-1892; undated mainly incoming regarding business activities. Business Papers consists of correspondence; legal and financial documents primarily of: the Atlantic Cable/ Atlantic Telegraph Company; New York, Newfoundland and London Telegraph Company; Western Telegraph Company; New York, New England Railroad Company; Manhattan Elevated; New York Elevated; Metro Elevated Railroad; Field and Day Company; Lapsley, Field and Company; Newfoundland Land Company; the Mail and Express Company and various coal and iron companies. Land Papers: New York State, New York City and Massachusetts. Field's estate Papers: wills, claims against Field's estate and Insurance policies. Financial papers: accounts, account books; funeral expenses, stocks, and cancelled checks. The remaining materials are inventories of Field estate; notes; maps; papers regarding Major John Andre Monument and James A. Garfield Memorial; miscellaneous; printed material — and photographs.

Arrangement

Four series: I. General Correspondence; II. Business Papers; III. Land Papers; IV. Field's Estate and Financial Papers

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

June 22, 1948, Received from Lord, Day and Lord (H. deforest Baldwin) gift

Processing information

Accessioned by Valerie Wingfield, 2//1986

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