Skip to main content

John H. B. Latrobe papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS 0523

Abstract

This collection contains correspondence, diaries, letterbooks, and scrapbooks relating to John Hazlehurst Boneval Latrobe and his family from 1799-1917.

Dates

  • 1799 - 1917

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Open to the public without restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

The reproduction of materials in this collection may be subject to copyright restrictions. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine and satisfy copyright clearances or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections. For more information visit the MCHC’s Rights and Permissions page.

Biographical / Historical

John Hazlehurst Boneval Latrobe was born in Philadelphia on May 4, 1803 to Benjamin Henry Latrobe (1764-1820) and Mary Elizabeth Hazlehurst (1771-1841). The eldest surviving child of his father's second marriage, he had two elder half-siblings: Lydia Sellon Boneval Latrobe (1791-1878) and Henry Sellon Boneval Latrobe (1792-1817). His younger siblings included Juliana Elizabeth Boneval Latrobe (1804-1890) and Benjamin Henry Latrobe Jr. (1806-1878). His father was a notable architect, famous for his designs of the US Capitol, Baltimore Basilica, and White House porticos. As such, John spent his early years relocating to cities where his father held contracts, such as Washington D.C., Pittsburgh, and Baltimore. In 1818, he entered the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, where he studied engineering. Latrobe left West Point in the middle of his final year, departing in December 1821 to provide support for his family after his father's death. He became a student of law in the office of Robert Goodloe Harper, and was admitted to the bar in 1824.

After passing the Bar in Maryland, John worked for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company (B&O) for many years. He also designed, patented, and produced a popular stove design, which became known as the "Latrobe Stove." John was involved in numerous organizations. In 1844, he became one of the founders of the Maryland Historical Society and later served as the organization's president (1871-1891). John was a major advocate for establishing a colony of former African American slaves in Liberia. He served as president of the Maryland State Colonization Society from 1832-1853, and as president of the American Colonization Society from 1853-1891. John also helped found the American Bar Association, Druid Hill Park, and was one of the judges who helped launch the career of poet and writer Edgar Allen Poe (1809-1849). He married twice. First to Margaret Caile Steuart Latrobe (1795-1831), who bore one son, Henry Boneval Latrobe (1830-1877), before her premature death. John later married Charlotte Virginia Claiborne Latrobe (1815-1903) and they had seven children, including Ferdinand Claiborne Latrobe (1833-1911), a popular seven-term Mayor of Baltimore.

Extent

1.88 Linear Feet (4 full Hollinger boxes; 1 half Hollinger box)

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gifts of Raphael Semmes in 1940 (acc.48215) and Latrobe Cogswell in 1946 (acc.50229) and in 1950 (acc.52131).

Related Materials

MS 0526, John H. B. Latrobe family collection, 1828-1947

MS 1492, John H. B. Latrobe correspondence, 1831-1857

Scope and Contents

The John H. B. Latrobe papers consists of six series: Series I: Correspondence, Series II: Addresses, Series III: Legal papers, Series IV: Miscellaneous papers, Series V: Journals and Scrapbooks, and Series VI: Books.

Series I: Correspondence, is further arranged into two subseries. Subseries A: John H. B. Latrobe incoming correspondence, contains letters sent to Latrobe, 1819-1882. The first letter in this subseries is from Latrobe's father, Benjamin Henry Latrobe, shortly before his death in 1820. Other notable correspondents include his cousin, Charles Joseph Latrobe, Roger B. Taney, Charles Carroll, John P. Kennedy, Zachary Taylor, Washington Irving, Daniel Webster, and Reverdy Johnson, among others.

Subseries B: Other correspondence, contains letters to or from other members of the Latrobe family, as well as individuals outside the Latrobe family. This subseries contains two letters from Robert E. Lee, as well as an 1844 letter in Spanish from Antonio López de Santa Anna while he was President of the Mexican Republic.

Series II: Addresses, contains eleven published speeches, ten of which where given by John H. B. Latrobe, 1834-1880. The topics of these addresses cover various interests of Latrobe's, including the American Colonization Society, law, and freemasons, among other topics. There is also one 1888 published address regarding the founding of the Eastern Shore by Bradley T. Johnson.

Series III: Legal papers, contains five legal documents. These include a bond dated 1799, the 1804 manumission of a Black boy named Charles, an indenture between Charles Carroll of Carrollton and Ferdinand Breech, papers regarding a property dispute between Roger B. Taney and John H. B. Latrobe, and Latrobe's last will and testament.

Series IV: Miscellaneous papers, contain other various papers outside the scope of the first three series. Items of note in this series include an undated sketch of George Washington, presumably drawn from life, and and untitled poem presumably written by Major John André to Margaretta Chew.

Series V: Journals and Scrapbooks, contains ten volumes, beginning with John H. B. Latrobe's commonplace book he kept while a student at West Point, 1818-1821. This volume contains poetry, translations of works, and prose. This series also contains a letter book from Latrobe's early law career, a notebook on legal theory and cases, a journal kept by Latrobe during a steamer voyage in 1847, and several volumes of writings reminiscing on past events. One volume titled "Russian Correspondence, 1856-1857" contains Latrobe's retelling of his trip to Russia. He includes sketches of people and copies of letters, as well as some photographs of individuals he met. Another volume, titled "Sundries of Many Sorts", contains typed recollections of Latrobe's, transcripts of letters he received, as well as transcriptions of letters from his parents. On page 34 of this book he writes, "A glimpse of Washington society- 1812. Extracts from a letter from my dear mother to her life-long and most intimate friend, Mrs. Juliana Miller." He also includes transcripts of leaves from his father's diaries. The only evidence as to when Latrobe wrote this is from the brief notes in the present tense. On page 170, Latrobe writes that "It is now May 1886..." This series also contains an album belonging to Charlotte Virginia Claiborne, Latrobe's second wife, containing poetry written and signed by her friends. There is also a scrapbook belonging to Virginia Isabella Latrobe, John and Charlotte Latrobe's daughter, containing newspaper articles related to the Civil War.

Series VI: Books, contains one undated, handwritten manuscript by John H. B. Latrobe entitled "Mrs. George Fortescue," a book owned and inscribed by Latrobe, and a typed manuscript of a 1917 book by John E. Semmes on the life of John H. B. Latrobe.

Title
Guide to the John H. B. Latrobe papers
Status
Completed
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 2019-08-05: Manually entered into ArchivesSpace by Mallory Herberger.

Repository Details

Part of the H. Furlong Baldwin Library Repository

Contact:
H. Furlong Baldwin Library
Maryland Center for History and Culture
610 Park Avenue
Baltimore MD 21201 United States
4106853750