Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary
Special Collections© 2002 By the College of William and Mary
Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Processed by: Special Collections Staff
Collection is open to all researchers.
Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
William Short Papers, Manuscripts and Rare Books Department, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Gift: 1 item, n.d.
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.
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.
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.
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 conatins miscellaneous.
ArrangementSeries 1 is arranged chronologically.
Arranged chronologically.
Mentions that [Thomas] Jefferson is at Havre; trusts his opinion of whether the warrants should be sold at a loss to purchase certificates by January 1; mentions that the market will probably be good for wheat and flour.
Explains the departure of William Short, Minister, being due to ill health. [Accession information states that this letter was William Short's personal copy].
Recommending a young man for a position at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.
Mentions his failing health; gives his opinion of Charles' son's marriage; states the last letter received was accompanied by the deed.
Mentions defeating the descendents 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 W[illiam] Short, Philad[elphi]a, [Pennsylvania] , 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 pages. ALS)
Expresses his opinion concerning wills and his desires concerning the handling of his personal will. (2 pages. 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 page.)
Mentions his indisposition, and 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. (Accession 1995.33)
Including documentation, 3 November 1983, by the National Museum of American History, giving a detailed analysis of the watch. (1 page.)
Including documentation of the photograph. (4 pages.)
Also inluding an article entitled "Our First Career Diplomat and the Duchesse "or "Uncle Willie's Wallet and the Lady Inside, "by Lucille McWane Watson. (18 pages.)