The United States consuls and vice-consuls were mandated to provide assistance to American citizens in foreign countries. They assisted individual Americans with various issues, including visas, passports, and legal entanglements. They provided advice to American companies on investment opportunities. Consuls aided American sailors and fishermen, who were injured, ill-treated or separated from vessels, return to their home ports.
published
Partial
Draft
Title based on the contents of the fonds
Fonds consists of consular dispatches acquired by the Maritime History Group to be used in the Atlantic Canada Shipping Project, a major research initiative, examining various aspects of the Atlantic Canadian maritime economy. Consular dispatches included details on American shipping and investment, as well as reports on distressed sailors and fishermen.
Fonds consists of dispatches from the United States consuls at St. John's, 1852-1906. The fonds also includes consular reports from selected Canadian ports: Prince Edward Island: Charlottetown (1857-1906); Nova Scotia: Halifax (1833-1906); Pictou (1837-1907), Windsor (1872-1906); Yarmouth (1886-1906); New Brunswick: Moncton (1855-1905); Saint John (1835-1906), St. Stephen (1882-1906); Quebec (1861-1906), Gaspe (1856-1906).
Fonds also includes consular dispatches from St. Pierre, 1850-1906.
Records were acquired from the Maritime History Group in the mid 1980s.
Records were microfilmed by the National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration, Washington, in 1960. The Maritime History Group commenced the acquisition of dispatches circa 1975.
There are no restrictions on access to or use of the materials in this fonds.
MHA Finding Aid 125