DACS

leslierobert Inventory of the Robert Leslie Papers, 1783-1934 and undated, bulk 1814-1872 Processed by: Rubenstein Library staff; machine-readable finding aid created by: Ted Holt David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library Duke University Durham, N.C., USA

Aleph Number: 000865117

Machine-readable finding aid derived from XML authoring program. Date of source: Nov. 2009Processed by Rubenstein Library staff; finding aid encoded by Ted Holt, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, November 2009 Description is in English Finding aid was prepared using DACS and local Style Guide Inventory of the Robert Leslie Papers, 1783-1934 and undated, bulk 1814-1872 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library Duke University Durham, North Carolina 27708-0185 USA

Descriptive Summary David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University Leslie, Robert, ca. 1794-ca. 1879. Robert Leslie Papers, 1783-1934 and undated , bulk 1814-1872 Material in English 23.7 Linear Feet Approximately 15,398 Items For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog. Merchant, of Petersburg, Va. Correspondence, accounts, invoices, statements, and legal papers (chiefly 1814-1872) of Leslie, a member of the Virginia mercantile firm of Leslie and Shepherd, and a slave owner. The papers before 1819 largely concern the processing and sale of cotton, tobacco, rice, and western lands. Most of the papers after 1819 pertain to tobacco manufacture in the Richmond-Petersburg area. Other topics include Leslie’s career, family, and travels in England; his western landholdings and efforts to develop the West; his slaveholding and attitude toward it; mercantile prices and U.S.-British trade; and absentee landlordship referring to the maintenance of American property owned by Englishmen. Later material includes scattered correspondence and business papers of Leslie’s nephews, Robert L. Watson and John McGill, whom Leslie had admitted to partnership in the firm. Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

However, collection may contain materials to which the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights form applies. Patrons must sign this form before using this collection.

Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Robert Leslie papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library

Provenance

The Robert Leslie papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a gift in 1950.

Processing Information

Processed by Rubenstein Library staff

Encoded by Ted Holt, Nov. 2009

Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and local Style Guide.

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

Collection Overview

Correspondence, accounts, invoices, statements, and legal papers, chiefly spanning the years 1814-1872, of Robert Leslie, a member of the Virginia mercantile firm of Leslie and Shepherd, and a slave owner. The papers before 1819 largely concern the processing and sale of cotton, tobacco, rice, and western lands. Most of the papers after 1819 pertain to tobacco manufacture in the Richmond-Petersburg area. Other topics include Leslie’s career, family, and travels in England; his western landholdings and efforts to develop the West; his slaveholding and attitude toward it; mercantile prices and U.S.-British trade; and absentee landlordship referring to the maintenance of American property owned by Englishmen. Later material includes scattered correspondence and business papers of Leslie’s nephews, Robert L. Watson and John McGill, whom Leslie had admitted to partnership in the firm.

Subject Headings

These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.

Absentee landlordism. Commission merchants--Virginia--Petersburg. Cotton trade--Virginia. England--Description and travel. Great Britain--Commerce--United States. Land settlement--West (U.S.). Leslie and Shepherd (Petersburg, Va.). McGill, J. F. (John F.) Merchants--Virginia--Petersburg. Rice trade--Virginia. Slaveholders--Virginia. Slavery--Virginia. Tobacco--Virginia--Marketing. United States--Commerce--Great Britain. Virginia--Economic conditions. Watson, Robert L. Contents of Collection Correspondence Series, 1783-1934, bulk 1814-1872 (35 boxes)

Arranged chronologically.

11783-1815 21816-1820 31821-1826 Feb. 41826 Mar.-1827 Apr. 51827 May-1828 Feb. 61828 Mar.-Dec. 71829 Apr.-Sept. 81829 Oct.-1830 Aug. 91830 Sept.-1831 July 101831 Aug.-1832 May 111832 June-1833 Feb. 121833 Mar.-Oct. 131833 Nov.-1834 Apr. 141834 May-Nov. 151834 Dec.-1835 Apr. 161835 May-1835 Oct. 171835 Nov.-1836 June 181836 July-1837 May 191837 June-1838 Feb. 201838 Mar.-Dec. 211839 Jan.-Nov. 221839 Dec.-1840 Sept. 231840 Oct.-1843 Sept. 241843 Oct.-1845 Dec. 251846-1848 261849 271850 Jan.-1851 Aug. 281851 Sept.-1853 Apr. 291853 May-1854 Dec. 301855-1857 311858-1860 Aug. 321860 Sept.-1869 331860-1872 Sept. 341872 Oct.-1889 351890-1934 Financial Papers Series, 1820s-1899 and undated (12 boxes)

Arranged chronologically.

36Bills and receipts 1820s 371820s-1830s 38-411830s 421840s 431840s-1850s 441850s 451850s-1860s 46-47Undated papers 47Volumes, cashbooks, 1850-1899 Addition (1987) (1 box) 1Chiefly handwritten correspondence.