MenuInventory of the Robert Leslie Papers, 1783-1934 and undated, bulk 1814-1872
Abstract
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.
Descriptive Summary
- Repository
- David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University
- Creator
- Leslie, Robert, ca. 1794-ca. 1879.
- Title
- Robert Leslie Papers, 1783-1934 and undated , bulk 1814-1872
- Language of Material
- English
- Extent
- 23.7 Linear Feet, Approximately 15,398 Items
- Location
- For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
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.
Administrative Information
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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.
Use Restrictions
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.
Contents of the Collection
Browse List of Series
Collapse All
Expand AllArranged chronologically.
Arranged chronologically.
Addition (1987)
Subject Headings
- 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.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Robert Leslie papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University
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.