Browse Selections from the James B. Angell Papers, 1845-1916

The Correspondence series is the largest portion of the collection and dates from 1851 to 1916. The series pertains to all phases of Angell's career, university, diplomatic, and personal. Angell corresponded with a wide range of educators, diplomats, and politicians. Two folders of note, titled "Miscellaneous" and "Regarding death of Sarah Angell" contain letters to James from local organizations and university departments offering their condolences for the passing of his wife. These folders also contain a number of obituaries from Michigan and Rhode Island newspapers describing some of Sarah's major accomplishments.

The series also contains a card index to most of Angell's correspondence (Boxes 16-17). Appended to this finding aid is a selective name inventory to these correspondents listing dates of letters. The library also has an extensive (six volume), though incomplete, calendar to the Angell Correspondence series. This calendar consists of fairly detailed summarizations of the individual letters in the collection. The researcher should also note that the correspondence is primarily incoming only with very few copies of Angell's responses.

The Asia Library of the University of Michigan has obtained microfilm copies of Angell's correspondence written while serving in China. The originals of the microfilm are located in the National Archives in Washington D.C.

The series Lectures and Lecture Notes consists of text and notes for a series of lectures on international affairs, international law and European history which Angell prepared between 1866 and 1879.

Angell was a frequent speaker at civic and ceremonial events, high school and college commencements, to scholarly and professional organizations, religious groups, and the students and faculty of the university. The Addresses and articles series contains texts and outlines of speeches and a number of published articles, many of which originated as speeches. The addresses and article cover a wide range of topics including, education, religion, international affairs - especially in regard to China, and civic and patriotic themes. The series is arranged chronologically.

The Subject Files and Personal Papers series includes a variety of material reflecting Angell's interest and activities as well as aspects of his personal life. It includes notes and materials collected for historical research and lectures, files concerning his diplomatic missions and service on the fisheries commission, and material relating to the University of Michigan. The personal materials include several biographical sketches, a manuscript and typescript of and Angell's will and the inventory of his estate.

The Photographs series includes numerous formal photographic portraits of Angell as well shots of him working at his office and around campus. The series also contains a number of photographs of Angell's family members, such as his daughter, Lois Angell McLaughlin, father-in-law, Alexis Caswell, and wife, Sarah Caswell Angell.