Luther T. Ellsworth collection Papers of an American consul, 1873-1916 MSS 3

Biographical Sketch

From The American Blue Book of Biography, Men of 1912

American consul; born in West Richfield, Summit County, Ohio, in 1854.  Raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and a graduate of the public schools and the Bryant Stratton and Felton Business College of that city.  1874-1878 principal owner and mining secretary of the Pasigo River Gold Mining Company, with offices at Empire Station, Panama; 1879-1880 teacher in the public schools of Atacosa County, Texas; 1881-1889 foreman of coaling station of L.S. & M.S. Railway Co., at Elkhart, Ind.; 1890-1897 assistant to master carpenter, L.S. & M.S. Railway Col., at Cleveland, Ohio.  Appointed American consul to Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, May 5, 1898; to Cartagena, Colombia, Oct. 12, 1903; to Chihuahua, Mexico, March 30, 1907; to Ciudad Pofirio Diaz, Mexico, Oct. 21, 1907.  [Papers supplied to the family indicate his estate was entered into probate in Summit County, Ohio, in 1916]

Ellsworth is the subject of an 80-page monograph entitled Luther T. Ellsworth: U.S. Consul on the Border during the Mexican Revolution, by Dorothy Pierson Kerig (Texas Western Press, University of Texas at El Paso, 1975).

Scope and Contents 

            The papers of Luther T. Ellsworth consist entirely of photocopies of correspondence and other personal papers (certificates, photographs, and newspaper clippings) pertaining to his activities as an American consul. The collection was lent to Boise State University in 1970 for photocopying by a descendant of Mr. Ellsworth, and the originals were returned.  The papers focus on Ellsworth’s diplomatic career (1897-1913) but also include material relating to other periods in his life.  Some of the letters and clippings in the collection appear to have come from a scrapbook.  It is not possible from information in the collection,to establish the original arrangement of these materials.  Added to the collection are research materials (Folders 14 to 23) assembled by Robert L. McDowell, a librarian at Boise State who worked with the papers.

             Mr. Ellsworth was active in Republican election affairs in the late 1890s. His activities led to an acquaintanceship with Charles Dick who served on the Republican National Committee and was later the Congressman instrumental in Mr. Ellsworth’s appointment as American consul to Venezuela, Columbia, and Mexico.

             Many of the letters, diplomatic reports, and newspaper clippings included in this collection describe the political instability and resulting difficulties experienced by the citizens of Venezuela and Mexico. In the late 1890s Venezuela and later Mexico were embroiled in internal revolution and threats of foreign intervention.  Gunboat diplomacy which played a major role in U.S. foreign policy as well as in the internal politics of Latin American states necessitated an active role on the part of American consular officials.  In his official duties as consul, Mr. Ellsworth generated correspondence with various officials, i.e. David J. Hill, Assistant Secretary of State; F.B. Loomis, Ambassador to Venezuela; J.M. Hemphill, commander of the U.S.S Detroit; and Generals Ramon Guerra, Antonio Paredes, and Cipriano Castro – who led various factions in Venezuela.

             Ellsworth’s activities were reported upon by several newspapers. Clippings of these articles are included in the collection.  In addition, there are certificates signed by McKinley, Roosevelt, and Porfirio Diaz regarding his appointments.

Collection number: MSS 3
Inclusive dates: 1873-1916
Collection size: ca. 100 items

 Folder list: Entirely photocopies

Box 1

Folder  1          Biographical material
            2                    Personal papers; Certificates
            3                    Photos
            4                    Correspondence:          1880-1897
            5                    Correspondence:          1897-1899       (Republican Party)
            6                    Correspondence:          1898                (Appointment as Consul)
            7                    Correspondence:          1899 Sept.       (Puerto Cabello)
            8                    Correspondence:          1899 Oct.        (Puerto Cabello)
            9                    Correspondence:          1899 Nov.
            10                Correspondence:          1899 Dec.
            11                Newspaper clippings: 1898-1911
            12                Certificates of appointment
            13                Miscellaneous documents

Research materials added to the collection
 

 14                Robert L. McDowell correspondence: 1970-1971

15                Excerpts from Foreign Relations of the United States (1899)

16                Castro, Cipriano:          Articles, etc. 1

17                Castro, Cipriano:          Articles, etc. 2

18                Castro, Cipriano:          Articles, etc. 3

19                Castro, Cipriano:          Articles, etc. 4

20                Castro, Cipriano:          Articles, etc. 5

21                Castro, Cipriano:          Articles, etc. 6

22                Miscellaneous

23                Calendar of items in Folders 1-13 prepared in 1970
      Several items could not be located in 1992

Box 2

Microfilm of the collection (2 copies; 218 frames each)

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