Haitian Collection, 1714-1916 | Boston Public Library Archival and Manuscript Finding Aid Database

By Rare Books and Manuscripts Department staff, November 2011

Collection Overview

Title: Haitian Collection, 1714-1916

Predominant Dates: 1783-1839

Collection Identifier: MS Haiti

Extent: 2000.0 Items

Subjects: Dessalines, Jean-Jacques, 1758-1806., France — Colonies, Haiti -- History -- Revolution, 1791-1804., Haiti — Civilization, Haiti — Politics and Government — To 1791, Haiti — Relations — United States, Haiti — Social Conditions, Slavery — Haiti — History, Toussaint Louverture, 1743-1803

Languages: French, English

Abstract

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection dates from 1714 to 1916 (with gaps) and documents French colonial rule of Saint Domingue, the slave insurrection, the beginning of Haitian self-rule, and the development of the Republic. Important figures include Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Toussaint Louverture, Henry (Henri) Christophe, Alexandre Pétion, Jean Pierre Boyer, Donatien-Marie-Joseph de Vimeur, and Julien Raimond. Among the most common topics covered are slavery and the slave trade, commercial activities, and colonial life. In addition, there are several letters that contain events that occurred during the American Revolution. Included are correspondence, financial records, and legal documents.

Collection Historical Note

From 1660 to 1804, Haiti, then known as Saint Domingue, was a French colony located on the island of Hispaniola where African slaves were used to work on the plantations that produced tobacco, indigo, cotton, and cacao. Inspired by the French Revolution, Toussaint Loverture, a freed slave, led an insurrection in 1791 that put an end to slavery in Saint Domingue. In order to maintain French control, in 1801 Napoleon Bonaparte sent an invasion force, but all attempts failed. On January 1, 1804, Jean Jacques Dessalines, leader of the rebels, declared independence from France. In 1806, after the assassination of Dessalines, the country was divided in two: a kingdom in the north led by Henri Christophe and a republic in the south ruled by Alexandre Pétion. In 1821, Jean Pierre Boyer reunified Haiti and in 1825, negotiated an agreement with France which stipulated that France would recognize Haiti as an independent nation in return for 150 million francs (later reduced to 90 million francs). A revolt led by Charles Rivière-Hérard overthrew Boyer in 1843 and a long period political and economic instability ensued that ended with the occupation of Haiti by the United States in 1915.

Subject/Index Terms

Dessalines, Jean-Jacques, 1758-1806.
France — Colonies
Haiti -- History -- Revolution, 1791-1804.
Haiti — Civilization
Haiti — Politics and Government — To 1791
Haiti — Relations — United States
Haiti — Social Conditions
Slavery — Haiti — History
Toussaint Louverture, 1743-1803

Administrative Information

Repository: Boston Public Library Archival and Manuscript Finding Aid Database

Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions:

Items in this collection may be subject to copyright restrictions. The Boston Public Library does not hold copyright on the material in this collection. Researchers are responsible for identifying and contacting the persons or organizations that hold copyright.

When reproducing material from this collection please include the credit line "Courtesy of the Trustees of the Boston Public Library/ Rare Books."

Acquisition Method: The collection was purchased with various funds.

Related Materials:

Rochambeau, Donatien Marie Joseph de Vimeur, vicomte de, 1750-1813. MS 3127

Rochambeau, Donatien Marie Joseph de Vimeur, vicomte de, 1750-1813. MS 3128

For books and pamphlets on Haiti, please consult the Hunt Hispanola History Collection finding aid located in the Rare Books and Manuscripts Department.

Preferred Citation: Haitian Collection. MS Haiti. Rare Books and Manuscripts Department, Boston Public Library. Courtesy of the Trustees of the Boston Public Library/Rare Books.

Processing Information: Finding aid written by Rare Books and Manuscripts staff.

Finding Aid Revision History: Updated by Tara Maharjan, November 2011.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Item:

[Item MS Haiti 1: see Item Oversized],
[Item MS Hat2-1: see Item Oversized],
[Item MS Hai2-2: see Item Oversized],
[Item MS Haiti 3: see Item Oversized],
[Item MS Haiti 4: see Item Oversized],
[Item MS Haiti 5: see Item Oversized],
[Item MS Haiti 6: see Item Oversized],
[Item MS Hait 7: Toussaint Loverture, Pierre Dominigue, 1764-1803. Ms. L.S. to Gen. Laveaux; Petite Rivière, 17 September 1795],
[Item MSHait 8-1: Vincent, Charles de. Ms. L. (copy) to Toussaint Louverture arguing against Haitian independence and promulgation of constitution; Alexandria, Va., 7 aout 1801., 7 August 1801],
[Item MS Hait8-2: Vincent, Charles de. Ms. L. (copy) to Toussaint Loverture describing prejudice against blacks in United States and chiding him for allowing others to delude him into issuing constitution and breaking with France; Phildelphia, 17 aout 1801, 17 August 1801],
[Item MS Hait 9: France. Armée. Direction de St. Domingue, Division du nord. Rapport d'une reconnaissance faite depuis le village de la Vega jusqu'a baye de Samanah par les citoyens Barre & Lacroix, ingénieurs de l'estat; Samana, 19 juin 1801, 19 June 1801],
[Item MS Hait 10: France. Commission à Santo Domingo. Premier rapport des naturalistes employés par la commission du gouvernement francais à St. Domingo en mission dans la partie espagnole de Saint Dominque; San Juan de Maguana, 9 janvier 1799. Prepared by Augard, botanist and Advonier, mineralogist., 9 January 1799],
[Item MS Hait 11: France. Armée. Armée de St. Domingue. Génie militaire. Suite de la correspondance de service. Direction de Moulut; Port Républicain [i.e. Port-au-Prince] 24 novembre 1802-12 avril 1803. Ms.D., 24 November 1802-12 April 1803],
[Item MS Hait 12: Tempete, Louis. Testament giving all his property to his former master Louis Barbaut of Paris; Léogane, 12 decembre 1742. Ms.D. (copy), 12 December 1742],
[Item MS Hait 13: France. Armée. direction de St. Domingue. Reconnoissance de la coste depuis le Port-au-Prince jusqu'a L'Anse à Veau; Port-au-Prince, 9 avril 1789. Ms.D.S. (de Vilaire) On condition of coastal fortifications., 9 april 1789],
[Item Hait 14: Meriam. Francis J. Notes on Haitian history and bibliography; Port-au-Prince, etc. [18-?] Ms.DD.],
[Item MS Hait 15: Meriam, Francis J. Notes on bibliography of Haitian constitution; [Port-au-Prince? 18--?] Ms.D.],
[Box 66],
[Box 67],
[Box 68],
[Box 69],
[Box 70],
[Box 71],
[Box 72],
[Item Oversized],
[All]

Item Oversized

Item q Hait 1: Haiti (Republic) Constitution., 21 June 1867

Constitution de la Republique d'Haiti; Port-au-Prince, 21 juin 1867. Ms.D. 1 vol.

Item qHait 2(1): Birt, Jabez Sheen, 1789-1825, supposed author.

Narrative of events which occurred during the revolution which ended in the death of the Kind of Hayti and the establishment of the Republic; [Cap Haitien, 185-?] Ms. D. (copy) 1 vol. n.d.

Item qHait 2(2): Hunt, Benjamin Peter, 1808-1877.

Exports from Cape Haytien in 1844; [Cap Haitien, 1846?] (20 p.)

Item f Hait 3: Hunt, Benjamin Peter, 1808-1877.

French St. Domingo and Hayti (incomplete history); [Philadelphia, 187-?] A. Ms. 1 vol.

Item f Hait 4: Hunt, Benjamin Peter, 1808-1877. The Haytians.

On social conditions, manners, etc. observed by the author during residence in Haiti, 1840-1857. [Philadelphia, 187-?] A. Ms. 1 vol.

Item f Hait 5: Hunt, Benjamin Peter, 1808-1877.

Notes relating directly or indirectly to French St. Domingo and Hayti; [Port-au-Prince, etc. Haiti, 1840-1857] A.Ms. 6 vols.

Item f Hait 6: Howard,

Journal while officer in British Army occupying St. Domingo; [Haiti] February 1796-January 1798. A.Ms. 3 vols.

Item qHait 54-1: Lubin, Maurice Alcibiade, 1917-.

Productions intellectuelles haitiennes de 1942 à 1952; Port-au-Prince] 1952. Typescript (carbon) S. 1 vol. Prepared for Institut Haitien de Statistique.

Folder vHait 69-7: Santo Domingo (French colony)

Ms.D.: Memoire concerning the limits of French possessions on the island of Santo Domingo in litigation with Spain; [n.p., 17--?] Item stored in v Haiti box.

Folder vHait69-19

Items stored in v Haiti box.

Item 1: Kerverseau, François Marie Périchou, 1757-1825, 31 March 1802

Ms.D.S. ordering halt to aid of enemy; [Santo Domingo] 31 mars 1802.

Item 2: Kerverseau, François Marie Périchou, 1757-1825, 11 June 1802

Ms.D.S. ordering all land registrations be turned in to the Administration of the National Domains; Santo Domingo, 11 juin 1802.

Item 3: Kerverseau, François Marie Périchou, 1757-1825, 14 June 1802

Ms.D.S. ordering seizure if registers in possession of notary, Francisco Labastida; Santo Domingo, 14 juin 1802.

Item 4: Kerverseau, François Marie Périchou, 1757-1825, 16 June 1802

Ms.D.S. ordering evacuation of convent, San Francisco and establishment of military hospital in its building; Santo Domingo, 16 juin 1802.

Item 5: Kerverseau, François Marie Périchou, 1757-1825, 18 June 1802

Ms.D.S.: Orders concerning title to and ownership of Convent of San Francisco; Santo Domingo, 18 juin 1802.

Item 6: Kerverseau, François Marie Périchou, 1757-1825, 18 June 1802

Ms.D.S.; Orders concerning disposition of precious objects belonging to Convent of San Francisco; Santo Domingo, 18 juin 1802.

Item 7: Kerverseau, François Marie Périchou, 1757-1825, 20 June 1802

Ms.D.S. ordering collection of church valuables to protect them from Toussaint; Santo Domingo, 20 juin 1802.

Item 8: Kerverseau, François Marie Périchou, 1757-1825, 20 June 1802

Ms.D.S. ordering new inventory of holdings of Convent of St. Dominique; Santo Domingo, 20 juin 1802.

Item 9: Kerverseau, François Marie Périchou, 1757-1825, 20 June 1802

Ms.D.S. ordering nullification of fraudulent mortgage of Convent of Notre Dame de la Mercy by Antonio De la Cruz to Joseph Soler to Convent of St. Dominique; Santo Domingo 20 juin 1802.

Another copy, unsigned.

Item 10: Kerverseau, François Marie Périchou, 1757-1825, 20 June 1802

Ms.D.S. ordering nullification of fraudulent mortgage of Convent of Notre Dame de la Mercy by Antonio De la Cruz to Joseph Soler to Convent of St. Dominique; Santo Domingo 20 juin 1802.

Another copy, unsigned.

Folder xHai70-23A: Barré de Saint Venant, Jean, 1737-1810, [1794?]

Ms.D.: Recapitulation du recensement genéral suivant les declarations des habitans du ressort du conseil superieur de St. domingue pour la population et culture pour l'année 1788 [and] Resumé general du commerce de St. Domingue avec les differentes nations pendant l'année 1788; [St. Domingue, 1794?]

Folder fHait69-29: Toussaint Louverture, Pierre Dominique, 1743-1803, 6 March 1801

A.L.S. to Gen. de Lebecour stating that he is worthy of commission; Santo Domingo, 6 mars 1801. Item stored in folio section.

Folder vHait71-48: France. Armée. Armée de St. Domingue. 2éme. demi-brigade d'infanterie légère., 15 May 1803

Congé de réforme au Laurent Michel, chasseur de la troisième compagnie du premier bataillon; Cap Français, 15 mai 1803. Printed D. filled out in ms.S. (Gen. Clauzel, H. Reynaud, etc.) Item stored in v Haiti box.

Folder vHait71-49: Haiti. Trésorerie nationale. Ms. D.S.; Cap Haitian, 31 August 1825

Etat des sommes perçues por fermes arrierés des maisons, habitations, etc. pendant le courant du mois d'août 1825. 1 s (3 p.)

Folder vHait71-50: Sine (ship); Ms. D., 23 March 1790

Compte de parte de 446 tetes de noirs composants la cargaison du navire la Seine du Havre 5e, Ve. Cape. Léguillon venant d'Anamabou et entré en ce part le 30 août 1789; Cap Français, 23 mars 1790. Certifited by Foäche, P. Morange & Hardivillier. Lists purchasers and prices. 1 s. (2 p.)

Folder xHait 72-1: Bellecombe, 1792

Plan de la ville et d'une partie des environs du Môle St. Nicolas; [Môle St. Nicolas] 1792. Ms. map in color. Item stored in x Haiti box.

Folder xHait 72-2: Bellecombe, [1792]

Plan du Cap et Môle St. Nicolas;[Môle St. Nicolas, 1792] Ms.map in color. With 6 overlays depicting proposed fortifications. Item stored in v Haiti box.

Folder fHait 72-9: Tuttle, Henry C, 28 October 1916

Report to G.W. Currier on business, government and social conditions in Haiti; Boston, 28 Oct. 1916. Typescript. illus. Numerous photographs mounted throughout. Item stored in folio section.