This index to the Despatches from U.S. Ministers to Japan, 1855-1906, collection provides the dates each reel covers. Government Information MAY NOT hold all of these reels. The record in the library catalog describes the extent of our holdings. For help, or to make an appointment to view a reel, email rad@colorado.edu
On the 82 rolls of this microcopy are reproduced 83 volumes that consist, for the most part, of despatches addressed to the Department of State by United States diplomatic representatives to Japan between March 17, 1855, and August 9, 1906. The register to these despatches reproduced on Roll 1 of this microcopy consists of selected pages from a number of State Department registers, which, taken as a unit, comprise a register of these despatches from 1855 to 1906. These register volumes, in their entirety, record diplomatic despatches received by the Department of State from American legations throughout the world from 1789 to 1906. For the period beginning in 1870 the communications reproduced in this microcopy are registered, with those from representatives in other countries, in volumes that have been reproduced as the first 10 rolls of Microcopy 17, State Department Registers of Correspondence. The despatches, with few exceptions, are arranged in chronological order.
Most of the communications are original despatches, usually accompanied by enclosures. Some of the enclosures are original notes to the American representatives from officials of the Japanese foreign ministry. Other enclosures were written by American consuls in Japan and, occasionally, by private citizens of the United States. A considerable number of enclosures are copies of communications sent by American representatives to Japanese officials. Pamphlets, newspaper clippings, and other printed matter are sometimes enclosed.
Apart from numbered despatches and enclosures, these volumes contain many unnumbered letters, some of which are marked "Private" or "Confidential." Unnumbered or private letters, more informal than despatches, may report official matters requiring secrecy or not fully covered in the despatches, or may convey personal news, acknowledgments of appointment or recall, announcements of arrival or departure, and statements of official expenses. The volumes also contain telegrams and cables, which were not numbered.
The spreadsheet attached below contains a reel-by-reel description of the complete collection.