This index to the Notes to Foreign Legations in the United States from the Department of State, 1834-1906, 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
This publication reproduces record copies of letters and other correspondence sent by the Department of State to foreign diplomatic and consular officials stationed in the United States. Most of the letters are either requests for information and policy clarification on matters of interest to the United States or State Department responses to similar requests from representatives of other nations. Some of the letters are ceremonial, including those sent as official recognition of a particular envoy’s diplomatic credentials, as well as invitations to meetings, ceremonies, funerals, and other events. A few of the notes are “circulars,” sent to several or all foreign legations or consulates simultaneously, outlining important U.S. policies, decrees, and initiatives.
Most of the correspondence sent by the department to foreign legations and consulates was copied for the central file; occasionally, however, notes on more routine matters were not copied and therefore are not included in these publications. Some earlier notes to foreign representatives can be found in M40, Domestic Letters of the Department of the Department of State 1784 -1906.
In 1834, the Department of State began arranging notes to foreign legations and consulates alphabetically by the name of each country, and thereunder in volumes arranged chronologically. In 1853 the department began to keep correspondence addressed to foreign consuls separately. Until 1870, indexes to the documents were included at the beginning of each volume.
The spreadsheet attached below contains a reel-by-reel description of the complete collection.