Portuguese Diplomatic Papers Series, 1912

The papers of Cyrus E. Woods (1861-1938), diplomat, lawyer, and politician, consist of .25 linear feet of correspondence (436 items in all). These papers, bound together in a single volume with a complete index at the front, cover the first year (1912) of Woods' term as minister to Portugal. They are his official papers with the in-coming correspondence as well as retained carbons of Woods' replies, the latter group all being signed by him. The incoming letters include from official communications with the State Department in Washington, correspondence with the Portuguese government in Lisbon and requests for assistance by Americans either visiting Portugal or seeking favors from the Portuguese government. Correspondents include such statesmen as Philander C. Knox, Huntington Wilson, and John Bassett. A series to and from Arthur Macdonald are important; he was the father of the study of abnormal psychology. Perhaps the most important section of the archives is correspondence with the American consul in the Azores. American-Portuguese citizens would return to Portugal, primarily to the Azores, to visit relatives or to inaugurate business ventures. For the most part they were born in Portuguese fishing communities in California and Massachusetts, and many in 1912 were living in the New Bedford and Fall River areas. If they were staying for some length of time in Portugal they were required to fill out a detailed 'Certificate of Registration' for the American consul which would then be forwarded to the Ambassador in Lisbon. These certificates are present and constitute a wealth of statistical and cultural information about the Portuguese in America. The Cyrus E. Woods Papers are an important source for any scholars studying Portuguese American diplomatic relations, American foreign relations, and the history of the Portuguese in America.

Extent: .25 linear feet Number of Boxes: 1 Date Span: 1912