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Item 51a-c: 3 Visiting Cards from Ministers Plenipotentiary M. Pageot, Alexandre de Bodisco, and Angel Calderon de la Barca to Chester Butler at the Coleman’s Hotel in Washington [French language], ca. 1840s

 Item — Box: 10, Folder: 51a-c

3 Visiting Cards from Ministers Plenipotentiary M. Pageot, Alexandre de Bodisco, and Angel Calderon de la Barca to Chester Butler at the Coleman’s Hotel in Washington [French language], ca. 1840s

Dates

  • Created: ca. 1840s

Creator

Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities

Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.

Access:

All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.

Extent

1 items

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Type of Material:

Visiting cards, one with signature

Condition Note:

Document 110: fair, ink in good condition, bluish-gray stain on the front, edges are beginning to tear, two stripes on the back as if the document was glued to something and then ripped off; Document 111: fair, ink in good condition, bluish-gray stain on front, two stripes on the back as if the document was previously glued to something and then ripped off; Document 112: fair, ink in good condition, document browning, two stripes on the back as if the document was glued to something and then ripped off

Measurements:

Document 110: 2 in. x 3 ⅜ in.; Document 111: 2 1/16 in. x 3 ⅜ in.; Document 112: 2 ¼ in. x 3 ⅝ in.

Description:

The following are three visiting cards [also known as “calling cards”] from ministers plenipotentiary Ángel Calderon de la Barca [Document 110], Alphonse Joseph Yves Pageot [Document 111], and Alexandre [alternatively Alexander] de Bodisco [alternatively Bodisko] [Document 112] likely given to Zebulon Butler’s grandson, Chester Pierce Butler. These visiting cards may have been presented to Chester Pierce Butler at Coleman’s hotel (a nickname for the National Hotel in Washington D.C., renamed and reopened by Samuel S. Coleman) in the 1840’s. Many elite members of society and government officials frequently socialized at Coleman’s hotel. The diary of Elizabeth L.C. Dixon (wife of James Dixon, a U.S. House of Representatives Whig member) mentions socializing at “Coleman’s.” According to her diary, it is very likely that Calderon de la Barca, Pageot, and Bodisco knew one another. Ms. Dixon speaks extensively of the process of exchanging calling cards. Pageot, Bodisco, and de la Barca are named as having been ministers plenipotentiary in Washington D.C. together in 1848. Calderon was a Spanish nobleman and diplomat to the United States and Mexico. According to Document 110, Calderon de la Barca was considered the envoy and minister plenipotentiary of “the Catholic Majesty” likely referring to Queen Isabella II of Spain. Pageot was a French minister and diplomat to the United States and was close to Andrew Jackson. He got married in the White House in 1832, marking the only Roman Catholic wedding ever held in the White House. Alexandre de Bodisco was the Russian ambassador for “S.M., [likely abbreviation for French ‘Sa Majesté/His Majesty’] the Emperor of all the Russias” which came into usage in 1721 under the rule of Peter the Great, Peter I.

Creators:

Ángel Calderon de la Barca, 1790-1861 [Document 110]; Pageot, Alphonse Joseph Yves, 1803-1878 [Document 111]; Bodisco, Alexandre de, 1786-1854 [Document 112]

Location:

“Coleman’s” (likely referring to the National Hotel located on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C., known as Coleman’s hotel because it was renamed and reopened by Samuel S. Coleman)

Transcription:

[Document 110; front] Le Chevalier Calderon de la Barca. Envoyé extraordinaire & Ministre Plénipotentiaire De La Majesté Catholique

[Document 110; back] Double(?) C. Butler Colemen’s

Translation Attempt: The Fellow Calderon of Barca. Extraordinary diplomat & Minister Plenipotentiary of the Catholic Majesty.

[Document 111; front]

For Mr. Chester Butler [handwritten in pencil]

M. Pageot. [Printed] Ministre Plénipotentiaire de France.

[Translation Attempt:]

M. Pageot. Minister Plenipotentiary of France

[Document 112; front] M. & Mrs. C Butler [Handwritten] 112 [Handwritten in pencil]

M. Bodisco [Signature] Alexandre de Bodisco. [Print] Conseiller privé, Envoyé Extraord[inai]re & Ministre Plénipotentiaire de S.M. [sa majesté] l’Empereur de toutes les Russies. Près des Etats Unis.

[Document 112; Back] Mr. & Mrs. Chester Butler [Handwritten] Coleman’s [Handwritten]

[Translation attempt] Mr. and Mrs. C. Butler 11.2

Mr. Bodisco Alexandre de Bodisco Private advisor/council member, extraordinary envoy & minister plenipotentiary for S. M. [his majesty], Emperor of all the Russias. To the United States

Subjects

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Digital Material

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Repository Details

Repository Details

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