Bliss, Porter Cornelius (1838-1885) Papers, 1870 - 1885
(Collection 8)
Collection Guide
Prepared by Ruth Olivera, April 1980.
Porter Cornelius Bliss, (1838-1885) was a linguist, journalist, historian, diplomat, and inveterate traveler throughout South America and Mexico. Accounts of his short but colorful and productive carrer may be found in the Dictionary of American Biography and the New York Times of January 5, 1885. The documents in this collection relate to the latter part of his life when he was secretary to the U.S. Legation in Mexico, 1870-1874, one of the editors of Johnson's New Universal Cyclopedia in New York, 1874-1877, co-author of a book on the Russo-Turkish War in 1878, and one of the editors of the New York Herald, 1878-1881. At this point he returned to Mexico on a private gold-hunting expedition which ruined his health and ultimately led to his death. The documents consist of official papers, personal correspondence and papers, as well as notes and drafts of his writings and other miscellany related to his works and interests.
The documents in this file fall into three categories: his papers and correspondence from 1870-1874, from 1875-1885, and his writings and miscellany.
Arrangement of Collection
Box 1 (1-13)
A. Documents from 1870-1874
203 pieces
Box 1 (14-19)
B. Documents from 1875-1885
81 pieces
Box 2 (1-8)
C. Writings and miscellany (1875-1885)
141 pieces
Box 1. A. Documents from 1870-1874. (1-13)
The first category corresponds to the period 1870-1874 when Bliss was secretary of the U.S. Legation in Mexico. Thomas H. Nelson was the U.S. Minister for the first two years, followed by John W. Foster. Most of the papers for these years relate to the official work of the legation, such affidavits, letters of introduction, matters of personal assistance and reports to the U.S. Secretary of State. Included are papers dealing with the "Free Zone" in Northern Mexico, commerce, the new railroad to Veracruz, testimony on mining laws and the treaty between the U.S. and Mexico on inter-oceanic communication across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. There is also the problem of an affront against the U.S. boats "Brothers" and "Harvest Home" about which Bliss reports his investigation to Nelson. For three months at the close of 1872, during the absence of Nelson, Bliss assumend the role of acting minister with the bulk of papers for that period reflecting his increased responsibilities. There is much communication between Bliss and José María Lafragua, the Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs, in the form of drafts, copies, and translations, all on the typical legal size blue paper of the U.S. Department of State. For this brief period they show in depth the type of matters handled by the legation.
Several papers relate to General Rosencran's activities in Mexico, while two items of particular note are the appointment by Bliss of a consul at San Blas and Tepic to which the U.S. Legation seal is affixed and an autograph letter to Bliss from Mexican President S. Lerdo de Tejada, both from November of 1972. There are a few items of a personal nature including receipts for mining stock, correpondence with the Sociedad Mexicana de Geografía y Estadística of which he was a member, bills, and letters from his friend in the State Department, M.F. Hatch. In 1874 Bliss was interested in an appointment to the legation in Spain but it did not materialize.
Box 1. B. Documents from 1875-1885. (14-19)
The documents form 1875 on are quite disconnected and cover a period when, as well as engaging in other editorial endeavors, he was one of the editors of the New York Herald. Some of his work there as a biographer seem to be illustrated by a letter and informal biography of civic leader Mrs. Elizabeth Powell Thompson which states that a public square in New Orleans was named for her.Also included is a letter to the editor with an assessment of the situation in Central America. There are receipts, personal letters in English, French, and Spanish, calling cards, and notices of the American philological Society. No papers relate to his trip to South America in 1879, except for and 1880 letter in German from a German geologist G. Wolf who writes from Ecuador. However, several papers do relate to Bliss' return to Mexico in 1881. They clearly indicate his interests in mining ventures. There is even a warning for him to stay away from a certain mine in Oaxaca. Nothing links him in any specific way to the Gordoa or Fresnillo mines.
Box 1. C. Writings and miscellany [1875-1885]. (1-8)
Folder 1 (br> Draft of 11 editorials and titles of 4 others on such diverse topics as "New Political Ideals" and "Russian designs upon Manchuria", probably written for the New York Herald.
Folder 2
Drafts and fragments of biographies and obituaries, most of which are in Bliss' handwriting, on prominent Americans and foreigners, including the Latin Americans Manuel Murillo of Colombia, Ignacio Mejía of Mexico, Ygnacio Oropeza of Venezuela, and Luis Alvez de Lima, duke of Caxias, and Joaquin Manuel Masealo, both of Brazil. Some are dated for the years 1878, 1880, and 1881.
Folder 3
Biographical sketches of Italians, written in French in handwriting other than Bliss.
Folder 4
Newspaper obituaries and clippings to be used for obituaries for Gen. H.D. Cooke, Jay Cooke, and Count Bela Szechenyl, a Hungarian.
Folder 5
Pages of handwritten topics to be used perhaps for editorials and encyclopedia articles.
Folder 6
Pages of handwritten names, some with birthdates, to be used for biographies.
Folder 7
Handwritten vocabularies in Spanish probably written when Bliss was learning the languaje, list of Zapotec words, and list of Bulgarian or Albanian words.
Folder 8
Clippings on Albania, a publishers book list, and a copy of "Baldwin Monthly" for September, 1978.
