Unidentified letter, 1841

The collection contains the papers of John Gilman D’Arcy Paul. The majority of the collection is comprised of correspondence between Paul and his mother, Charlotte Abbott Gilman Paul. The correspondence covers the periods when he was away from Baltimore for school, work, and travel. In his letters, he vividly described the people he met and places he visited and was seldom shy in sharing his opinion. The letters from his time in the employ of the United States government discussed the major issues of the time, as well the major players. Locations represented in these letters include Massachusetts, Maine, Guatemala, France, Holland, Cambodia, and more. He also kept up frequent correspondence with his grandmother, Eliza Weyl Gilman, and his aunt, Miriam Todd Gilman and her daughter and granddaughters. Other correspondents included renowned artists, government officials, society members, and notable Baltimoreans. Of particular interest is Paul’s notebook on the conditions of French prisoners of war camps in Africa during World War I. He recorded such information as the general health of captives, food supplies and allotment, and sleeping situations, and monitored for inappropriate treatment.

The papers of his family members represent a small portion of the collection. This includes letters and diaries kept by Paul’s grandmother, mother, and Aunt Miriam. Legal documents and correspondence of his Maine ancestors, such as his great-grandfather Gideon Gilman, are also included in the collection. These materials primarily relate to land purchases and other financial ventures.