Scope and Content Note
The John Marshall collection spans the years 1776-1844, with the bulk of the papers covering the years 1795-1835. The papers consist primarily of photocopies and transcripts of material relating to John Marshall that were accumulated by Albert J. Beveridge during his research for his four-volume biography of Marshall. They were given to the Library by his wife, Catherine Eddy Beveridge, (chiefly vols. 1-3) or photocopied by the Library from material retained by her (chiefly vols. 4-6). The collection also contains some original manuscripts (circa 35 items) dated 1787-1835.
The material in the papers covers most aspects of Marshall's public life except his military service. A number of documents, both originals and copies, relate to the XYZ Affair, including a photocopy of Marshall's journal concerning the mission to France. Correspondence in the collection includes letters of advice from Marshall to his fellow Supreme Court justices. Letters to his brother James concern the operation and legal problems of the family plantation. Letters to various notables of the period relate to political activity, and those to Bushrod Washington concern Marshall's The Life of George Washington. Also among the papers are copies of Marshall's account books for the period September 1783-December 1795 and some law notes from his stay at the College of William and Mary in 1780. There is also a series of letters from Marshall's sister-in-law, Elizabeth Jacquelin Ambler Brent Carrington, to various individuals.
Among Marshall's prominent correspondents were Joseph Hopkinson, Henry Lee, James M. Marshall, Timothy Pickering, Joseph Story, Bushrod Washington, George Washington, and Caleb P. Wayne.