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Letters

 Series

Scope and Content

From the Collection:

This collection encompasses the notes and letters of James M. Adams during his time in the American colony of La Gloria, Cuba. Most of the letters are written to his wife Marie Adams, describing his sea voyage to Cuba, the town of Nuevitas, and his stay in the La Gloria settlement. Adams used these notes and letters to write his book, Pioneering in Cuba. But in contrast to his published work about La Gloria, his earliest letters give a stark description of life at the colony. When he arrived, La Gloria was a tent city in a muddy jungle and provisions for food were short (e.g., see letter dated January 9, 1900). Adams expressed shock at the difficulties facing the settlement and decided to limit his investments there. Despite these initial impressions, he later became an advocate of the colony's agricultural promise.

The letters span the months from December 29, 1899 to April 21, 1900 and are filed in chronological order. The collection also contains a memoranda book with the names of ship passengers and their stake in the colony, and a record book with extra notes describing La Gloria. Three undated fold-out maps and plans provide information on the settlement and its creators. One is a full plan of the town of La Gloria, a second is a map of Cuba, and the third has a map of Cuba on one side and a plan of the city of Columbia on the other.

Dates

  • Creation: 1882-1909
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1899-1901

Creator

Access

The collection is open for research.

Extent

From the Collection: 0.60 Linear feet (2 boxes; 3 maps)

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Repository Details

Part of the Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida Repository

Contact:
George A. Smathers Libraries
PO Box 117005
Gainesville Florida 32611-7005 United States of America
352-273-2755