Aileen Moore Topping Papers
Scope and Content
Includes Topping's typed English translations of correspondence between Spanish authorities and diplomatic agents Juan de Miralles and Fransisco Rendón. These documents contain detailed reports on the activities of the American Continental Congress from 1777-1785. The agents obtained information clandestinely and passed it to the Spanish crown. The typed copies contained in this collection were made from original primary source material located in the Archivo General de Simancas, the Archivo Historico Nacional, and the Archivo General de Indias. This collection provides insight into Spanish involvement during the Revolutionary period in America.
Topping made this collection available to the Library of Congress during publication of their 25 volume edition of the Correspondence of the Continental Congress, which made extensive use of her work in vols. 10-20. These can be consulted at most university research libraries and online at Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774-1789. Her research greatly increased historians' understanding of the Spanish missions of Miralles and Rendon to Congress during the American Revolution.
Dates
- Creation: 1779-1785
Creator
- Topping, Aileen Moore. (Person)
Access
The collection is open for research.
Biographical/Historical Note
Aileen Moore Topping was a graduate of Agnes Scott College and Middlebury College and taught at the University of Miami. She worked extensively in the Spanish archives at the Archivo General de Simancas, the Archivo Historico Nacional, and the Archivo General de Indias. [Source: Adapted from Samuel Proctor, "General Editor's Preface," pp. viii-ix, in An Impartial Account of the Late Expedition Against St. Augustine, with an introduction and indexes by Aileen Moore Topping. Bicentennial Floridiana Facsimile Series, University Press of Florida, Gainesville, 1978.]
Extent
0.6 Linear feet (2 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Typed English translations of original reports from Spanish agents reporting on the activities of the Continental Congress during the American Revolution. Topping used these translations as source material for her published and unpublished works.
Physical Location
University of Florida Smathers Library Building
Acquisition Information
Donated by Anne Topping Weed.
Subject
- Miralles, Juan de (Person)
- Rendón, Francisco. (Person)
- United States. Continental Congress. (Organization)
- Title
- A Guide to the Aileen Moore Topping Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid created by Scot R. Cruickshank
- Date
- November 2007
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Prepared Using Dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida Repository
George A. Smathers Libraries
PO Box 117005
Gainesville Florida 32611-7005 United States of America
352-273-2755
special@uflib.ufl.edu