TABLE OF CONTENTS


Introduction

Biographical Sketch

Scope and Content Note

Restrictions

Administrative Information

Search Terms

A Finding Aid to the Aaron Lopez Papers. 1751-1783.

Manuscript Collection No. 231



Introduction

Repository: The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives
Creator: Lopez, Aaron, 1731-1782.
Title: Aaron Lopez Papers.
Dates: 1751-1783.
Quantity: 7.9 linear ft.
Abstract: Consists of photocopies of business and personal correspondence (1752-1783), business records and account books (1751-1782) and miscellaneous materials.
Collection Number: MS-231
Language: Collection material in English.

Biographical Sketch

Colonial merchant and shipper, Aaron Lopez was born in Portugal in 1831. He immigrated to Newport, Rhode Island in 1752 where he was engaged primarily in the whale oil and candle business, although he also dealt in livestock, groceries, rum, ships, clothing, and slaves. During the 1760s and 1770s, he built an extensive transatlantic mercantile empire and on the eve of the American Revolution, Lopez was Newport's leading merchant and taxpayer. During the Revolution, he supported the colonials and withdrew from British-threatened Newport which greatly diminished his business. He died in 1782 before he could recoup his losses.


Scope and Content Note

Consists of photocopies of business and personal correspondence (1752-1783), business records and account books (1751-1782) and miscellaneous materials.


Restrictions

Terms of Access and Use

The Aaron Lopez Papers are open to all users. The original manuscript collection is available in the Barrows-Loebelson Reading Room of the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives.

Property and Literary Rights

Various donors, by the act of donating the Aaron Lopez Papers to the American Jewish Archives, assigned all property rights to the American Jewish Archives. Literary rights are retained by Aaron Lopez and his heirs. Literary rights may also be retained by specific creators of materials.

Questions concerning rights should be addressed to the Executive Director of the American Jewish Archives. For more information see the American Jewish Archives copyright information webpage.


Administrative Information

Alternative Forms of Collection

The Aaron Lopez Papers include microfilm. The microfilm may be a duplicate of the collection or include different materials. See MF-370, MF-596, MF-318 to MF-329, and MF-1212 to MF-1216. Microfilm is available through inter-library loan.

Preferred Citation

Footnotes and bibliographic references should refer to the Aaron Lopez Papers and the American Jewish Archives. A suggestion for at least the first citation is as follows:

[Description], [Date], Box #, Folder #. MS-231. Aaron Lopez Papers. American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Provenance

The Aaron Lopez Papers were received from various donors.

Processing Information

Processed by American Jewish Archives staff.

Accruals and Additions

No further accruals are expected to this collection.



Search Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the AJA's online catalog.

Jewish businessmen -- 18th century
Jews -- Rhode Island -- Newport -- 18th century
Lopez, Aaron -- 1731-1782