Summary Information
Richard Paul Momsen Papers
1903-1966
- Momsen, Richard Paul, 1890-1964
Mss 157
2.2 c.f. (4 archives boxes and 2 flat boxes)
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Papers of an American diplomat and international lawyer established in Rio de Janeiro, who was an expert on U.S.-Brazilian commercial relations, a founder and director of the American Chamber of Commerce for Brazil, and director of a number of American subsidiary companies in Brazil. Includes personal and business correspondence, speeches and statements, clippings, scrapbooks, certificates, and diplomas as well as material relating to Momsen's tenure as private secretary to Congressman William J. Cary, 1908-1912, and material concerning the American ship “Edith Nute.”
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00157 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
American diplomat and international lawyer Richard Paul Momsen was
born on September 12, 1890, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After completing his secondary education, Momsen became private secretary to Wisconsin Congressman William J. Cary, during which time he also completed the requirements for a Bachelor of Law Degree at George Washington University. In 1913, Momsen was appointed Deputy-Consul General at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was promoted to vice-consul in 1915; and, in 1918, he assumed the position of Consul General ad interim . While serving with the Diplomatic Corps, Momsen became interested in the legal structure and traditions of Brazil; after four years of study, he was admitted to the Brazilian Bar, having received a B.S.J.S. from the “Faculdade de Ciencias Juridicas e Sociais” in Rio de Janeiro. In February 1919, Momsen resigned from the American Diplomatic Service and established a law firm in Rio de Janeiro. The same year he was elected to the “Instituto da Ordem dos Advogados Brasileiros.”
During the course of his career, Momsen actively promoted economic and commercial relations between the United States and Brazil. He was a founder of the American Chamber of Commerce for Brazil and served as director of the organization for more than twenty-five years. In that capacity he was instrumental in disseminating information to American business interests regarding the legal aspects of commercial enterprise in Brazil. Momsen also served as director of a number of American subsidiary companies in Brazil, including American Express Company, International Harvester, and Radio Corporation of America. He also participated actively in local and civic affairs. He was interested in elementary education in Brazil. Through the Rotary Club of Rio de Janiero, of which he was a member, Momsen initiated a campaign which resulted in the construction of Escola Rotary, which was later presented to the City of Rio de Janeiro. For his unfailing interest in the development of Brazil and its relations with the United States, the Brazilian government in 1950 decorated him with the Order of the Southern Cross.
Momsen authored a number of articles and pamphlets on law and trade in Brazil; and, as an expert on United States-Brazilian commercial relations, he testified before legislative committees of both governments concerning treaties, taxes, and tariffs. Momsen also served on a number of inter- American commissions. He died in 1964.
Scope and Content Note
The Papers of Richard P. Momsen consist of correspondence, addresses and statements, topical documents, clippings, scrapbooks, certificates, and diplomas. Dating from 1909, the correspondence reflects Momsen's work as secretary to Representative W. J. Cary, his career in the United States Diplomatic Corps, his activities as a member of various commissions, delegations, and committees, and of the American Chamber of Commerce for Brazil and the Rotary Club of Rio de Janeiro, and his civic and commercial activities. The correspondence includes a file of copies of letters describing Momsen's work and the activities in which he was engaged, and a file of letters to his wife. In addition, several letters are included in the file regarding the American Motor Ship “Edith Nute.” The collection contains a series of addresses and statements delivered by Momsen over a fifty-year period. Included are speeches regarding the First World War, Brazilian-American relations, “Brazil and Hemispheric Solidarity,” statements dealing with the development of inter-American relations and education, and pronouncements delivered before various Congressional committees. The collection also includes several files of documentary material related to Momsen's activities in the Diplomatic Corps and the American Chamber of Commerce for Brazil and his legal education. Two files of clippings and ten scrapbooks comprised of clippings and legal articles and commercial reports written by Momsen are included in the collection. A number of the letters and manuscripts are written in Portuguese.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Mrs. Richard P. Momsen, Cross River, N.Y., October 6, 1965. Accession Number: M65-348, M65-352, M66-2, M66-82, M69-296
Processed by SG, March 30, 1971.
Contents List
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Outgoing letters, 1912-1958
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Incoming letters
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Box
1
Folder
2
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1909-1916
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Box
1
Folder
3
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1917-1928
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Box
1
Folder
4
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1931-1948
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Box
1
Folder
5
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1950-1963
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Box
1
Folder
6
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Miscellaneous correspondence regarding Momsen, 1912-1965
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Box
1
Folder
7
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Letters to Momsen's wife, 1964-1966
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Box
1
Folder
8
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American Motor Ship, “Edith Nute,” 1918-1923
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Box
1
Folder
9
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Addresses and Statements, 1909-1959
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Box
1
Folder
10
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American Chamber of Commerce for Brazil
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Box
1
Folder
11
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Education
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Box
1
Folder
12
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Miscellaneous
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Box
1
Folder
13
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Clippings
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Box
2
Folder
1-3
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Clippings, continued
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Box
2
Folder
4
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Biographical material
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Scrapbooks
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Box
2
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Vols. I - IV
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Box
3
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Vols. V - VIII
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Box
4
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Vols. IX - X
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Box
5
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Vol. XI
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Box
6
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Certificates and Diplomas
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