Jens Iverson Westergard papers

The Westengard Papers is a collection madeup of documents that vary widely in form and time period. The materials range from correspondence, which covers the period from 1885-1921, with one postcard dated as late as 1945, to lecture notes, a compilation of cases on admiralty, memorial/souvenir monographs from Siam, photographs, and ephemera.

The correspondence of the Westengard Papers is divided in three ways. The first group is organized by recipient (e.g. wife, son, etc.). The second group is organized by subject (e.g. official: Siam, biographical, etc.). The third group consists of correspondence written by people other than Westengard.

The bulk of the correspondence is of a personal nature. Mrs. Westengard was not with her husband for the majority of the time that he spent in Siam, so there is voluminous correspondence between the two. The collection is limited in information as to Westengard's official and diplomatic responsibilities, and deals primarily with items of interest to Mrs. Westengard as the bulk of the official correspondence was forwarded by JIW to his wife with his notes of explanation.

Among Westengard's correspondents were: Joseph Henry Beale; Chulalongkorn (Rama V), King of Siam 1868-1910; Devawongse, Prince (Siam); Charles W. Eliot; Robert L. Raymond; and Edward Henry Strobel.

Another primary part of this collection are the Westengard's lecture notes and case compilations, which deal mostly with Harvard Law School Admiralty courses, but there are also lecture notes for Westengard's course on Torts. The notes are mostly typed, with manuscripts additions, and pasted or laid-in text of legal documents. While there are no dates on these materials, it is probable that the Torts notes date from 1916, when Westengard collaboratively taught with Roscoe Pound, and the notes on Admiralty likely fall between, 1916-1919, when Westengard was an active Admiralty instructor.

Several memorial books and copies of coronation programs are part of the ephemera in Westengard collection. All date from Westengard's service in Siam and are bound in red leather embossed with the Siamese crest or, in the case of the larger volumes, a metal crest is attached to the front cover.

The Westengard pictures are mostly of the period between 1890 and 1920. Many are family photos, particularly of Westengard and his son Aubrey. There are also many photos of Siam and of Siamese Royal and official functions. In addition there is some miscellaneous memorabilia, which includes decorations, programs, etc. from Siam.