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Dorothea Lieven Letters to Klemens Metternich

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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Lieven, Dorothea, Princess, 1785-1857

Dorothea von Lieven (1785-1857) was a Baltic German noblewoman and wife of Prince Christoph Heinrich von Lieven (1774-1839), the Russian ambassador to London from 1812 to 1834. Lieven was an influential political figure among many of the diplomatic, political, and social circles of 19th-century Europe, particularly in the diplomatic councils of Great Britain, France, and Russia, exercising an authority uncommon for women at that time. One of her many associates included Austrian Chancellor Prince Klemens von Metternich (1773-1859) with whom she had a close personal relationship.

This collection consists of annotated copies of Dorothea Lieven's (1785-1857) letters from London, dating from 1820 to 1826, to Klemens Metternich (1773-1859), which she documented in a series of 36 notebooks. Among other topics, Lieven's letters reflect her ambitions and political involvement; she freely expresses her opinions about various events and persons with whom she interacted during her time in London.

These letters were partially reproduced and translated into English by Peter Quennel, in The Private letters of Princess Lieven to Metternich, 1820-1826 (London, 1937).

These notebooks remained in the family and were kept a secret until the 1930s.

Purchased from Les Amazones Paris in 2019. AM 2019-79.

This collection was processed by Faith Charlton in February 2019. Finding aid written by Faith Charlton in February 2019. Folder inventory added by Julia English '19.

No materials were removed from the collection during 2019 processing beyond routine appraisal practices.

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Author
Faith Charlton
Finding Aid Date
2019
Access Restrictions

Open for research.

Use Restrictions

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.

Collection Inventory

Single Page Entitled, "Diaries of Princess Lieven, September 1822- December 1826", 1826. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 1, 1820 January- March. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 2, 1920 April- June. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 3, 1920 June- July. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 4, 1820 August- September. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 5, 1820 September- October. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 6, 1820 November- December. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 7, 1820 December- 1821 January. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 8, 1821 January- February. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 9, 1821 February- March. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 10, 1821 March- May. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 11, 1821 May- October. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 12, 1821 November- 1822 January. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 13, 1822 February- March. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 14, 1822 March- April. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 15, 1822 April- May. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 16, 1822 May- June. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 17, 1822 June- July. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 18, 1822 August- September. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 19, 1822 September- 1823 January. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 20, 1823 January. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 21, 1823 January- February. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 22, 1823 March. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 23, 1823 March- May. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 24, 1823 May- June. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 25, 1823 June- August. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 26, 1823 August- October. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 27, 1823 October- December. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 28, 1824 January- March. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 29, 1824 March- July. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 30, 1824 July- August. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 31, 1824 September- November. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 32, 1824 November- 1825 January. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 33, 1825 January- March. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 34, 1825 April-1826 January. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 35, 1826 January-July. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notebook No. 36, 1826 August-December. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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