This database indexes despatches American consulates sent to the Department of State in Washington, D.C. Consular despatches are generally formal documents. While they can read like reports, and they can also contain substantial information on individuals.  When a matter became important enough for the consulate to involve the State Department in the U.S., consulates wrote to Washington; these despatches could include enclosures the consulate received from private citizens, local governments, etc. As a result, despatches can include death reports for American citizens; marriage certificates; assistance settling estates; intervening with German authorities on behalf of American citizens; questions of citizenship; and processing pensions for veterans living in the consular district. 

 

This database indexes the despatches from all the American consulates in Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Germany, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.