Ephraim George Squier was a journalist, publisher, diplomat, amateur anthropologist, and entrepreneur. He was appointed the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires for Central America in 1849 and held the post for one year; however, he later became an active publicist and leading authority on the region.

From Tulane University’s Latin American Library, this collection contains documentation of Squier’s career and sheds light on U.S. relations with Latin America. In addition, the collection chronicles the struggle of the many entrepreneurs, engineers, and adventurers who worked to bring transportation facilities to the region. Information on the practices of anthropology, ethnology, and archaeology in America is also included.

The Papers of Ephraim George Squier consist of 808 items, including financial and diplomatic documents, notes and manuscripts for several of Squier’s books and essays, and correspondence with many well-known figures of the time.

Squier’s life bears witness to an enthralling period in Central American history, and this microfilm edition of his papers will be of great interest to historians of the period as well as libraries with holdings in Latin American Studies.