Many of the manuscript collections found in the Baker Library center around a particular individual rather than around a certain company or business concern. In such an instance it is usually true that the subject matter of the papers will reach into a wide variety of fields. A case in point is the De Wolf family collection, dealing largely with the activities of James De Wolf of Bristol, Rhode Island. Nominally De Wolf was a merchant, but his interests extended to numerous other spheres, including shipping, estate management, privateering, and politics. In a summary fashion this paper will trace a few of his varied pursuits.