Pennsylvania Iron Furnace collection, 1777-1809

Summary

Creator:

Anonymous

Abstract:

The Pennsylvania Iron Furnace collection is made up of accounts, receipts, and correspondence pertaining to iron furnaces in the state of Pennsylvania in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Extent:

15 items

Language:

English

Authors:

Collection processed and finding aid created by Meg Hixon, April 2013

Background

Scope and Content:

The Pennsylvania Iron Furnace collection is made up of accounts, receipts, and correspondence related to iron furnaces in the state of Pennsylvania in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Of the 11 financial records, 9 pertain to the Joanna Furnace in Berks County, Pennsylvania, including tax receipts and accounts related to its founders. An early document between Samuel Van Lear and James Old (September 11, 1777-May 25, 1782) and records of iron received from the French Creek Slitting Mill (June 4, 1802-December 14, 1802) are also present. The collection has letters written by Peter Astor at the Green Lane Forge (July 30, 1783), Robert Coleman at Elizabeth Furnace (February 7, 1798, and April 14, 1798), and Waters Dewees at Laurel Forge (April 11, 1803). The correspondence mostly concerns financial affairs.

Biographical / Historical:

Thomas May, Thomas Rutter, Thomas Bull, and Samuel Potts founded the Joanna Furnace in Robeson Township, Pennsylvania, around 1791. The furnace was rebuilt in 1847 and produced goods such as kettles, pots, ovens, and plates. Joanna Furnace ceased operation in 1898.

Acquisition Information:

1988. M-2414 .

Processing information:

Cataloging funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). This collection has been processed according to minimal processing procedures and may be revised, expanded, or updated in the future.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged chronologically.

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Related

Additional Descriptive Data:

Bibliography

American Iron and Steel Association. Directory to the Iron and Steel Works of the United States... 10th Edition. Philadelphia: No. 261 South Fourth Street, 1890.

Jacob, Suzanne Fellman. The History of Joanna Furnace, 1791-1999: The History of a Berks County, Pennsylvania, Charcoal Iron Furnace. Geigertown, Penn.: Hay Creek Valley Historical Association, 1999.

Subjects

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Subjects:

Iron foundries.

Formats:

Accounts.
Letters (correspondence)
Receipts (financial records)

Names:

Joanna Furnace (Iron factory)
Rutter, May & Co.
Astor, Peter.
Coleman, Robert, 1748-1825.
Dewees, Waters.