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Collection

New York merchant's daybook, 1811-1813

1 volume

A currently unidentified shipping merchant operating out of New York, New York, maintained this daybook between 1811 and 1813, recording the daily financial transactions of his firm which was trading with the West Indies, along the Atlantic seaboard, and France, among other ports. Business records document details about traded goods including sugar, rum, and other wares, as well as labor costs and more.

A currently unidentified shipping merchant operating out of New York, New York, maintained this daybook between 1811 and 1813, recording the daily financial transactions of his firm which was trading with the West Indies, along the Atlantic seaboard, and France, among other ports. Main customers included Hoffman & Glass, Francis Markoe, Thomas Masters, David Finlay, Pratt & Kintzing, and William Heyling among others. Several entries relate to transactions with Elizabeth Heyliger, daughter of trader William Heyliger of the West Indies (July 31, 1811; December 31, 1811; September 1, 1812).

The firm was trading in St. Croix sugar and rum as well as shipping "sundries from New York to St. Croix." Other goods traded included sugar from Brazil and Cuba, mahogany, tea, whiskey, wine, tobacco, flour, corn meal, and other foodstuffs, molasses, coffee, cigars, and fabrics. Business expenses were also recorded, such as costs relating to laborers, ship maintenance and hire, advertising, cartage and wharfage, custom duties and port fees, storage, and insurance. One entry for December 5, 1812, notes the capture of the ship Olive Branch en route from Kiel, Germany, to Philadelphia, and dealing with insurance to cover its loss, possibly in relation to War of 1812 privateering. Another entry dated March 30, 1813, refers to proceeds from Madeira wine, sweet almonds, and ship materials "received by the Ship Swift, Howland master from Liverpool which were taken up at sea, from the wreck of the Spanish Brig General Ballesteros from Madeira."

One color printed illustration of a woman and child seated before a birdcage was clipped and pasted in the volume, and another illustration of women was pasted in and later partially removed.

Collection

New York (State) Farmer's diary, 1852-1855

1 volume

This diary was kept by a farmer, likely in Saratoga County, New York, from 1852 to 1855, detailing his agricultural work, accounts with laborers, and local news. The diarist recorded weather as well as his work planting, harvesting, and tending to various crops, orchards, and livestock. The writer noted the local hired laborers who worked for him, and several times he used disparaging remarks about their Irish heritage. The writer also wrote about local events, including church affairs, social events like marriages and deaths, correspondence with family and friends, and notable occurrences like fires, fairs, and attending a séance. The writer identified as a Whig and recorded political events like election days, the death of Daniel Webster, the inauguration of Franklin Pierce, a lecture by Horace Greeley, and the Crimean War. The writer also took a trip to New York and the State Fair at Saratoga Springs, and included ongoing comments about the travels and jobs undertaken by his son, Augustus.

This diary was kept by a farmer, likely in Saratoga County, New York, from 1852 to 1855, detailing his agricultural work, accounts with laborers, and local news. The diarist recorded weather as well as his work planting, harvesting, and tending to various crops, orchards, and livestock. The writer noted the local hired laborers who worked for him, and several times he used disparaging remarks about their Irish heritage. The writer also wrote about local events, including church affairs, social events like marriages and deaths, correspondence with family and friends, and notable occurrences like fires, fairs, and attending a séance (December 14, 1853). The writer identified as a Whig and recorded political events like election days, the death of Daniel Webster, the inauguration of Franklin Pierce, a lecture by Horace Greeley (December 27, 1852), and the Crimean War (December 31, 1853). The writer also took a trip to New York and the State Fair at Saratoga Springs, and included ongoing comments about the travels and jobs undertaken by his son, Augustus.

Marginal notes for expenses like items purchased and wages owed to hired laborers appear throughout the volume. The last several pages were used for recording accounts with individuals, including male and female workers and transactions relating to agricultural products and livestock.

Several newspaper clippings are pasted into the volume, including "Advice to Parents," marriage notices, recipes, and instructions for whitewashing and fencing.

Collection

Russell-McCabe autograph album, 1759-1920

1 volume

This album contains autograph manuscripts and signatures of famous American politicians, military figures, authors, artists, actors, and religious figures, begun by Boston resident "Mrs. Russell" in 1859. A small number of contributors wrote directly into the volume, which also includes pasted-in letters, documents, poetry, excerpts, and signatures.

This album (145 pages) contains autograph manuscripts and signatures of famous American politicians, military figures, authors, artists, actors, and religious figures, begun by Boston resident "Mrs. Russell" in 1859. The first few pages include notes and signatures written directly into the volume, mostly dated at Boston in 1859. The majority of the album consists of pasted-in letters, poems, fragments, and standalone signatures written as early as 1759 and as late as 1920; 3 items from 1912, 1917, and 1920 are addressed to James C. McCabe of Bay City, Michigan. The correspondence refers to politics and current events, the memory of George Washington, and other subjects. One letter from Maria Mitchell to "My Dear Emily" assured the recipient that she had consulted the stars for auspicious signs (p. 100). The contributions from John Quincy Adams and James Madison are unsigned handwriting samples. The album includes a financial document signed by Jenny Lind regarding the distribution of proceeds from a charity performance (p. 6). A small number of materials are accompanied by clippings containing biographical information about the contributors. A complete index is available in the Manuscripts Division.

Collection

Salem (N.Y.) collection, 1760-1891 (majority within 1785-1891)

0.25 linear feet

This collection is made up of correspondence, documents, financial records, newspaper clippings, and other items related to Salem, New York, and its residents, primarily from the 1780s-1890s.

This collection is made up of correspondence, documents, financial records, newspaper clippings, and other items related to Salem, New York, and its residents, primarily from the 1780s-1890s. Many of the items were once bound together.

The Correspondence series is comprised of around 60 incoming and outgoing letters related to Salem, New York, and to the history of the state of New York. Early letters between residents of Salem and other locales concern a wide range of topics including education, political offices and appointments, and legal cases. After 1856, most items are incoming letters to James Gibson, a native of Salem who was state senator, judge, and president of the Washington Academy. Three letters written during the Civil War concern military commissions and officers. Many of Gibson's incoming letters, particularly later items, relate to his genealogical work; some correspondents offered or requested information about their ancestors.

The Documents series contains over 140 indentures, financial records, petitions, and other items, primarily related to residents of Salem, New York, in the 18th and 19th centuries. Many of the indentures concern land ownership in Washington, County, New York, and personal financial agreements. Other material relates to the Washington Academy, including a list of pupils. Legal orders largely concern private debts, and one document pertains to a local election. Some documents have newspaper clippings pasted onto them, and others were once bound together. One item is a diploma that the Washington Academy issued to James McEl. A group of land indentures is housed in a large bound volume.

The collection's Printed Items include articles, programs, and newspaper clippings. The majority of newspaper clippings concern the Washington Academy in Salem, New York. Other articles concern the "Bench and Bar of Washington County," the Bancroft Public Library, and the family of William Williams. Some clippings are pasted onto large sheets of paper, with manuscript annotations; a small number of complete newspapers are present. The series also has several copies of a program from the dedication ceremony of the Bancroft Public Library in July 1890.

The Photograph, Essay, Notes, and Fragments series is made up of items pertaining to Salem, New York. The carte-de-visite photograph depicts J. B. Steele. The various notes, essay, and fragments pertain to genealogy.