Collections

Elizabeth Iron Company Minute Book, 1874-1876, records the meetings of the company's board of directors and the meetings of its stockholders. The first meeting, held in May of 1874, discussed the need to "adopt regulations, rules, and by-laws for the government" of the company and to decide the "conduct of its business." Early meetings also discuss the purchase of the Elizabeth Furnace property and the need to raise funds to facilitate the improvement of the property and to acquire additional equipment so that the company can reach its goal of producing forty to sixty tons of pig iron per day. Later meetings include a written copy of the adopted by-laws, a listing of duties for officers, and the rules and requirements for stockholders.

Henry I. Tapp Daybook and Ledger, 1826-1831, documents the financial activities of Tapp's law firm on an almost daily basis. Information found in the daybook entries include the name of client and the amounts owed or paid. Each entry can be found under the client's individual account in the ledger located at the back of the volume. Examples of the services provided by Tapp include serving as administrator and guardian, drafting deeds, taking depositions, settling estates, and arguing cases at court. The law firms expenses (such as travel, hire of horses, and purchasing wood) are also recorded in the daybook and ledger.

Houff & Holler Business Records, 1904-1908, consists of a ledger, inventory and stock book, account book, correspondence, and receipts that record the general store's business dealings in Augusta County, Va.

John Armstrong, Sr. Ledger, 1827-1842, records Armstrong's personal finances along with the business activities of his farm. Each account records the transactions with individuals that Armstrong either hired or with whom he conducted business. Information found in each entry include the date, type of transaction, and monies debited or credited to the account. Armstrong recorded purchases for such items as wheat, bacon, brandy, tallow, butter, dry apples, and flour. There are also larger purchases such as livestock and furniture. In addition, Armstrong recorded the work done by white laborers which included such tasks as sawing wood, mowing, etc.

John Wayt Invoice Book, 1828-1831, chronicles Wayt's purchases that he made most likely for his store. Entries are listed chronologically, and each entry includes date, company and location of purchase, items purchased, and amounts paid. Items purchased included clothing items such as thread, yarn, buttons, silk, flannel, muslin, and lace; food items such as cheese, sugar, coffee, and chocolate; and household items such as knives, bowls, decanters, candlesticks, and soap. Wayt also made several book purchases of dictionaries, almanacs, and primers. Most purchases were made from companies located in either Baltimore, Philadelphia, or Richmond.

Mandelbaum Clothier Daybook, 1871, records customer transaction on a daily basis as they occurred. Information found in each entry includes the name of the customer, item purchased, and the monies debited or credited to the customer's account. Customers bought such items as suits, gloves, suspenders, shoes, cologne, hats, ties, pants, and trunks.

The Mercer Salt Works Business Records consist of a daybook, a Salt A Ledger, a Ledger E, a cashbook, a Wood Account and Negro Clothing Ledger, and an account ledger.

Identified on the cover as the Mictiow Sales Book, this volume documents the sale of goods made 2-7 January 1837. The sales were recorded as they occurred and were listed by the customer name and included the item purchased and the amount paid. Total sale amounts were included at the end of each day's sale. Items purchased included tools, saddlery, stoneware, gloves, shoes, clothing, perfume, and tobacco. Books were also sold and included such titles as Scott's Lessons, Tytler's History, American Psalmody, English Reader, Natural Philosophy, Village Hymns, Ladies Lexicon, Kirkham's Grammar, and Perrin's Fables.

Mount Ery Furnace Ledger, 1789-1793, records the accounts of individual customers and employees. Entries are arranged in chronological order under the account name. Entries document customer purchases of iron, but the majority of entries concern employee accounts. The employee accounts record money paid for work done, cash accounts, and items purchased such as clothing and food supplies, leather, and tobacco. Each entry includes the date of transaction, items purchased or work performed, and amount of money debited and credited.

The Mutual Annuity Company Ledger, 1892-1906, records the company's financial activities. The first half of the ledger is a cashbook which records the cash available on hand for 1892. The cashbook documents stock, expense fees, premiums, sundries, cash advances, postage, and expenses such as office supplies, stamps, and telegrams. Beginning in 1894, the ledger was used to keep track of individual court cases filed throughout Virginia in which the company had insured a bond or deed. Each entry is listed under the style of suit for the case and includes information such as the court in which the case was filed, the kind of interest the company held (note, deed, or bond), when the deed was dated, when the deed was due, and the amount that was insured. Some entries have comments that note how a suit was settled.