Edward M. Natharius Collection
00141

Summary Information

Repository
Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections
Creator - Donor
Natharius, Edward W.
Title
Edward M. Natharius collection
ID
00141
Date [inclusive]
1831-1872
Extent
1.0 Cubic feet 9 volumes on shelf (with collection).
Language
English

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: "Item title, Collection title, Collection Identifier, Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections, East Lansing, Michigan."

Return to Table of Contents »

Scope and Contents note

The collection contains three groups of business records from Dartmouth and New Bedford, Massachusetts. These two locations are adjacent to one another, New Bedford having been formed and enlarged from parts of Dartmouth village and town (township) beginning in 1787. New Bradford became a famous whaling port after the Revolutionary War, and much mercantile business was carried on there; some spilling over into nearby Dartmouth. Shipbuilding and associated manufacturing began in New Bedford in the 1700s, followed by other manufacturers in the 1830s and 1840s.

The collection consists of the following volumes: 1) a daybook of a New Bedford store kept by John B. Allen, listing the names of customers and items sold, cost, date credit on account, and a symbol marking the account closed -- dated May 5, 1831 - August 11, 1833; 2-7 are daybooks and volumes of a general store in Dartmouth for the period 1850-1862. The volumes, for at least part of the time were kept by Charles Tucker and include some business notes inside the covers as well as customer names, items sold, cost, date, credit on account and each account was crossed out when it was paid. In volume four the pages at the back are numbered in reverse order, 31 to 1, giving miscellaneous accounts from May 12, 1855 to April 28, 1856. Parts of pages 23 to 28 have been cut away and the first page is partially burned. In volume five, the pages at the back, numbered 373 to 401, have miscellaneous accounts from July 17, 1856 to October 1, 1857. The binding of volume six is broken and most of the pages except for 1-94 (May 10, 1858 to May 29, 1869), 349-361 (May 11, 1858 to August 27, 1858) and a page of business notes are missing. In volume seven the last pages are blank and the few pages before are mostly credits on account. There were no sales after June 1, 1860, and the credits continue until May 12, 1862. The last two volumes are ledger books from the Union Screw Company, New Bedford, apparent manufacturers of screw fasteners forerunner of the company, listing inventors by name and amount, expenses and credits. There is a glued sheet on page 47, and pages 77-78 and 141-142 are missing. The second is Ledger A of the company recording business transactions, list of sales to various customers (mills, companies and ships). Beginning on January 1, 1858, production expenses, and dividends are recorded. Page 538 is a record of personal expenses, January through May 1960, no name given.

Return to Table of Contents »

Administrative Information

Publication Information

Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections May 1979

Conrad Hall
888 Wilson Road, Room 101
East Lansing , MI, 48824
517-355-2330
archives@msu.edu

Revision Description

  August 2002

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Legal Status

Copyright: Michigan State University. Property Rights: Michigan State University.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

Custodial History

Gift of Edward M. Natharius, 1976-05-25.

Return to Table of Contents »

Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

  • Union Screw Company.

Genre(s)

  • Ledgers (account books)

Geographic Name(s)

  • Dartmouth (Mass.)
  • New Bedford (Mass.)

Personal Name(s)

  • Allen, John B.
  • Tucker, Charles, Shopkeeper -- 1850 - 1863 -- Dartmouth (Mass.)

Subject(s)

  • General stores -- Massachusetts

Return to Table of Contents »

Collection Inventory

Volumes 

Scope and Contents note

General Store Daybook 
Volume

vol. 1: John B. Allen -- May 5, 1931 - August 11, 1833 

 1

Dartmouth, Mass. 
Volume

vol. 2: October 28, 1850 - July 30, 1852 

 2

vol. 3: July 2, 1852 - November 16, 1853 

 3

vol. 4: February 7, 1855 - June 28, 1856 

 4

vol. 5: June 28, 1851 - May 10, 1858 

 5

vol. 6: May 10, 1858 - May 29, 1860 

 6

vol. 7: October 8, 1858 - May 12, 1862 

 7
Volume

vol. 8: Ledger Book of forerunner of Union Screw Co., - New Bedford, Mass. -- November 9, 1855 - December 1, 1857 

 8

vol. 9: Ledger Book of Union Screw Co. -- December 1, 1857 - April 6, 1872 

 9

Return to Table of Contents »