Receipts, financial documents, ephemera and correspondence, 1899 September-December, undated
File — Box: 7, Folder: 8
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
This collection contains both personal and business records of Isaac W. Beeson
and Benjamin B. Beeson. There are many receipts, account sheets, order
forms and invoices for the business parts of the collection. There are also land records, indentures, deeds, and many
other legal documents. The personal portions
of the collection contain information in the form of letters, organizational meeting
minutes and notes, as well as essays written by Isaac and Benjamin about
different issues of their time. Prevalent throughout the collection is information
about the Anti-Slavery Friends and prohibitionist groups, including letters announcing the disownment
of Mary and Isaac Beeson from the Society of Friends.
The collection is organized by date when possible. It begins with a little information on the Beeson family genealogy. There are some records that date back as early as 1809, however, the bulk of the collection covers the dates from the late 1820s until the late 1890s. Although most of the collection is that of Isaac and his son Benjamin, the papers that appear in the collection after 1902 are most prevalently those of Benjamin’s wife, Olinda, and his children There are three account books in this collection, all kept by Isaac and Benjamin Beeson between 1836 and 1885. The bulk of the account books cover entries for their general store, although post office records and diary entries are also included.
The smallest account book has a mixture of dates and types of entries. The first 15 pages, dated 1836 and 1837, contain what have been identified on the cover as “Post Office Records”; however, these records of postage are mixed with records of the purchase of dry goods and groceries. Mixed records continue into the portion dated 1860-1872. Within those years, a diary for 1872 begins on page 64 and extends to page 85. Throughout the 1860-1872 portion of the book are accounts of varying length, from short account such as “Cost of Building the Barn” to longer accounts such as “Receipts & expenditure of the Dalton farm belonging to Isaac W. Beeson.” Most entries are those of a general store, recording sale of dry goods and groceries; however, other types of services rendered (e.g., acting as administrator of an estate) are included. In the back of the volume is a map illustrating a proposed rotation of crops and recipes for veterinary medicines.
The other two volumes in this collection are dates from 1883 to 1885. They record the transactions of a general store. The volume with 512 numbered pages has no index. The volume with 696 numbered pages has an index to its contents arranged by customers’ last names.
The collection is organized by date when possible. It begins with a little information on the Beeson family genealogy. There are some records that date back as early as 1809, however, the bulk of the collection covers the dates from the late 1820s until the late 1890s. Although most of the collection is that of Isaac and his son Benjamin, the papers that appear in the collection after 1902 are most prevalently those of Benjamin’s wife, Olinda, and his children There are three account books in this collection, all kept by Isaac and Benjamin Beeson between 1836 and 1885. The bulk of the account books cover entries for their general store, although post office records and diary entries are also included.
The smallest account book has a mixture of dates and types of entries. The first 15 pages, dated 1836 and 1837, contain what have been identified on the cover as “Post Office Records”; however, these records of postage are mixed with records of the purchase of dry goods and groceries. Mixed records continue into the portion dated 1860-1872. Within those years, a diary for 1872 begins on page 64 and extends to page 85. Throughout the 1860-1872 portion of the book are accounts of varying length, from short account such as “Cost of Building the Barn” to longer accounts such as “Receipts & expenditure of the Dalton farm belonging to Isaac W. Beeson.” Most entries are those of a general store, recording sale of dry goods and groceries; however, other types of services rendered (e.g., acting as administrator of an estate) are included. In the back of the volume is a map illustrating a proposed rotation of crops and recipes for veterinary medicines.
The other two volumes in this collection are dates from 1883 to 1885. They record the transactions of a general store. The volume with 512 numbered pages has no index. The volume with 696 numbered pages has an index to its contents arranged by customers’ last names.
Dates
- 1809-1945
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Extent
From the Collection: 3.5 Cubic Feet (10 manuscript boxes, 3 volumes)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Creator
- From the Collection: Beeson, Benjamin Branson, 1843-1902 (Person)
- From the Collection: Beeson, Isaac W., 1789-1871 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
