Isaac and Benjamin Beeson papers
Collection
Identifier: L354
Scope and Contents
This collection contains both personal and business records, including receipts, account sheets, order forms, invoices, promissory notes, account books, indentures, deeds, legal documents, correspondence, maps, clippings, publications, meeting minutes, advertisements, recipes, photographs, notes, papers, and ephemera from Isaac W. Beeson and Benjamin B. Beeson in Indiana and the United States, ranging from 1809 to 1945 and undated, regarding their daily lives, family, business, politics, and membership with the Grange and agricultural organizations. 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.
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. Much of the account books, including a volume of post office records (1836), account receipts (1860-1872), and diary entries (1871-1872) (V300), concern Isaac and Benjamin Beeson's general store.
There are also oversize papers, including indentures, documents, newspaper clippings, and broadsides ranging from 1831 to 1942, undated (OBC154, OBD069).
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. Much of the account books, including a volume of post office records (1836), account receipts (1860-1872), and diary entries (1871-1872) (V300), concern Isaac and Benjamin Beeson's general store.
There are also oversize papers, including indentures, documents, newspaper clippings, and broadsides ranging from 1831 to 1942, undated (OBC154, OBD069).
Dates
- 1809-1945
Creator
- Beeson, Benjamin Branson, 1843-1902 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Biographical Note
Isaac W. Beeson was born on December 19, 1789 in Randolph County, North Carolina. He was the son of Benjamin Beeson and Margaret Hockett. He spent several years moving between North Carolina and Indiana before finally settling in Dalton, Wayne County, Indiana. In Wayne County, on February 27, 1838, Isaac Beeson was married to Mary Branson. Their son Benjamin Branson Beeson was born on March 17, 1843. Isaac W. Beeson was a Quaker farmer, merchant and wheelwright in Guilford County, North Carolina and did the same types of jobs once he came to Indiana. Isaac Beeson died in 1871 in Indiana. The son of Isaac W. Beeson and Mary Branson, Benjamin B. Beeson was born in Wayne County, Indiana in 1843. He married Olinda Lamb on October 14, 1865. Together they had four children, Isaac F., Mary L., Edward O., and Frederick L., the last two boys being twins. Benjamin took on much of the same jobs his father had. He always listed himself as a farmer for the census. However, he also worked as a store proprietor and a charter member of several agricultural and religious societies. Additionally, Benjamin B. Beeson was publisher of the Enterprise, a Prohibitionist newspaper of Richmond, Indiana during the years 1891-1897. Benjamin Beeson died on January 2, 1902.
Extent
3.5 Cubic Feet (10 manuscript boxes, 1 volume, 1 large oversize folder, 1 extra-large folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged chronologically and by format.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Louis Bookout in 1970.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 1999 and 2003-2004 by Phil Williams and Amy C. Belcher. EAD finding aid created 2018/05/04 by Lauren Patton. Collection reprocessing completed 2025/02/28 y Brittany Kropf. EAD finding aid revised 2025/02/28 by Brittany Kropf.
- Advertisements
- Agricultural exhibitions
- Agriculture
- Agriculture -- Indiana
- Clippings
- Correspondence
- Elections
- Ephemera
- Essays
- Fairs
- Financial statements
- Indentures
- Indiana -- Politics and government
- Indiana State Grange
- Invoices
- Maps
- Minutes (Records)
- Pamphlets
- Photographs
- Politics and government
- Prohibition
- Promissory notes
- Real property
- Recipes
- Richmond (Ind.)
- Slaves -- Emancipation -- United States
- Tickets
- Wayne County (Ind.)
Creator
- Beeson, Benjamin Branson, 1843-1902 (Person)
- Beeson, Isaac W., 1789-1871 (Person)
Source
- National Grange (Organization)
- Title
- Isaac and Benjamin Beeson papers
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
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
