| | 3 | Author: | unknown | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Samuel Coates receipt book, 1804-1829
| | | | Dates: | 1804-1829 | | | | Abstract: | The Samuel Coates Collection consists largely of business records of Samuel Coates, a prominent Philadelphia merchant. Coates' large account book for 1803-1830 contains a range of financial transactions both personal and professional that may lend insight into business and trade in early nineteenth century Philadelphia. The collection also includes Coates' day book, which records day-to-day meetings, and two volumes of Coates' financial dealings with the Bank of North America between 1788 and 1798. Coates was he later elected a director of the Bank in 1800. In addition to Coates' own material there is an account book of Deborah Morris, which contains a very detailed will and probate records. The will describes in detail how and to whom her belongings should be distributed and is more detailed than most wills.
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.B.C632 | | | | Extent: | 1 volume(s) | | | | Topics: | Business and Skilled Trades | Trade | | | | Genre: | Business Records and Accounts | |
| 4 | Author: | Galiani, Ferdinando, 1728-1787 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Laws of neutrality
| | | | Dates: | 1775 | | | | Abstract: | Sometime in the 19th Century, Stephen Du Ponceau translated Ferdinando Galiani's famous tract on the laws of neutrality. These two bound volumes of Galiani's work appear to be in Du Ponceau's hand and bound within the text are long and detailed notes on the work. Du Ponceau's interest likely had to do with his legal career that dealt with issues of international trade, a focus that is a prominent part of Du Ponceau's papers at the APS.
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.341.3.G13 | | | | Extent: | 2 volume(s) | | | | Topics: | Diplomatic History | International Affairs | Trade | | | | Genre: | Manuscript Essays | | | | Subjects: | International trade | Law. | Neutrality | |
| 5 | Author: | Alexander, William, 1726-1783 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Variation of the compass, 1773
| | | | Dates: | 1773 | | | | Abstract: | This slender volume is an essay by William Alexander, a prominent figure in New Jersey politics and business. Alexander wrote this essay with the hope that it would spur the American Philosophical Society to support the study of variations in compasses. Alexander's interest in this subject likely had to do with his background as a merchant. He realized compass variations created inefficiencies and risks for captains and the merchants that relied on them. Alexander appeals specifically to the APS's mission by stating that such a study would be "useful to mankind." Alexander's essays shows that he is conversant in many of the current theories about variations. He also proposed a plan for the APS to facilitate a systematic study of compass variations that he believed would produce a clear general law for variations in compasses.
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.522.76.Al2 | | | | Extent: | 1 item(s) | | | | Topics: | Science and technology | Surveying and Maps | Trade | | | | Genre: | Scientific Correspondence | Scientific Data | | | | Subjects: | Astronomy -- 18th century | Compass. | Learned institutions and societies. | |
| 6 | Author: | Billings, William, 1746-1800 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Journals of the Ship Apollo, 1789-1791
| | | | Dates: | 1789-1791 | | | | Abstract: | These journals (three volumes) chronicle the voyages of Apollo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1789-1791. William Billings was the captain of this Philadelphia-based ship. The destinations were Oporto and Corunna, and trade was the purpose for the voyages. Nonetheless, the ship's captain, William Billings, used the opportunity to study the Gulf Stream. He made numerous observations about the ocean temperature and weather with the apparent intention of submitting his findings to the American Philosophical Society. He paid particular attention to marking and studying the Gulf Stream. The journals were partially published in with a note in Transactions of the American Philosophical Society shortly after they were received in 1793. The originals are much longer than those published and include additional observations not published and graphs that could not be replicated.
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.656.B49 | | | | Extent: | 2 volume(s) | | | | Topics: | Business and Skilled Trades | International Travel | Trade | | | | Genre: | Meteorological Data | Scientific Data | | | | Subjects: | Meteorology -- Observations. | Voyages and travels. | |
| 7 | Author: | Williams, John | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | John Williams daybook and ledger, 1773-1774
| | | | Dates: | 1773-1774 | | | | Abstract: | John Williams's ledger and daybook record the business activities for this Lancaster County-based merchant. The ledger contains daily sales and purchases for 1773 and 1774. The accounts can provide insight into the consumption of residents of the Pennsylvania hinterland and the trade and business connections it had with Philadelphia and other ports. The daybook contains even more information. Entries record individuals, what they purchased, and at what price.
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.657.W67 | | | | Extent: | 2 volume(s) | | | | Topics: | Business and Skilled Trades | Pennsylvania History | Trade | | | | Genre: | Business Records and Accounts | |
| 8 | Author: | Clark, William, 1770-1838 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | William Clark diary, August 25, 1808 - September 22, 1808
| | | | Dates: | August 25, 1808 - September 22, 1808 | | | | Abstract: | This document is a private journal of William Clark from his time as an Indian agent in the Midwest after the completion of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The journal chronicles his expedition to treat with the Osage Indians. The journal contains a wealth of information, including a vivid account of every days' events, a sketch of a map, and a chronicle of the Indian-white relations.
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.917.3.L58c | | | | Extent: | 1 volume(s) | | | | Topics: | Native America | Trade | Travel | | | | Genre: | Sketchbooks | Travel Narratives and Journals | | | | Subjects: | Indians of North America -- Treaties | Osage Indians -- Treaties | |
| 10 | Author: | Morris, Anthony,1766-1860. | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Anthony Morris papers, ca. 1690-1830
| | | | Dates: | Circa 1690-1830 | | | | Abstract: | The Anthony Morris Collection is a miscellaneous collection of materials relating to the life of this Philadelphia businessman. The type of material includes some correspondence, many receipts, various business records, and a few deeds, one of which dates to 1681. Most of the documents come from early to mid nineteenth century. There is a particularly large collection of Anthony Morris's correspondence, dating mostly to the early nineteenth century. There are also architectural drawings of a Fellenberg Institution, a school that would use the educational techniques created by a Swiss educator. The Institution was proposed to be built on Morris' property. Morris, born in 1766 and dying in 1860, was from a prominent Philadelphia family and served as a merchant and legislator.
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.B.M836 | | | | Extent: | 1 Linear Feet | | | | Topics: | Business and Skilled Trades | Education | Trade | | | | Genre: | Business Records and Accounts | Educational Material | General Correspondence | Sketchbooks | | | | Subjects: | Agricultural colleges -- Pennsylvania. | |
| 11 | Author: | Pemberton, Israel, 1715-1779 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Israel Pemberton, Letterbook D, 1744-1747
| | | | Dates: | 1744-1747 | | | | Abstract: | The Israel Pemberton Letter book contains a range of data on Philadelphia shipping and trade. Pemberton was a merchant who had connections to Samuel Coates (Mss.B.C632 , Mss.C.632.1d , Mss.B.C632.1). These records precede Coates and pertain to trade in Philadelphia during the 1740s. They show a merchant with strong ties throughout the Atlantic World. His letters discuss a range of business matters, such as prices of commodities, costs of insurance, and general trade environment. Pemberton's letters discuss intercolonial trade with Maryland and Virginia (tobacco in particular), while others with matters in Europe and the Caribbean (sugar, rum, bar iron), reflecting his various trading interests. In addition to the business correspondence, Pemberton's letters occasionally discuss more quotidian matters, describing events in Philadelphia and relaying news he hears from abroad and on very rare occasions his family affairs.
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.380.P36 | | | | Extent: | 1 volume(s) | | | | Topics: | Business and Skilled Trades | International Trade. | Philadelphia History | Social Life and Custom | Trade | | | | Genre: | Business Records and Accounts | General Correspondence | | | | Subjects: | Commerce. | |
| 12 | Author: | Latrobe, Benjamin Henry, 1764-1820 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Opinion On A Project For Removing the Obstructions To A Ship Navigation To Georgetown, Col.
| | | | Dates: | 1812 | | | | Abstract: | This volume from Thomas Jefferson's personal library contains a series of pamphlets dealing with internal improvements that Jefferson bound together. The earliest and first one in the series dates to 1812 and is by Benjamin Latrobe. There are also official state reports on internal improvements, most notably from New York, and one from France and another from Great Britain. One of the pamphlets has detailed sketches of canal boats.
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.626.L35o | | | | Extent: | 1 volume(s) | | | | Topics: | Engineering | International Trade. | Science and technology | Trade | | | | Genre: | Printed Material | |
| 16 | Author: | Bohlen, John | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | John Bohlen Collection
| | | | Dates: | 1889-1912 | | | | Abstract: | John Bohlen was a prominent Philadelphia merchant in the nineteenth century, dying a millionaire. Bohlen, a Hollander, established a firm with his brother that specialized in trade with his native country. His greatest success came in the lucrative gin trade. As his business increased, so too did his connections. He served on the Board of the first Bank of the United States and was well-connected with highest the political and business leaders in the nation. Although John Bohlen was a prominent and successful businessman, these documents have little bearing on Bohlen himself. Instead, they are a series of letters (ten total) written by prominent Americans either to Bohlen or to his relatives.
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.B.B63 | | | | Extent: | 0.25 Linear Feet | | | | Topics: | Business and Skilled Trades | International Trade. | Philadelphia History | Religion | Trade | | | | Genre: | General Correspondence | |
| 17 | Author: | Carson, Joseph, 1808-1876 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Joseph Carson papers, 1810-1877
| | | | Dates: | 1810-1877 | | | | Abstract: | The APS collection of Joseph Carson's letters is relatively small, especially for the purposes of this guide. Joseph Carson was a Philadelphia born and educated physician who spent time serving as a ship's physician. The collection has six documents from before 1850. They range from letters to receipts to notes from a lecture. Of particular significance is a very long letter Carson wrote from Calcultta in 1830 to Samuel Grant, an associate in the U.S.. Carson had been asked to carry a bill of exchange for Grant, which he had some difficulty disposing of because Grant's credit was not well-known, and to purchase goods on Grant's behalf for sale in the U.S.. Carson details the process and availability of goods in India, and the reasons for his decision to purchase silk and indigo for Grant. Carson then goes on to describe his experience on the trip, stating that he "played the part of merchant and doctor."
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.B.C239 | | | | Extent: | 0.25 Linear Feet | | | | Topics: | Americans Abroad | Education | Medicine | Trade | | | | Genre: | Business Records and Accounts | Educational Material | General Correspondence | Notebooks | | | | Subjects: | Botany. | Medical publishing | Medicine -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia. | |
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