Abstract
Historical Society of Montgomery County's Business Records Collection collection, 1766-1985, consists of miscellaneous records from businesses in the vicinity of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Dozens of different types of businesses are represented in the collection, including general stores, blacksmiths and forges, banks and insurance companies, post offices, and others. Most of the records are financial--account books, daybooks, ledgers, etc.--but there is also some correspondence and other types of records.
Biography/History
Montgomery County, situated in southeastern Pennsylvania, was established in 1784 out of the western portion of Philadelphia County. Part of the Welsh Tract, an area of Pennsylvania settled by Quakers from Wales, it is located along the Schuylkill River. Montgomery County has played an important role in U.S. history, including being the site of such Revolutionary War events as the dramatic reshaping of Washington's Army at Valley Forge and the lesser-known engagement of General Lafayette at Barren Hill. Among its significant residents are military figures Winfield S. Hancock, John F. Hartranft (also Governor of Pennsylvania), and Henry "Hap" Arnold; abolitionist Lucretia Mott; inventors David Rittenhouse and Thaddeus Lowe; and artist Thomas Hovenden.
Since its founding, Montgomery County has experienced "booming industry and manufacturing, rich farm fields, advanced transportation, artistic endeavors and unique religious beliefs." The Historical Society of Montgomery County was established in 1881 as the institutional successor to the Federation of Montgomery County Historical Societies. The Society's mission is "to preserve the county's rich heritage and help tell the stories of the many people who have walked and tended its soil."
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of miscellaneous records from businesses in the vicinity of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. There is less than one linear foot of material, and sometimes less than an inch, for each of the businesses included in the collection. Businesses whose records span one linear foot or more are described in separate finding aids. Some account books may be stored with family papers in the Historical Society of Montgomery County family papers collection. Dozens of different types of businesses are represented in the collection, including general stores, blacksmiths and forges, banks and insurance companies, post offices, and others. Most of the records are financial--account books, daybooks, ledgers, etc.--but there is also some correspondence and other types of records. A very rough inventory of the collection is provided below. It does NOT cover all the business records held by the Historical Society of Montgomery County, but provides a general sense of the types of material in the collection.
- "List of retailers of foreign and domestic merchandise in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 1877," listed by township
- Bean Fire Sand Company, treasurer's account
- Bechtel, Isaac, blacksmith book 1850
- Blueprints for: Riverview Hospital, Friends Meeting, Plymouth Golf Club, and DeKalb Street bridge
- Bridgeport National Bank, minute book of directors, 1906-1914
- Brooke, Elijah (surveyor), land drafts and calculations (1816-1827)
- Elijah Brooke, surveys, land draughts, and calculations of Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, 1837-1858
- Brown, Cloud and Johnson business receipts
- Bryn Mawr Baking Company (?) account book
- Center Square Post Office, money order cash book
- Christman's Iron Works account book, 1854-1884
- Cleaver, Ellis account book (1802-1827),
- Conshohocken Sewerage System, Permanent Search
- Conshohocken Worsted Mills brief of title
- Davis and Schrack receipt book (1841-1842),
- DeKalb Street roofing company ledger
- Enterprise shirt factory records, 1882-1886
- Excelsior Savings Fund and Loan Association financial statements 1879-1975
- First National Bank of Norristown minute book, 1864-1898
- Foulke and Cadwallader, numerous small account books
- Freedley, Henry, inventory accounts
- Gottschalk & Weaver account book
- Green Lane Forge journals and daybook, 1795-1814
- Gulph Mill store ledger
- Hall, John (English mechanical engineer), account book, 1768
- Harley family store ledger, 1793-1798
- Hartman store ledger
- Harvey, Edward, day books
- Hauling, Jones account book (1852),
- Hawk, Abraham, account book 1807-1879
- Hellings Lime Business
- Lederach store records
- Lehman, W. H. (general store?) account books, 1861-1865
- McFarland, Dr. Douglas,
- Mills along the Wissahickon
- Montgomery Hospital: clippings, newsletters, annual reports, 1892-2011
- Montgomery Insurance Trust and Safe Deposit Company, ledger book
- Mt. Pleasant Forge account book, 1797-1801
- Mt. Pleasant Forge and furnace, miscellaneous notes
- Norristown Clean Sweep Committee minutes and newspaper clipppings (1978-1985)
- Norristown Hospital and Dispensary minutes, 1889-1892
- Norristown Insurance and Water Company stock certificates
- Penrose, William receipt book (undated)
- Perkiomen Bridge Hotel account book (1864),
- Perkiomen Bridge lottery books, 1797-1798
- Perkiomen Hay Scales receipt book (1854-1858),
- Perkiomen Mills-Samuel Detweiler, 1831-1833
- Post Master account and record book (Weldon PA),
- Post Office book, 1897
- Potts, Robert receipt book (1837-1851),
- Potts, Robert T. receipt book (1849-1867?),
- Sacred Heart Hospital clippings and photographs, circa 1990s
- Sacred Heart Hospital School of Practical Nursing scrapbooks, 1957-1993
- Salfordville store ledger, 1766-1774
- Scheidt, Adam, Brewing, president and general manager's report, 1898-1913
- Schlicter, Jacob account books, correspondence, and voters lists (Limerick and Weaver townships), 1795-1895
- Schrack, Dr. Jonathan ledger book, 1855-1856
- Sellers, Phillip receipt book (1822)
- Sprogell Shoe Store accounts, 1895-1955
- Stetler store day book, 1824-1827
- Stetler store records and Isaac Stetler ciphering books, circa 1824-1831
- Summers, William, receipt book, 1862-1866
- Sun Earth Construction Company, Inc. records
- Wismers, Harry, account book
- Washington Grey Artillery account book (1842-1852) and Constitution/Minute book (1842-1845)
- West Norriton Road Construction and Election Watchers correspondence
- Yerkes (???) store record book
- Ziegler, Michael & Sons, account books, 1784-1824
- unidentified account book, 1866
- unidentified account books (2)
- unidentified letter book, 1892-1893
- unidentified sales book, Philadelphia, 1877
- various utility companies in Norristown area records (circa 1860-1900)
Finding aid prepared by Celia Caust-Ellenbogen and Michael Gubicza through the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories