Adams Express Company

Variant names
Dates:

Biographical notes:

The Adams Express Company was founded in Boston in 1839. Originally called Burke and Company, its name was changed to Adams and Company after only two weeks when Alvin Adams agreed to buy out his partner. By 1850, the company had spread throughout the south, southwest, and north. Much additional capital was invested at that time and the company's name was again changed to the Adams Express Company. During the Civil War, the company made a substantial amount of money shipping packages to and from the Union troops. In World War I, the government seized the railroad cars used by the express companies and they lost money. The companies were merged into one large company, the Consolidated Express Company. Adams continued to exist but only as an investment company.

From the description of Adams Express Company Journal, 1855-1863. (University of Kentucky Libraries). WorldCat record id: 32635870

Adams & Company, a subsidiary of its Boston-based parent company of the same name, opened in San Francisco in 1849 as an express company and expanded its services in 1850 to include banking. The company failed in the Panic of 1855, and its assets were taken over by the banking house of Palmer, Cook, and Company.

From the description of Adams & Co. signature book : ADS, 1849-1854. (California Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 145416713

From the description of Adams & Co. deposit slips : ADS, 1853-1854. (California Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 122499126

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Subjects:

  • Banks and banking
  • Exchanges Of Publications
  • Exposition
  • Express service
  • Express service
  • Freight and freightage
  • Interstate commerce
  • National Museum
  • Natural history
  • Shipping
  • Smithsonian Exchange
  • Smithsonian Publications
  • Transportation

Occupations:

not available for this record

Places:

  • Pennsylvania--York (as recorded)
  • New York (State)--New York (as recorded)
  • Chagres (Panama) (as recorded)
  • California (as recorded)
  • Kentucky (as recorded)
  • California--San Francisco (as recorded)
  • California (as recorded)
  • Panama (as recorded)

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