Records of the office which handled the interests of descendants of Chicago industrialist Cyrus H. McCormick, Sr. The office dealt with business and legal matters for the family; managed their many income-producing properties; reported on all financial transactions in behalf of the two incompetent children, Mary Virginia and Stanley; did the bookkeeping for a variety of trusts and syndicates set up by the McCormicks; handled securities in the form of stocks and bonds; gave accountings of notes and loans; and frequently rendered aid to family members regarding private matters. After the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company's merger into the International Harvester Company in 1902, the McCormick Estates office took on further responsibilities. Although all manufacturing was taken over by International Harvester, the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company under its own name continued to receive payments for products previously purchased on credit (until 1910) and to administer a pension system for employees (until 1922). McCormick Estates staff served as advisors and accountants for the Company in these interests as well as for individual members of the McCormick family.
