Stephens and Bancroft business records, 1836-1854.

ArchivalResource

Stephens and Bancroft. Stephens and Bancroft business records, 1836-1854.

Stephens and Bancroft business records, 1836-1854.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/702150409

Manuscript records of merchants John Prall Stephens and Hermon Bancroft. The records include a day book of Hermon Bancroft dated September 21, 1836 to August 4, 1846, and a corresponding ledger dated 1836-1837, which document sales of books, stationery, prints, music, games, and other items to individuals and businesses in New York City. Names of booksellers with whom Bancroft was associated during this period include Monson Bancroft and George W. Holley. A ledger with an index of personal and ship names dated 1850-1852, a volume of invoices for goods received dated April 16, 1851 to June 30, 1854, and a letter book with index dated September 1851 to June 1854, document the activities of the San Francisco firm of Stephens and Bancroft. The firm obtained food, clothing, books, prints, building materials, mining equipment, billiard tables, and other necessities and luxuries from merchants and suppliers in New York City, the West Coast cities of Oregon City, Portland, Sacramento, San Jose, Santa Barbara, Weaverville, Benicia, Stockton, Los Angeles, and San Diego, and Australia, Panama, and elsewhere, and resold them to customers on the West Coast. Individuals and businesses with whom the firm conducted business include the London and New York publisher-bookseller George Virtue; the English artist Frederick Catherwood; Juan Bandini, the early California revolutionary, politician, and businessman; and Thomas Butler King, San Francisco tax collector and unsuccessful California candidate for congress. Many of the letters, generally sent by a clipper ship named in the letter, discuss various invoices for goods and specify the payment remitted in either gold dust or bars. The firm was dissolved in February 1854; however, a number of letters and accounting entries post-date the dissolution. Included in the letter book are letters relating to Bancroft's real estate interests.

5 items ; 41 cm. and smaller.

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library