Archives Directory for the History of Collecting in America
Archives related to: Astor, William B. (William Backhouse), 1792-1875
| title | Astor family Papers, 1807-1919. | repository | The New-York Historical Society |
| description | Journals, ledgers, day books, receipt books, minute books, rent rolls, letter books, maps, deeds, etc., 1807-1919, of the following members of the Astor Family: Henry Astor (1754-1833); John Jacob Astor (1763-1848); William Backhouse Astor (1792-1875); John Jacob Astor (1822-1890); William Waldorf Astor (1848-1919); Waldorf Astor (1879-1952); and John Jacob Astor (b.1886). This material is primarily concerned with the family's vast interests in New York City real estate. Correspondence and papers, also 1807-1919, including papers relating to the John Armstrong-William B. Astor estate at Red Hook, N.Y.; records, ca.1854, of the cause of Samuel G. Ogden vs. William B. Astor, occasioned by the China trade, ca.1819-25, of John Jacob Astor and Nicholas G. Ogden; papers, mostly 1850's, concerning the Astor Foundation in Waldorf, Germany; extensive correspondence, 1890-1919, between two Astor agents, John Coode-Adams in London and C.W. Baldwin in New York City; and London and other foreign accounts, 1890-1917. Bio/Historic note Prominent New York City and London family. Library Holdings: Mss Collection 2nd Floor |
| extent | ca.2,000 items. |
| formats | Correspondence Financial Records Legal Papers Ephemera |
| access | Available: New-York Historical Society Mss Collection (2nd Floor Non-circulating ) |
| record source | http://bobcat.library.nyu.edu |
| finding aid | Finding aid in repository. |
| updated | 03/16/2023 10:30:03 |
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| title | American Fur Company records, 1803-1829. | repository | Minnesota Historical Society |
| description | Photographic copies of letters and other records, mainly addressed to Robert Stuart, company agent at Michilimackinac, regarding the American Fur Company's participation in the fur trade of the upper Great Lakes region. Most of the records date from the 1820s. Note(s): Originals loaned for copying by Alfred Jefferson, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. |
| extent | 1 folder containing 19 items. |
| formats | Photocopies |
| access | Contact repository for restrictions and policies. |
| bibliography | Described in Bruce M. White, comp., The Fur Trade in Minnesota (St. Paul, 1977),; entry no. 3a. |
| record source | http://mnhs.mnpals.net/ |
| finding aid | An inventory that provides additional information about these materials is available in the repository; filed as P1012. |
| updated | 11/12/2014 11:30:08 |
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| title | [microform] Letters in collections | repository | Clarke Historical Library |
| description | A collection of letters concerning the American fur trade. 75 Astor letters adressed primarily to Ramsey Crooks between 1813 and 1828. Also included 44 Cooks letters (duplicates) to Astor. Among other correspondences are A.D. Stuart, Wilson P. Stuart, Simon Philipson, and William B. Astor. Also included are two agreements between Astor and Crooks, and the List of stockholders of American Fur Company for 1843. Accompanied by newspapers clippings about Crooks. Location Clarke Microforms Call Number MICROFILM MSS F-57 |
| extent | 1 reel of 1 (129 items) : positive ; 35 mm. |
| formats | Microfilm |
| access | Contact repository for restrictions and policies. |
| record source | http://centra.cmich.edu/?hreciid=|library/marc/cmich-marc|b17551985 |
| acquisition information | Originals in the Manuscript Division of the New York Public Library, with the Gansevoort-Lansing Collection, in Van Schaick family papers. |
| updated | 11/12/2014 11:30:08 |
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| title | [microform] 1810-1848 Records | repository | Clarke Historical Library |
| description | Correspondence, account books, bills of lading, receipts, and other papers relating to the conduct of business between American Fur Company managers and agents in Detroit, L'Anse, Mich., La Pointe, Wis., Mackinac Island, Mich., Montreal, New York City, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., and other places, and their customers, largely Indian, regarding the company's fishing, fur trade, lumbering, mining, shipbuilding, and shipping interests, personnel matters, and relations with competing companies and individuals. Includes material pertaining to personal affairs of individuals associated with the company, local politics, postal service, Catholic missionary activities, Indian affairs, in particular of the Chippewa and Ottawa tribes, and trade and fishing in the Great Lakes region. Chief correspondents are Robert Abbott, Samuel Abbott, Ramsay Crooks, Gabriel Franchere, and John R. Livingstone; other correspondents include John Jacob Astor, Friedrich Baraga, Charles Borup, William Brewster, George Johnston, J.H. Kienzie, Thomas M. McKnight, Henry R. Schoolcraft, James E. Schoolcraft, and Lyman M. Warren. Reproduction: Microfilm. Mount Pleasant, Mich. : Clarke Historical Library, 19--?. 18 microfilm reels : positive ; 35 mm. Local Note: reels 1-9,22-29. Location Clarke Microforms Call Number MICROFILM MSS F-52 |
| extent | 18 microfilm reels (924 items and 7 v.) ; 35 mm. |
| formats | Microfilm |
| access | Contact repository for restrictions and policies. |
| record source | http://centra.cmich.edu/?hreciid=|library/marc/cmich-marc|b17604023 |
| acquisition information | The Collection was on deposit at the Clarke Hist. Library, but was returned to the Mackinac Island State Historic Parks Commission in April 2001. |
| updated | 11/12/2014 11:30:08 |
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| title | Account book, 1838 Nov.-1841 Oct. | repository | The New-York Historical Society |
| description | Catherwood's account book (1838-1841) listing money received and paid out for panoramic paintings, exhibits, season tickets, and other business, with many references to William B. Astor, O.H. Crosby, and William D. Adams. Historical Note: Historical and panoramic painter, New York City. Catherwood (1799-1854) was raised in England. He spent 8 years travelling in Italy, Greece, and the Near East before returning. In 1836 he moved to New York where he worked as an architect and established his own panorama rotunda. He spent several years exploring Mexico and Central America and supervised construction of the first railroad in South America. He later served as construction engineer on the first California railroad. He was reported missing at sea, Sept. 1854, in the first steamship to sink after a collision at sea. Location New-York Historical Society Collection Mss Collection Call Number BV Catherwood, Frederick |
| extent | 1 v. (224 p.) ; 8 x 13 in. |
| formats | Financial Records |
| access | open to qualified researchers at The New-York Historical Society ; patrons must use microfilm copy. |
| record source | http://www.bobcat.nyu.edu |
| updated | 11/12/2014 11:30:08 |
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| title | Benjamin Knower papers, 1804-1907. | repository | The New-York Historical Society |
| description | Correspondence, deeds, bonds, insurance papers, accounts, etc., 1804-1907, relating to the settlement of the estate of Albany hatter and banker, Benjamin Knower, particularly to the disposition of his land holdings in Albany County, New York, and elsewhere. Papers involve various relatives and business associates of the deceased, including John Knower, John J. Astor, William B. Astor, William L. Marcy (executor), Abel French, Henry Coggill, George W. Newell, and George H. Penniman. New-York Historical Society Mss Collection (Benjamin Knower papers Non-circulating ) |
| extent | 1 box (ca. 234 items). |
| formats | Correspondence Legal Papers Financial Records |
| access | open to qualified researchers at The New-York Historical Society |
| record source | http://www.bobcat.nyu.edu |
| finding aid | Arranged chronologically.. |
| updated | 11/12/2014 11:30:08 |
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| title | Letter, 1852, April 8. | repository | The New-York Historical Society |
| description | To James W. Beekman, commending the proposed revisions in New York City's real estate laws. New-York Historical Society Mss Collection (Beekman Box 2 Non-circulating ) |
| extent | 1 p. |
| formats | Correspondence |
| access | open to qualified researchers at The New-York Historical Society |
| record source | http://www.bobcat.nyu.edu |
| updated | 11/12/2014 11:30:08 |
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| title | Hiram Powers papers, 1819-1953, bulk 1835-1883. | repository | Archives of American Art |
| description | The papers of sculptor Hiram Powers measure 12.2 linear feet and date from 1819 to 1953, with the bulk of the material dating from 1835 to 1883. Over two-thirds of the collection consists of Powers' correspondence, which is particularly rich in documenting his artwork, methodology, and his interaction with business associates, purchasers of his artwork, and his numerous friends in the United States and Florence, Italy. Other papers include scattered biographical material, writings by Powers and others, financial and legal records, news clippings and printed items, photographs of Powers, his family, artwork, as well as an extensive collection of carte de visite and cabinet card portraits of many notable figures. Also found is a small amount of artwork by Powers and others, a scrapbook, and two autograph and memorabilia albums. Biographical material consists of documents for honors conferred on Powers, price lists and inventories of his artwork, papers regarding his death, including a translation of his will, and ephemera, such as his studio cap. The bulk of the collection consists of Powers' correspondence with family, friends, business associates, and others, documenting his career as an artist and his personal life after he and his family moved to Florence, Italy, in 1837. Almost all of the letters have typed unconfirmed transcriptions completed by volunteers at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Besides details of his studio work and business dealings, his letters often discuss his views on aesthetics, American politics, slavery and the Civil War, and Spiritualism. Notable correspondence is with William B. Astor, Edward Everett, Samuel York Atlee, William and E. Clementine Kinney, George P. Marsh, George Peabody, Presidents Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams, William Cullen Bryant, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, John C. Calhoun, Thomas Crawford, John A. Dix, Asher Durand, Charles Francis Fuller, Henry Peters Gray, Horace Greeley, George P. A. Healy, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Samuel F. B. Morse, W. W. Story, John Sartain, Frances Trollope, and Daniel Webster. Writings by Powers include his "Studio Memorandum," a journal-type notebook he kept from 1841 to 1845, which contains dated notations of letters written, receipts and expenditures, business contacts, works in progress, commissions and price quotations for work, comments on problems encountered during studio work, and other notes. Additional writings include poetry and autobiographical essays and instructions for handling his sculptures. Writings by others include poetry, most of which was written in praise of Powers' artwork. Of note are handwritten transcripts of poems by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Bayard Taylor, and John Quincy Adams. Also found here are short writings about Powers and his artwork. Scattered financial and legal records in this collection include patent documents for tools invented by Powers, legal agreements, account statements, and bills and receipts. Printed material consists of news clippings, two booklets, an art association brochure, and an exhibition catalog for works by Powers. This collection contains photographs of Hiram Powers, his family, friends, notable public figures, and artwork. Many of the photographs were taken by his son, Longworth Powers, who had a private photography studio in Florence. Included are portraits of Powers and his family, as well as a collection of 267 carte de visite and cabinet card portraits of artists, performers, politicians, writers, scientists, and other public figures, many of whom were friends with the Powers family. Other photographs depict Woodstock, Vermont, the marble quarry at Carrara, Italy, and artwork by Hiram and Preston Powers. Also found here is a photograph album kept by Louisa Powers. Artwork consists of three drawings by Hiram Powers, including a caricature of Miner Kellogg. Also found in this collection is a scrapbook containing news clippings regarding the American tour of the sculpture Greek Slave, an autograph album belonging to Louisa Powers, and an album containing pencil drawings by Preston Powers and dried flowers collected on travels. Bio / His Notes: Hiram Powers (1805-1873) was a sculptor from Washington, D.C. and Florence, Italy. Powers' international success due to his work "Greek Slave," established him as the leading American sculptor of his day. Loc. of Assoc. Material: The Maryland Historical Society has the Charles James Madison Eaton correspondence with Hiram Powers, and a letter received from Thomas Sully, 1845-1867. Additional Hiram Powers papers are available at the Winterthur Museum which includes correspondence and a few photographs. Also found at the Archives of American Art is an unpublished manuscript entitled "White Marble: The Life and Letters of Hiram Powers, Sculptor," by Clara Louise Dentler, available on Archives of American Art microfilm reels 1102-1103. Microfilm reels 815-818 contain a "Collection of Letters from Old Residents of Cincinnati to Hiram Powers," compiled by Clara Louise Dentler, and loaned for microfilming by the Cincinnati Historical Society. These letters are not described in this finding aid. Microfilm reel D117 contains "The Sculpture of Hiram Powers," by Paul B. Metzler, lent for microfilming by Ohio State University. Cite as: Hiram Powers papers, 1819-1953, bulk 1835-1883. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. |
| extent | 12.2 linear ft. |
| formats | Clippings Correspondence Financial Records Legal Papers Photographs |
| access | Use of original papers requires an appointment. The collection was digitized in 2010 and is available via the Archives of American Art's Web site. |
| record link | http://aaa.si.edu/collectionsonline/powehira/ |
| record source | http://www.siris.si.edu/ |
| finding aid | The collection was digitized in 2010 and is available via the Archives of American Art's Web site. |
| acquisition information | The Hiram Powers papers were purchased by the Smithsonian American Art Museum in 1967 from Christina Seeber, great-granddaughter of Hiram Powers. A portion of these papers were loaned to the Archives of American Art for microfilming in 1974, and the entire collection was subsequently transferred to the archives from the museum in 1984. |
| updated | 11/12/2014 11:30:12 |
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