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Inventory of the J.N. Robson & Son Records, 1861-1902

Descriptive Summary

Abstract: Account books, ledgers, letterpress copybooks, and receipts for J.N. Robson & Son, who were Charleston, South Carolina commission merchants and wholesale and retail dealers in hay, grain, and groceries.
Title: J.N. Robson & Son records
Creator: J.N. Robson and Son (Charleston, S.C.)
Date(s): 1861-1902    
Extent: 3.0 linear feet
(2 document boxes, 1 oversize box)
Repository: Special Collections, College of Charleston Libraries
66 George Street
Charleston, SC 29424
Phone: (843) 953-8016
Fax: (843) 953-6319
URL: http://archives.library.cofc.edu
Call Number: Mss 0040
Language of Material: Materials in English

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Historical Note

Established in 1839 in Charleston, South Carolina, J.N. Robson & Son served as commission merchants and wholesale and retail dealers in hay, grain, and groceries. Their headquarters were located at 136 East Bay and 1 and 2 Atlantic Wharf, Charleston, South Carolina.


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Collection Overview

Records consist of letterpress copybooks, a receipt book, a ledger, and an account book.

Three letterpress copybooks (1873-1874; 1891; and 1893-1898) contain copies of business correspondence, mostly brief letters to various individuals and businesses remitting accounts of sales and payments from those sales. Letters are signed either "J.N. Robson for G.M. Coffin,""J.N. Robson & Son," or simply "J.N. Robson." Loose items in the copybooks include J.N. Robson & Son stationery, letterheads of which have an engraving of the company building.

An account book (1871-1874) is entitled "Ledger Balances," and a ledger (1861-1874) contains accounts with numerous individuals and companies. A receipt book (1898-1902) contains receipts which are affixed to the blank pages. Receipts are from commission merchants, mills, and other businesses in Charleston (S.C.), Chicago (Ill.), Philadelphia (Pa.), and elsewhere.

Collection Arrangement

Each item is arranged chronologically by date, and is in its original order.


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Search Terms

The following terms have been used to index this collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped by name of person, family, or organization, by topical subject, by place, and by types of material.

    Names

    • J.N. Robson and Son (Charleston, S.C.)--Records and correspondence

    Subjects

    • Commission merchants--South Carolina--Charleston
    • Grain trade--South Carolina--Charleston
    • Grocery trade--South Carolina--Charleston
    • Hay trade--South Carolina--Charleston

    Places

    • Charleston (S.C.)--History

    Types of Material

    • Accounts
    • Ledgers (account books)
    • Letterpress copybooks
    • Receipts (financial records)

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    Inventory




    Letter copy book, 1890-1895   box 1 | folder 1



    Letter copy book, 1891   box 1 | folder 2



    Letter copy book, 1873-1874   box 2 | folder 1



    "Ledger Balances," account book, 1871-1874   box 2 | folder 2


    Receipt book, 1898-1902   box 3
    (Oversize)


    Account ledger, 1861-1874   box 3
    (Oversize)

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    Administrative Information

    Access Restrictions

    This collection is open for research.

    Copyright Notice

    The nature of the College of Charleston's archival holdings means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. Special Collections claims only physical ownership of most archival materials.

    The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item], J.N. Robson & Son records, College of Charleston Libraries, Charleston, SC, USA.

    Processing Information

    Originally processed by Special Collections staff, date unknown.

    Reprocessed by Cara McHugh, March 2013.

    Encoded by Cara McHugh, March 2013.

    Reviewed and uploaded by Martha McTear, April 2013.

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    Table of Contents