Mercantile Agency records

Collection — Container: Small Collections

Identifier: 2244

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of a record book, correspondence, and printed material concerning the founding and operation of the Mercantile Agency of New York, which was founded in 1841 by Lewis Tappan. The record book dates from the founding of the Agency in June 1841 through August 1847. The book includes daily entries of business and other transactions, appended form letters, news clippings and announcements concerning the Agency, and biographical information on various agents who worked for the business. Loose items include printed circulars listing terms of subscription to the Agency, as well as an "Explanation of the Objects and Advantages of the Mercantile Agency." Additional circulars are in the form of letters from Lewis Tappan advertising the Agency's services. Hand written items include an undated letter from Arthur Tappan to his brother, Lewis, concerning a proposed meeting, and a fragment of a letter from an unidentified correspondent to Lewis Tappan, dated January 1843, regarding the "benefits to be derived from your Mercantile Agency."

Dates

Created: 1841-1847
Other: Date acquired: 08/17/1970

Creator

Mercantile Agency (New York, N.Y.) (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright to these papers has not been assigned to the Amistad Research Center. It is the responsibility of an author to secure permission for publication from the holder of the copyright to any material contained in this collection.