Main content

Jonathan French and Sons letterbook

Notifications

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]3420 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6206

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Jonathan French and Sons was a nineteenth-century firm of fish merchants located in Eastport, probably in Maine. The company appears to have worked mostly with other companies and therefore, may have sold primarily wholesale. It is unknown how many sons worked with Jonathan French.

This collection consists of one copypress letterbook dating from 1864 to 1867. The letters in the volume relate mainly to shipments of and payments for fish. Steamers and other vessels for transporation of fish are frequently mentioned. All the letters were sent from Jonathan French and Sons and were written on paper similar in texture to blotting paper.

Companies and individuals with whom Jonathan French and Sons conducted business include: Benjamin Callender & Co.; Billings & Baldwin; Charles Richardson & Co.; Rufus Cushman (Portland); Dunning, [Tooker] & Co.; F. Pierce & Co.; George J. Tenney & Son; G.F. and P. Hurd; Hooper Lewis & Co.; Hutchins & Wheeler; I. J. Townsend & Co.; Jed Frye & Co.; Kendall & Whitney; Kendrick & Co.; L. J. Hill & Co.; Pool Brothers (Boston); Oliver Prenster; Stephen Smith; Curtis Stevens; Stinger Co.; Stone Wood & Co.; Sturges & Co.; and Thayer Field Co. Company names that were illegible or only partially legible are not included here. Very few of these company's locations are known, however, when known, the location is included above.

The volume consists of 348 pages. On many of the pages, the ink did not transfer at the time of copy, has faded, or has bled, rendering many of the letters illegible.

Publisher
University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts
Finding Aid Author
Alexandra M. Wilder
Finding Aid Date
2017 May 11
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Copyright restrictions may exist. For most library holdings, the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania do not hold copyright. It is the responsibility of the requester to seek permission from the holder of the copyright to reproduce material from the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Collection Inventory

Request to View Materials

Materials can be requested by first logging in to Aeon. Then, click on the ADD button next to any containers you wish to request. When complete, click the Request button.

Request item to view
Letterbook, 1864-1867.
Volume 1

Print, Suggest