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COLLECTION Identifier: Mss:766 1867-1957 P352

Henry W. Peabody & Company records

Overview

Ledgers, journals, miscellaneous accounts, and scattered letters, 1867-1957, of the Boston, Mass. based import-export firm founded by Henry W. Peabody.

Dates

  • Creation: 1867-1957

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Materials stored offsite; access requires advance notice. Contact specialcollectionsref@hbs.edu for more information.

Extent

8 linear feet (94 volumes)

Incomplete series of ledgers, journals, miscellaneous accounts and letters of a Boston firm which was in the import-export business (trade to Australia, South Africa and South America) to 1890. Thereafter it specialized in hemp, with an office in Yucatan, under the direction of Arthur Peirce, Agent. Letterbooks include ones directed to Plymouth Cordage Company and a private letter book, 1894-1907, of Henry W. Peabody. The greater part of the collection dates from the twentieth century.

Historical Note:

Henry W. Peabody & Co. was in the general import-export business until 1890. At that time it turned over the general business to the New York Office and concentrated henceforth on hemp. An Agent, Arthur Peirce, represented them in Merida (Yucatan?) from 1890.

Henry W. Peabody was born in Salem, Mass. on August 22, 1838. In 1856 he entered the counting house of Messrs. William & Hall, China and Indian merchants located on Central Wharf in Boston. In 1859 he assumed a clerkship with Samuel Stevens who was engaged in the Australian trade, making partner in 1862. He retired in 1866 and set up a special partnership in his own name in February, 1867. Henry's brother, Alfred S. Peabody was the special partner of the Peabody firm and supplied its original $25,000 capital. Henry died December 7, 1908.

Physical Location

MANU

Provenance:

Gift of Henry W. Peabody & Co., 1965.

Related Material

See also Manuscript Vertical File for more material related to Henry W. Peabody & Co.

Processing Information

Processed: December 2009

By: Benjamin Johnson

Author
Baker Library
Description rules
dacs
Language of description
und
EAD ID
bak00127

Repository Details

Part of the Baker Library Special Collections and Archives, Harvard Business School Repository

Baker Library Special Collections and Archives holds unique resources that focus on the evolution of business and industry, as well as the records of the Harvard Business School, documenting the institution's development over the last century. These rich and varied collections support research in a diverse range of fields such as business, economic, social and cultural history as well as the history of science and technology.

Contact:
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