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Waterous family papers

 Collection
Identifier: c-00327

Scope and Contents

The collection contains letter fragments, receipts, handbills, copies of a hand-written newspapers, and business and household accounts of John, Edward, and Purden Waterous, who moved from Avon, New York, to the Grand Blanc area of Michigan (circa 1830).

Three ledgers - "cider books" - record the business transactions of Edward Waterous' New York distillery. Dated from 1807-1829, the ledgers note customers' names, grain and whiskey prices, and some grocery prices. A whiskey tax receipt issued to Edward Waterous in 1800 is included. Purchase receipts from an Avon, New York, general store note prices of a variety of items, including silk, raisins, umbrellas, and a vest pattern. A small notebook lists wages for farm labor in the Avon area in 1825.

Also included are a letter from Purden to John; pages apparently from an assessor's notebook for an area in Genesee County, Michigan; a receipt to John Waterous for a purchase of land in this area; two other receipts to John for paid installments on shares in the Algerville and Grand Blanc Plank Road (1856); copies of the "Star of the West", a paper put out by S.E. Waterous in 1852; an advertisement for a medical cure-all; a handbill for a concert; and two essays.

Dates

  • Creation: 1800 - 1910

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

Extent

0.25 Cubic Feet (, 3 folders, 2 volumes in folder, 1 volume on shelf)

Language of Materials

English

Custodial History

Gift of Edward Waterous, 1961-01-17. Transferred by Michigan State University Museum

Legal Status

Copyright: Michigan State University Property Rights: Michigan State University

Title
Waterous Family Papers
Status
4 Published And Cataloged
Date
February 1967
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the University Archives and Historical Collections Repository

Contact:
Conrad Hall
943 Conrad Road, Room 101
East Lansing MI 48824 US
517-355-2330