Augustus Garrett (1801-1848) Letterbooks
Scope and Contents
The Augustus Garrett Letterbooks consist of two bound volumes of copies of outgoing (and occasional incoming) letters of Augustus Garrett. The first volume (280 pages) spans the period from October 29, 1843, through January 2, 1845; the second (214 pages) from January 3 through August 19, 1845. The correspondence is concerned almost entirely with financial and other business matters. The largest single portion (perhaps a quarter of the letters) is addressed to John F. Seaman, and deals with insurance and financial transactions. The correspondence with Seaman also includes letters of introduction on behalf of Garrett's Illinois business associates.
The volumes also include correspondence with John Brower, President, and J. W. Savage, Vice President, of the National Fire Insurance Company of New York, dealing with policies written by Garrett for the Company; the firm of Garrett, Seaman, and Stearns, of Dixon, Illinois, concerning merchandise orders and shipments; J. R. Malony, of New York City, dealing with merchandise orders, insurance, and Garrett's observations on Chicago politics; Illinois Governor Thomas Ford and Congressman John Wentworth, concerning political appointments and pardons; and J. A. Noonan, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, concerning Noonan's prospects as an agent for the National Fire Insurance Company, and the coverage of Garrett's affairs in a Milwaukee newspaper apparently edited by Noonan.
Other occasional correspondents include Garrett's insurance clients, and suppliers of goods and services with whom he corresponded in his capacity as Mayor of Chicago.
Dates
- 1843-1845
Creator
- Garrett, Augustus, 1801-1848 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions on use of the materials in the department for research; all patrons must comply with federal copyright regulations.
Extent
1.00 Boxes
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Augustus Garrett Letterbooks consist of two bound volumes of copies of outgoing (and occasional incoming) letters of Augustus Garrett. The first volume (280 pages) spans the period from October 29, 1843, through January 2, 1845; the second (214 pages) from January 3 through August 19, 1845. The correspondence is concerned almost entirely with financial and other business matters. The largest single portion (perhaps a quarter of the letters) is addressed to John F. Seaman, and deals with insurance and financial transactions. The correspondence with Seaman also includes letters of introduction on behalf of Garrett's Illinois business associates.
Arrangement Note
Arrangement of letters within each volume is mainly chronological, although there are a number of exceptions, primarily in the first volume.
Method of Acquisition
These volumes were transferred from Special Collections on September 14, 1978, as Accession #78-56. Their original provenance is unknown.
Processing Information
James G. Carson, November 14, 1984.
- Title
- Guide to the Augustus Garrett (1801-1848) Letterbooks
- Author
- James G. Carson
- Date
- 02/11/1985
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- eng
Library Details
Part of the Northwestern University Archives Repository
Deering Library, Level 3
1970 Campus Dr.
Evanston IL 60208-2300 US
847-491-3635
specialcollections@northwestern.edu