Freeman Clarke banking papers
Scope and Contents note
A collection of over 1,900 cancelled checks drawn mainly upon upstate New York banks, 1845 through 1873 and 1882. They relate to the business activities of Freeman Clarke of Rochester.
The checks not only give an insight into nineteenth century business practices, but also reveal the decorative arts of the period. Many have engravings of cartouches and vignettes of historical and commercial scenes, including such subjects as ships, railroads, farming scenes, liberty, horses, eagles, and portraits. Some checks have two and even three such engravings. A few have the name of the printer, a number have revenue stamps from the Civil War period and later. Some of the checks are signed by locally prominent people.
Also with the collection are about 275 banking letters of protest from 1853. Most are stampless covers bearing post office cancellations from various towns in New York state.
Creator
- Clarke, Freeman, 1809-1887 (Person)
Dates
- Creation: 1838-1873, 1882
Language of Materials
English
Extent
1.25 cubic feet (3 boxes)
Access
The Freeman Clarke Banking papers are open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.
Use
In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Allen Paine Mills, January 1985. Mr. Mills is the great-grandson of Freeman Clarke.
Preferred Citation
[Item title, item date], Freeman Clarke Banking Papers, D.202, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Topical
Subject
- Clarke, Freeman, 1809-1887 (Person)
- Title
- Freeman Clarke banking papers
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Rare Books and Special Collections staff
- Date
- undated
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Library Details
Part of the Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Library