A Guide to the Edwin Smith Papers
Finding aid created by Dept. Staff
University of Florida Smathers Libraries - Special and Area Studies Collections
July 2006
Descriptive Summary |
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| Provenance: | Smith, Edwin. | |
| Title: | Edwin Smith Papers | |
| Dates: | 1884-1896 | |
| Abstract: | Records and correspondence of Edwin Smith, who operated a store in Federal Point, Florida. | |
| Extent: | 0.5 linear feet. (2 boxes) | |
| Identification: | Ms 199 | |
Biographical/Historical Note
Edwin Smith operated a stored in the 1880s and 1890s at Federal Point, Florida, near Jacksonville and St. Augustine. Smith was involved in the orange trade and had dealings with several produce sellers including Bernard Abel and Co. and John A. Lyon, both of New York, and T. Nooney and Sons in Jacksonville, Florida. He also purchased fertilizer and other supplies for local grove owners from suppliers such as Wilkinson and Co. He also helped found the local Episcopal Church, although no references to the church (other than passing inquiries made by family members in letters) are found in this collection.
Scope and Content
The collection contains extensive business records for the Federal Point store, including sales receipts, shipping records, and letters discussing sales requests and the citrus industry in various parts of the country. Personal letters in the collection include correspondence from Smith's brother, S.S. Smith in San Francisco, his niece Fannie Hubbard, and his cousin Louise Sexton and her son W.C. Sexton. There also is personal correspondence from businessmen, W.B. Cox and Bernard Abel. In the 1888 correspondence folder, there are multiple references to an epidemic of yellow fever in the Jacksonville area. Family members express concern for Smith's health, and business owners discuss the effects that the fever and subsequent quarantines had on their operations and sales.
Also included is a letterbook containing handwritten copies of the business correspondence sent by Smith between 1886 and 1896. A ledger documents Smith's business transactions, dated 1886-1891, including purchases, records of orange shipments, and other sales.
Access or Use Restrictions
Access
Collection is open for research.
Usage Restrictions
The ledger and letterbook housed in Box 2 may not be photocopied or reproduced without the permission of the curator of the P.K. Yonge Library of Florida History.
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], [Title of Archival Collection], Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Acquisition Information
The ledger and letterbook were received from Edith Hubbard.
Processing History
The ledger and letterbook had been separated from the business records and correspondence and stored in the General Ledgers collection, but in 2006 the two parts of the collection were united.
Contents List
Selected Subjects and Access Points |
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| Citrus fruit industry -- Florida -- History. | ||
| Federal Point (Fla.) -- History -- 19th century. | ||
| Merchants -- Florida -- Federal Point -- Correspondence. | ||
| Pioneers -- Florida -- Jacksonville -- Correspondence. | ||
| St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Federal Point, Fla.) | ||
For further information, please contact: Special Collections Access Services.
