Thomas W. Smith Papers

The Thomas W. Smith papers are arranged in two series: Business Records and Augusta Bank Records. There are no sub-series. Although the collection was largely unarranged when it arrived at the Fogler Library, Mr. Smith often labeled his papers on their versos by their type or function: letters, orders, bills, etc. These groupings were followed in arranging the papers. The Business Records series begins with letters to Mr. Smith, 1817-1852, concerning his lumber trade, shipping, delivery of goods for his grocery and dry-goods businesses, and his holding of notes and mortgages. This section is followed by a group of letter books, 1828-1851, containing copies of Smith's outgoing correspondence. A large section of orders, 1811-1844, follows. These were presented to Smith at his stores, entitling the bearers to use various sums of money to buy goods of all descriptions: sewing silk, brandy, molasses, sugar, coffee, tea, fish, nails, etc. The items labeled memos contain lists of lumber needed by various people. The group of papers labeled bills, 1811-1839, contains bills from suppliers for Smith's grocery, dry-goods, and lumbering businesses. Bills for things such as shingles, rum, coffee, candles, goose feathers, muslin, gingham, pork, and shoes are included, as well as bills for surveying timber, repairing hinges, painting blinds, etc. Items labeled accounts list expenditures and credits for goods and services; receipts contain records of things bought by Smith. The series also includes a group of items such as bills of lading, receipts for items shipped, wharfage books, and storage information which concern Smith's shipping business. Blotters, journals, and ledgers provide financial information about Smith's many activities. A small section of legal and personal papers ends this series. The Augusta Bank Records series begins with a large section labeled Accounts, proxies, etc., 1814-1852. These folders contain papers concerning the daily operation of the bank; many are addressed to George Crosby or George W. Allen, both cashiers at the bank. Included are proxies appointing various individuals to receive dividends from the bank's stock, some deposit and account information, receipts from the state of Maine for tax received on capital stock, and bills and receipts for bank expenses. Also included is correspondence from banks such as the Northern, Central and Suffolk Banks and correspondence to the bank cashiers. Bank charges and accounts also contain bills to the bank for expenses and salaries. The final items in this series provide information about the bank's activities and holdings. They include bank returns, 1816-1822, submitted to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and after 1820 to the state of Maine listing capital, value of real estate, bills in circulation, bank profits, etc. Also included are weekly bank statements, 1814-1827, giving liabilities, reserved funds, debts due, bills in circulation and delinquent notes. The series ends with forms listing notes proposed for discount each week at the bank. The user should note that a part of the Smith collection containing primarily political correspondence of Smith's son-in-law, James W. Bradbury, was given to the Special Collections Department at Bowdoin College at the same time the Smith papers came to the Fogler Library.