Archives of Messrs. Freeman and Almy
Abstract
Messrs. Freeman and Almy operated a shipping company in New York City in the mid-nineteenth century. They had representatives in Baltimore, Maryland,who acted for them securing ships and cargo for their business. The Archives of Messrs. Freeman and Almy encompass the months June through November 1864. The bulk of the correspondence is from Captain Daniel C. Childs to Messrs. Freeman and Almy and concerns Captain Childs's purchase, repair,and outfitting of the brig Gertrude in Baltimore, Maryland.
Important Information for Users of the Collection
This collection is open for research.
Archives of Messrs. Freeman and Almy, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries
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This collection is PROCESSED.
Historical Note
Messrs. Freeman and Almy operated a shipping company in New York City in the mid-nineteenth century. They had representatives in Baltimore, Maryland,who acted for them securing ships and cargo for their business.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The Archives of Messrs. Freeman and Almy encompass the months June through November 1864. The bulk of the correspondence is from Captain Daniel C. Childs to Messrs. Freeman and Almy and concerns Captain Childs's purchase, repair,and outfitting of the brig Gertrude in Baltimore, Maryland.
Custodial History and Acquisition Information
The University of Maryland Libraries purchased the Papers of Messrs. Freeman and Almy from Charles Apfelbaum in 2006.
Processing Information
Processed by Terry Ann Sayler, May 2006.
The materials were placed in acid-free folders and stored in an acid-free box.
EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Jennie A. Levine.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Correspondence, 1864 (36 items)
From June through September 1864 Captain Daniel C. Childs was engaged in the purchase and then repair of an Italian brig, later named theGertrude, for Messrs. Freeman and Almy's shipping business. Captain Childs wrote them almost daily from Baltimore describing the work that was needed on the brig, the difficulty of hiring and retaining competent carpenters and mechanics, the search for suitable cargo at the best price, and the overwhelming summer heat. Although the ship had been seriously damaged in a collision with a steamer, Childs still believed her a worthwhile purchase. Much of the correspondence concerns the search for a profitable cargo to be transported to Europe or South America. Among those considered were pertolean (petroleum) oil, grain, and tobacco. The Gertrude departed from Baltimore on September 8, 1864 loaded with 2,071 barrels of flour bound for Trinidad. Childs's only possible cargo for the return voyage was guano, although he hoped to find something that would pay more.
This collection also includes the correspondence of J. M. Hall who handled financial affairs for Captain Childs and the Gertrude. There is also correspondence of Edward F. Levell who wrote asking for green turtles of 50 to 60 pounds, and James G. Ramsay who discussed sperm oil and a hawser.
Arrangement is alphabetical by correspondent, and then chronological.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Correspondence -- To Freeman and Almy -- From Daniel C. Childs (25 items), June-August 1864 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | |
| Correspondence -- To Freeman and Almy -- From J. M. Hall (4 items), September-November 1864 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 2 | |
| Correspondence -- To Freeman and Almy -- From Jones and Ashcroft (1 item), September 1864 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 3 | |
| Correspondence -- To Freeman and Almy -- From Edw [ard] F. Levell (1 item), June 1864 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 4 | |
| Correspondence -- To Freeman and Almy -- From James G. Ramsay (4 items), September-November 1864 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 5 | |
| Correspondence -- To Freeman and Almy -- From Peter Walther (1 item), October 1864 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 6 | |
Related Material
- The University of South Carolina South Caroliniana Library contains the Records of Freeman, Almy & Co. (New York, N.Y.), 1864. It consists of three letters describing the shipping trade in the Carolinas.
- Boston Public Library Rare Books and Manuscripts contains a collection of Freeman, Almy and Company correspondence from 1836-1874 (MS 3589).
For other related archival and manuscript collections, please see the following subject guides.