Alexander Smith Account and Letter Book
name: label: Author
content: Smith, Alexander, fl. 1790s
label: Collector
content: National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Domestic Life
label: Donor
content: Dodd, Jean M., Mrs.
label: Names
content: Washington, George, 1732-1799
place: label: Place
content: Alexandria (Va.) -- 1790s
topic: label: Topic
content: Commerce -- 1780-1800
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Collection donated by Mrs. Jean M. Dodd, 1963, July 25.
creator: label: Author
content: Smith, Alexander, fl. 1790s
setName: label: See more items in
content: Alexander Smith Account and Letter Book
abstract: label: Summary
content: Correspondence of Alexander Smith, a merchant living in Alexandria, Virginia, correspondence consists of copies of his letters to other merchants. Of particular interest is a letter dated 1796 November 9, from Smith to George Washington concerning Smith's loan repayment.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 1 Volume (1 folder)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1792-1797
custodhist: label: Ownership and Custodial History
content: Transferred from the Division of Domestic Life, 2/3/84. (64.158, original catalog no.) Gift of Mrs. Jean M. Dodd.
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0083
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Volumes
label: Type
content: Manuscripts
label: Type
content: Letter books
label: Type
content: Account books
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Collection processed by Robert Harding, 1986
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Manuscripts -- 18th century
label: Genre/Form
content: Letter books -- 1780-1800
label: Genre/Form
content: Account books -- 18th century
otherfindaid: label: Other Finding Aids
content: Inventory available; contact the Archives Center for more information.
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: In 1792-1797, Alexander Smith, a merchant living in Alexandria, Va., kept a record of dry goods purchased and sold. Most of the 1797 correspondence is copies of his letters to other merchants. Of particular interest is a letter dated 9 November 1796, from Smith to George Washington concerning Smith's loan repayment. Washington's response of 14 November 1796 can be found in "The Writings of George Washington, 1745-1799" by John C. Fitzpatrick.
label: Scope and Contents
content: Approx. 1/3 of the ledger consists of general accounts, 1/3 of accounts at "Difficult Mill," and the remaining third copies of letters from Alexander Smith.