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- Description:
- Two page handwritten letter, dated November 26,1858, from J. R. Thompson of Thirsk, England to David Birrell, concerning Birrell's recent trip to Scotland, and the recent news of the 1858 Bradford Sweets Poisoning: Thirsk Nov-26th My dear Birrell Your letter dated 2nd Inst. (?) I duly received and with much pleasure heard of your safe arrival at home. I am very glad you so much enjoyed your trip to Scotland and that you were so fortunate as to meet with agreeable companions on your voyage across the Atlantic. I have no doubt trip would do you much good after your hard study and confinement in London. The plan you adopt in America of learning Prescription Books with the Physicians is quite novel to me, and appears to be rather good. I don't know whether you receive the Pharmeceutical Journal or not- so I may perhaps be excused from a alluding to the subject of the "medal"(?) offered at the close of the session. I was the successful candidate in the class Chemistry and Pharmacy, the medal is beautifully executied by Wyorn(?) of the Royal Mint; there is also a certificate which accomplanies it. Yorkshire, may I say England, has, within the last few weeks, been startled by an awful tragedy which occured at Bradford. The following is a breif history of the event- A confectioner of the nae of Riel (?) was in the habit of making cheap peppermint Lozenges and in order to accomplish his purpose he mixed with the sugar [...] an arhite(?) known in the trade by the name of "deff" (it is sulphate of lime- (?) of Paris). A few weeks ago Reil having occasion to make some of the Lozenges, sent his workman to a druggist who was in the secret for ome of the "deff," but the druggist was ill in bed and the young man who had only been in the establishmen about three weeks did not know anything about it, so he communicated with his master, who wished the person to wait till he could personlly attend, this the confectioner did not wish to do, so the young man was directed to a certain cask in the cellar. Unfortunately, there were two casks, out of one of which he took 12" (?) of a white powder supposing it to be the arhile(?) he required. In due course this with other ingredients was manufactured into between 40 and 50 pounds of Lozenges some of which were sold to the public in the ordinary way, until they began to produce their sad effect. The white powder proved to be arsenic. Between one and two hundred persons were made ill and I believe 10 or 20 lost their lives by this sad mistake, and but for the prompt measures taken by the authorities to prevent more of the Lozenges being sold and warning the people of Bradford and neighborhood from eating any they might have in their possession, the accident would probably have been more serious in its effect. Most of the Lozenges were recovered. Poor Morris of 17 Bloomsburg Sqr. died about six weeks ago. I shall be at all times glad to hear from you and hope that if you have anything of a Pharmeceutical interest you will not omit to acquaint me of it. Wishing you every success in business. Believe me Dear Birrell, Yours Sincerely J. R. Thompson
- Date Issued:
- 1858-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- One 2-page letter, dated February 10, 1909, from Fleet Falconer Williams & Bovey, of Montreal, to Messrs. Dunbar & Sullivan Dredging Company, of Buffalo. The letter is typewritten in blue ink on white paper that is watermarked "Superfine Linen Record" and has a shield emblem. The letter is a response to a previous request by Dunbar & Sullivan for a statement of assets and liabilities of the Abbey Effervescent Salt Company.
- Date Issued:
- 1909-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- A letter from Ralph Emery, a clerk working for the Detroit Stove Works, to his father, Robert T. Emery, in Belfast, Maine, dated July 22, 1888. The letter is written on Detroit Stove Works letterhead, which features a lithograph, credited to the Calvert Lithograph Company, depicting the Detroit Stove Works offices in Detroit and Chicago as well as the company's foundry in Hamtramck, Michigan. The letter reads: My dear Father, Have not written you for some days for have been so busy have not had time. Worked a number of nights last week + Sunday worked all day + all night so have been a little broken up - but will be all right in a few days. We are very busy in many ways, more so than usual + expect to be for some time. Will Morison telegraphed he would be in Detroit Wednesday night but train was five hours late. Thursday took him about the City, Enjoyed his stay very much - He was delighted with Detroit. He left for Chicago at 10 o'clock. Tonight is the Michigan Club Banquet + will probably have a lending to from Gov. Alger for President. Hope he will get the nomination, he could make a fine President. Has a perfectly clean record, made an unusually good Governor, is one of the best business men in the Country. Don't suppose there is much new in Belfast. Have not heard from there for sometime. Hope you will write when you find time. See by papers Mr. + Mrs. Hazeltine + Mrs. White have gone to Jacksonville - Give my regards to all - you'll have to close as have not time to write more at present. Your affec. son, Ralph Emery
- Date Issued:
- 1888-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- Letter from A. L. Morley of the Michigan Stove Company to Messrs. Leach and Morrison of Spencer, Iowa, dated September 28, 1886. The letter shows an elaborate engraved letterhead of the Michigan Stove Company and is typewritten in blue ink. The paper is slightly yellowed with some brown staining along the bottom edge.
- Date Issued:
- 1886-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- Letter from D.M. Ferry and Company to the Suttle and Jones Company of Felix, Alabama, dated December 20, 1910. The letter is about the shipment of a special order of seed made to Selma. It also tells of improvements made to the style of "our 5 cent papers," which are lithographed. The letter is printed on company letterhead, listing executives.
- Date Issued:
- 1910-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- This 2-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by Louis Blitz who was the proprietor of the Detroit City Glass Works. The paper shows the company letterhead across the top of the page and also has the watermark, "Calvert Litho Co." The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "Detroit, Mich. December 31st 1900 His Honor, the Mayor, having transferred a request that I prepare a paper on "The Jewish People in Detroit in the 19th Century and their relations to Social, Commercial and religious life" I feel that so far as their communal and denominational activity and usefulness is concerned, I cannot do better, than to attach to this letter, a copy of the Souvenir History of Congregation Beth-El, established in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of said the leading Jewish Congregation of our city and state, which faithfully reflects not alone its growth spiritually and materially but is also a fair index of the individual growth and civic standing, of the representative citizens of the Jewish faith, that compose its membership. - The XIX Century has been an eventful one, not alone in the local history of the Jews of our fair city, but throughout the nation and the world. - It was ushered in by the ringing declarations for civil and religious Liberty - Equality - and Fraternity - that have immortalized both the American and French Revolutions - Centuries of Persecution - of passion and repression, had been Israel's hard lot, until the yoke of tyranny and the barriers of fanaticism and bigotry were first thrown down, and hence it is, with undying gratitude and affection, that we the descendants of "the People of the Book" cling to lands and communities, that have given them the opportunities to found farm and homes and endowed them with equal privileges - Thus fitting them for the highest duties of responsible citizenship. How well we have made use of this great boon, the honorable words of our Co-religionists in every walk of life attest and wherever and whenever, public duties. Patriotic devotion and private sacrifice for the common good have been called for, we have not been found wanting; Hence it is with confidence, that I may be permitted to bespeak for them an honorable participation in all that may tend to the future welfare and greatness of our beloved city and country in and throughout the coming century and that in all that different walks of life, in their social, commercial and religious status, they will harmoniously blend their lives, with those of their fellow citizens of every station and denomination - mingling and fraternizing in their respective homes, lodges, churches, public and private charities, commercial organizations. Each added year will bear witness to a closer affiliation with our fellow citizens and may God, keep watch and ward over this our fair city and exalted nation and when these plain but grateful lines are read at the dawn of the 21st Century, may they have indeed arrived [at] that era of "Peace on earth and good will to men" that shall have made possible, that common Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of man, that will have beaten the sword into ploughshares, the spear into pruning hook and nations shall have unlearned war - Amen. #26 Woodward Avenue Terrace Louis Blitz"
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- Letter on D. M. Ferry and Company letter head, no image, with company executives listed; to the Exchange Bank, Bloomfield, IA.; reads: "Gentlemen:- If our sight draft #4549 on Eberline Kneedler, of Belknap, IA, for $8.52 sent you Oct. 11th has not been paid by the time this letter reaches you kindly return it to us at once, and oblige Yours truly, D. M. Ferry and Co.; handwritten not to call Eberline; follow-up handwritten not dated 12/14/12 stating Eberline was called; Dated Dec. 12th, 1912
- Date Issued:
- 1912-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- Two page typewritten letter from E.J. Sinbeck, head of the Navy's L.D.W.T. Station in Key West, Florida to Thomas E. Clark dated December 18, 1906, regarding contact they made over wireless telegraphy. Sinbeck describes his antennae, suggests that each word be repeated two or three times to account for static and interference, recommends a government book called Lis of Wireless-Telegraph Stations of the World, lists other stations he communicates with, his success in talking to ships up to 200 miles out, and the hours he broadcasts. The letter closes with Sinbeck's signature. The first page is printed on U.S. Naval Station, Key West, Flordia letterhead.
- Date Issued:
- 1906-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
169. This 8-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by George H. Russell
- Description:
- This 8-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by George H. Russell who was the President of the State Savings Bank. The bank letterhead is printed in black text at the top. The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "Detroit's Banking, Retrospective" George H. Russel 31 Dec 1900 To Detroit in 2001 A.D. Our worthy and honorable Mayor William C. Maybury has requested me to write a few words for the "Century Box" on the subject of my present occupation, Banking - I much regret that no time is given me to properly prepare an article upon so important a subject as such a city and people as then may be resident here. Now I can only briefly and hastily give such recollections and present facts that may occur to me. Born in Detroit Nov 29. 1847 educated in its Public Schools I have lived in this good city over fifty three years. I commenced work in 1863 and since then have been engaged and actively connected with the manufacturing interests of this city (particularly in the manufacture of Pig Iron, Castings Car Wheels, Cars, Structural Steel, Chemicals, etc.). I did not enter the Banking business until Dec 1889 when I accepted the presidency of the State Savings Bank which then had deposits of about $1,000,000.00 and ranked thirteenth in place. Now the State Savings Bank in its new marble building has deposits of over $9,000,000.00 and holds first place among the banks of this city and state. Living in the city during the last half of this great century in a period when Detroit's population has increased from 20,000 to 300,000 people, I have seen many changes. From a few private and incorporated banks having a total deposit of less than one million dollars, we now have fifteen (15) State Banks, six National Banks, two Trust Company[ies], one private banker having total deposits of over $73,000,000.00. I can remember the Michigan State Bank, The Michigan Insurance Bank, The Peninsular, The Farmers and Mechanic's Bank and the State Bank all incorporated and ably managed under such men as C.C. Trowbridge, John A. Wells, John Owen, H.K. Sanger, H.H. Brown, H.J. Stringham, L.M. Mason, J.C.W. Seymour, Walter Ingersoll, J.P. Hall, Emory Wendell, A.H. Adams and many others whom I knew and pleasantly remember. Then the Detroit Savings Fund Institute a specially chartered Savings Bank, upon the mutual plan, organized by H.N. Walker, Elon Farnsworth, Samuel Lewis, A.H. Adams and others, was our first bank for savings. The incorporated banks after surviving the "Wild Cat" period and the varying values of different state bank currency gave way to the National System in 1863 - which for some years did nearly all the commercial business but through this time the private banks of A.H. Dey, Wen. A. Butler and G.A. Ives and David Preston did a successful business. Then after 1870 the Peoples Saving's Bank organized by Francis Palms and M.W. O'Brien and the Wayne County Savings under S. Dow Elwood, W.B. Wesson and Herman Kiefer occupied this field of State and Savings Banks until 1883 when the State Savings Bank was organized by David Hamilton, T.S. Anderson and R.S. Mason. In 1887 the new banking law was passed and as a Constitutional Amendment was confirmed by a vote of the people in 1888. From this time until the panic of 1893 several banks were organized whose statements and officers names appear in the pamphlet enclosed. These banks enter the 20th Century in strong condition and with the best prospects. The country takes place as the leading nation in the world and New York City soon will become the clearing center for the financial interests of all nations. The outlook is bright but the future of business and banking depends so much upon the political condition in our great Republic that one cannot look far into the future. At present the business is good and it is a pleasure to do banking and to be associated with such men as M.W. O'Brien, D.M. Ferry. F.W. Hayes, Hugh McMillan, Alex McPherson, Wm Livingstone, Alex McGregor and others who lead the chief financial institutions of our city. Wishing that I could see the development of another 100 years I leave to younger bankers and those that follow them my blessing. George Howard Russel. I am the son of Dr. Geo. B. Russel who came here in 1836 and of Anna Davenport born in Detroit in 1827. She was the daughter of Lewis Davenport who came from Vermont and of Sarah Homer born in Detroit in 1809. G.H.R."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- Headquarters Department of the East, Office of the Chief Signal Officer order form letter, filled in with type from Captain G.C. Burnell to The Clark Electrical Engineering Company at 193 Cass Avenue, dated July 6, 1906 providing the proper addressing for an order placed for the company, as well as a note that the government bill of lading will be issued by the Department of the Quartermaster in New York City. Burnell closes with his signature.
- Date Issued:
- 1901-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society