The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: Riggs & Brother

Title: Records

Dates: 1889-1937, bulk 1889-1893, 1915 and 1931

Call No.: Col. 13

Acc. No.: 89x27; 06x10

Quantity: 8 boxes, 4 volumes

Location: 16 C 2-4

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Wm. H.C. Riggs, a Philadelphia clock and watch maker, established Riggs & Brother in 1818. Subsequent family members continued the firm, keeping its name over the years. In addition to retailing jewelry, silverware, clocks, and watches, the business expanded to include repair work and supplying nautical paraphernalia and industrial timepieces.

The company's clientele was not restricted to the Philadelphia area. There were quite a number of contacts and contracts with various offices in the United States government, as well as with individuals and governments overseas.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The records in this collection include a day book, correspondence, orders, invoices, bills, and receipts, both from Riggs & Brother to their clients and from suppliers to Riggs & Brother. The day book dates from 1889-1893. In it were recorded purchases, repair work performed, the names and addresses of customers, and charges. Much repair work was done on watches, but jewelry and pieces of silver were also fixed. Purchases included chains, cuff links, rings, silver spoons, etc. From early years, the firm was heavily involved in issuing an annual "Nautical Almanac." Other kinds of nautical paraphernalia were—or soon became—a direct concern of the business, including charts, depth gauges, chronometers, compasses, weather instruments, and telescopes. A Kansas City firm was investigating the purchase of a telescope to be placed at the Grand Canyon for tourists to use.

The collection contains many different illustrated and engraved billheads and pieces of business stationery; unfortunately, much of it is in poor condition. The billheads and stationery were organized in chronological order after they were acquired.

ORGANIZATION

The papers are arranged in chronological order.

PROVENANCE

Accession 89x27 purchased from Carmen D. Valentino. Accession 06x10 purchased from Dan Casavant Rare Books.

RELATED MATERIAL

Hagley Museum and Library holds three volumes related to Riggs & Brother: a ledger from 1889-1898, and two cash books covering 1892-1895, in accession number 1454.

ACCESS POINTS

People:

Riggs, Wm. H. C.

Topics:

Clocks and watches - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

Clocks and watches - Repairing.

Nautical paraphernalia - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

Retail trade - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

Business records - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

Jewelry – Repairing.

Jewelry stores - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

Silver – Repairing.

Silversmiths - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

Invoices.

Letters.

Orders.

Receipts.

Daybooks.

Clock and watch makers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 16 C 2-4

Box 1: Correspondence and Orders

Undated - Misc.

1899-1906

1907, January-March

1907, April-June

1907, July-September

1907, October-December

1908, January-June

1908, July-December

1909, January-June

1909, July-December

Box 2: Correspondence and Orders

1910-1913

1914, January-April

1914, May-August

1914, September-December

1915, general

1915, January

1915, February

Box 3: Correspondence and Orders

1915, March

1915, April

1915, May

1915, June

1915, July

1915, August

Box 4: Correspondence and Orders

1915, September

1915, October

1915, November

1915, December

1916-1937

1931, miscellaneous

Box 5: Correspondence and Orders

1931, January 1-15

1931, January 16-31

1931, February 1-14

1931, February 15-28

1931, March 1-15

1931, March 16-31

Box 6: Correspondence and Orders

1931, April 1-15

1931, April 16-20

1931, May 1-15

1931, May 16-31

1931, June 1-15

1931, June 16-30

Box 7: Correspondence and Orders

1931, July 1-15

1931, July 16-31

1931, August 1-15

1931, August 16-31

1931, September 1-15

1931, September 16-30

Box 8: Correspondence and Orders

1931, October 1-15

1931, October 16-31

1931, November 1-15

1931, November 16-30

1931, December 1-15

1931, December 16-31

Bound volumes:

Vol. 1 Invoices, 1 November 1902 - 9 December 1904

Vol. 2 Invoices, 8 December 1904 - 30 November 1906

Vol. 3 Watch Dept. 1 November 1910 - 31 December 1911

Vol. 4 Day book for repairs and purchases, 6 April 1889 – 7 October 1893