The Winterthur Library

 The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Winterthur, DE  19735

302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

 

Creator:          Slack, Hall, b.1819                                          

Title:               Papers

Dates:             1843-1893

Call No.:         Col. 14

Acc. No.:         82x291

Quantity:        67 items

Location:        34 K 2

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

Hall Slack is recorded in the 1850 and 1860 federal censuses of Pennsylvania as a resident of West Fallowfield, Chester County.  His account book also records (April 1847) a residence in New Garden Township, and later he lived in Cecil County, Maryland.  According to an inscription in front of the account book, Slack was born on October 22, 1819.  His wife was named Mary Ann. 

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

A collection of assorted bills, receipts, and letters, plus one volume which alternated between being an account book and a daybook. The volume records Slack's transactions as a wheelwright, making and repairing wheels, spokes, swingletrees, wagons, buggies, farm equipment, and the like.  It also includes information about an apprentice.  The loose receipts and correspondence document Slack's personal life, his debts, the deaths of relatives, and migration of family members to Illinois and Florida.  As well, the collection includes a few recipes and a poem commemorating the death of President James A. Garfield.  Some of the letters and bills have printed letterheads or billheads.

           

 

ORGANIZATION

 

In accession number order, which is close to chronological order.

 

 

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

 

The materials are in English.

 

 

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

 

Collection is open to the public.  Copyright restrictions may apply.

           

 

PROVENANCE

           

Purchased from Richard J. Labowskie.

 

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

People:

Slack family.

Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881 - Death and burial.

 

Topics:

            Wagons - Wheels - Pennsylvania - Chester County.

            Carriage and wagon making - Pennsylvania - Chester County.

            Presidents – United States – Death.

            Wagons - Maintenance and repair.

            Apprentices - Pennsylvania.

            Account books.

            Daybooks.

            Letters.

            Receipts.

            Recipes.

            Letterheads.

            Billheads.

            Wheelwrights.

           

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 34 K 2

 

 

Folder 1:          .1         Ledger book of Hall Slack, used as both daybook and account book, 1843-1853, in which he records making and repairing wagons, wheels, sulkies, harrows and other farm equipment, and carts.  He did other work as well.  On September 5, 1850, he recorded the terms under which John Bunten was apprenticed to him

 

Folder 2:          .2         Letter, John Slack, Waynesville, [Ill.], March 17, 1856, to his brother, urging him to come to Illinois; cold winter; plans to move to Clinton;

                        .3         envelope for above letter, addressed to Hall Slack, Collamer P.O., Chester County, Penn.

 

                        .4         letter, Josie Slack, Lewisburg, [Iowa], Nov. 30, 1865, to cousin [Jessie], news of family illness; no singing schools in Iowa; wants photos of family

 

                        .5         bill, account of John Ross with Slack, 1867-1870, for corn, rocking chair, pulley, and other items; on back: figures and names

 

                        .6         note, H.S., to Dear Sir, Jan. 2, 1871, requesting settlement of bill

 

                        .7         promise to pay note, E.D. Robinson, Russellville, March 8, 1873, to Hall Slack

 

                        .8         letter, Eph. E. Slack, Philadelphia, July 17, 1877, to brother, cannot help him out as having hard time raising money for his own needs; thought mother was going to die, but she has rallied

 

                        .9         obverse: beginning of letter, [no name], Wilmington, May 2, 1876, to cousin, please reply to last letter; cousin Will sent report of illness;

                                    Reverse: recipes for green tomato pickles, tomato figs, and imitation cornstarch pudding

 

                        .10.-.11            two page letter, Eph. E. Slack, Philadelphia, Feb. 2, 1878, to brother, what do you know about the farms of Sam. R. Parke of Parkesburg?

 

                        .12       note, Eliza D. Slack, Philadelphia, May 23, 1879, to son Hall Slack; sending comforting religious thoughts [probably after a death in the family], Ephraim is not doing well at his work, she is “not smart anymore”

 

                        .13       note, Eliza D. Slack, Philadelphia, no date, no recipient named, “We are as well as common.”  Ephraim working at the public buildings

 

                        .14       letter, Samuel Denison, Mermaid, [Del.?], March 25, 1880, to brother Hall Slack, hopes to come visit or maybe the Slacks can come visit them; lists deaths of various people; the name Levanna G. Slack is written twice, and Levanna G. Bavington once

 

                        .15       letter, M. Slack, Philadelphia, April 13, no year, to brother, sorry to hear of wife’s death, Ephraim in Savannah and talks of going to Florida; haven’t heard from John Slack; mother doing well but can’t see and is feeble; other family news

 

                        .16       letter, [signature illegible], Philadelphia, July 25, 1880, to William, Mr. Richardson has sent a registered letter with money to Nottingham; name Hall is written on back

 

                        .17a     letter, sister-in-law M. Slack, Philadelphia, Nov. 13, no year, to brother [Hall], news of friends and family, his mother would like to hear from him – she had her 85th birthday in September

 

.17b     letter, Eph. E. Slack, Philadelphia, Jan. 10, 1881, to brother Hall, has a job that will last all winter (he hopes); smallpox in city; land in Florida is reasonable and cost of living is lower and wishes he could go there

                       

.18a     letter, niece H. P. Dennison, Wilmington, Dec. 13, 1880, to uncle; mother had a brain fever and is now child-like

 

                        .18b     letter, niece Hannah P. Dennison, Wilmington, March 16, 1881, to uncle; hopes he has found a place to which to move; news of family and friends; smallpox in city

 

                        .19       letter, niece Hannah, home, Dec. 11, 1882, to aunt; illness and death among family and friends – we must be ready to meet death; will send papers when get the time

 

                        .20       letter, J. D. Slack, Waynesville, Ill., April 22, 1883, to brother Hall Slack, Fremont, Pa., news of his family; hard winter; local crops; wishes family would write to him – misses mother’s letters [she can’t see to write anymore]; mentions having left home at the age of 11; on letterhead stationery: Office of John D. Slack, police magistrate, notary public and collecting agent, Waynesville, Ill.

 

                        .21       letter, Maggie E. Slack, Philadelphia, July 15, 1884, to uncle Hall, his mother is anxious to hear from him; boys are learning bricklaying

 

                        .22       letter, Wm. D. Slack, Lewisburg, [Penn.], Dec. 28, 1884, to brother, hopes they can arrange to meet at mother’s house; has been ill; other family news

 

                        .23       letter, niece Maggie E. Slack, Philadelphia, Dec. 29, 1884, to uncle; her father has gone to Florida; grandmother sleeps a lot; she is on a school holiday; too cold for Will and John to work; other family news

 

                        .24       letter, W. H. Slack, Daleville P.O., Chester County, Pa., June 14, 1885, to father; tells about where he is living and about his livestock and poultry; please try to come visit

 

                        .25       bill, James Mevay owes to H. Slack, Calvert, Cecil County, Md., no year, for repairing and painting carriage and buggy and wheels

 

                        .26       letter, W. H. Slack, no place, November 7, 1886, to father; talks about crops and livestock, mentions election; hopes father can come for a visit

 

                        .27       letter, Eph. [Slack], Philadelphia, March 4, 1887, to brother; mother is anxious to hear from him – please write; she is poorly

 

Folder 3:          .28       bill, Leadom(?) Kirk, owes to H. Slack, Reeseville, August 1861, for repairs to wagon, spokes, buggy, and wheels; also made a wagon

 

                        .29       receipt, J. Willis Houston, received payment from Hall Slack for medical services rendered to Maryann(?) Bavington, 1870

 

                        .30       note, S. G. Willauer, banker, money loaner, and conveyancer, West Chester, Pa., March 18, 1876, to Hall Slack, application was late so is declining keeping Slack at this time; on back: calculations and names Hall Slack, Sarah Ann Bavington, Maggie Bavington, John Slack, William D. Slack, Charles Thomas;

                        On printed billhead

 

                        .31       notice, William B. Thomson, Sheriff of Chester County, Pa., to Hall Slack, putting a levy on Slack’s property in the case of Levi McConnell, trustee of Mary Ann Slack vs. Hall Slack, Nov. 20, 1876; lists livestock, wagon, buggy, farm equipment, crops, sleigh, lumber, etc.

 

                        .32       receipt for county and state taxes, payment received by H. C. Woodward from Hall Slack, March 14, 1878

 

                        .33       receipt, Thos. M. Charlton received payment towards note of Giles Lahey, described below (.34), Nov. 7, 1878

 

                        .34       note, Hall Slack, Mary A. Slack, William H. Slack, and W. R. McNeil promise to pay Giles Lachy(?), April 1, 1878, for rent;

                        On back: Thos. M. Charlton noted receipt of two payments towards note, Nov. 7 and 16, 1878

 

                        .35       receipt, Thos. M. Charlton received payment from Hall Slack, check of Abner McFaden, towards note of Giles Lahey, described above (.34), Nov. 16, 1878

 

                        .36       J.L. Cooper, Nottingham, Pan., Oct. 21, 1880, bought corn of H. Slack (printed form)

 

                        .37       note, Samuel Denison, no place, May 21, 1880, to Levi McDanel, please to pay Hall Slack the balance on your note

 

                        .38       note, A. J.(?) H. Cameron, Calvert, Md., Aug. 19, 1885, to Hall Slack, please let A. E. Jones have money and charge to my account; on back: “Acepted, Hall Slack”

 

                        .39       bill, Hall Slack bought from Haines & Kirk, dealers in hardware, etc., Rising Sun, Md., Jan. 1, 1886, for unspecified merchandise; on printed billhead

 

                        .40       1879, Hall Slack, d. to A. Brown, for cash

 

                        .41       T. J. Ewing, assessor, Kimbleville [i.e. Kimberton, Chester County?], to Hall Slack, giving value of personal property and occupation, and amount owed, April 14, 1880 (printed form)

 

                        .42       bill, Harvey Clark owes to H. Slack, for a variety of jobs, including painting 2 harrows and 3 cream cans, glassing a window, grinding knives, putting hoops on tubs, etc., 1886-1887

 

                        .43       telegram, G. W. Cosden(?), to Hall Slack, Nov. 9, 1888, draft sent by express

 

                        .44       printed envelope, addressed to Valentine & Company, New-York City

 

                        .45       letter, Geo. F. Swain, Valentine & Company, New York, Dec. 4, 1888, to Hall Slack, Calvert, Md., please pay bill or will turn it over to attorney;

                        On printed letterhead for Valentine Varnishes

 

                        .46       letter, Geo. F. Swain, Valentine & Company, New York, March 22, 1889, to Hall Slack, Calvert, Md., please pay bill – have been waiting patiently for payment; on printed letterhead for Valentine Varnishes

 

                        .47       statement, Hall Slack in account with A.L. Duyckinck & Co.,  dealers in lumber, grain, coal, seeds, etc., Rising Sun, Md., Dec. 26, 1890, for amount of bill rendered (merchandise not mentioned); on printed billhead

 

                        .48       bill, Hall Slack bought from Haines & Kirk, dealers in hardware, etc., Rising Sun, Md., Jan. 1, 1891, for balance on account; on printed billhead

 

                        .49-.50             statement, Hall Slack in account with A.L. Duyckinck & Co.,  dealers in lumber, grain, coal, seeds, etc., Rising Sun, Md., Feb. 12, and June 5, 1891, for amount of bill (merchandise not mentioned); on printed billhead

 

                        .51       bill, Hall Slack bought from Haines & Kirk, dealers in hardware, etc., Rising Sun, Md., July 21, 1891, for paint, sash tools, set of thimble skeins, hoop iron, etc.; on printed billhead

 

                        .52       note, Haines & Kirk, dealers in hardware, etc., Rising Sun, Md., June 11, 1892, to Hall Slack, about his note for amount due; on printed letterhead

 

                        .53       bill, Hall Slack bought from Haines & Kirk, dealers in hardware, etc., Rising Sun, Md., Sept. 19, 1892, for varnish, Japan drier, wire nails; on printed billhead

 

                        .54       note, Haines & Kirk, dealers in hardware, etc., Rising Sun, Md., Dec. 15, 1892, to Hall Slack, about his note for amount due; on printed letterhead

 

                        .55       bill, Hall Slack bought from Haines & Kirk, dealers in hardware, etc., Rising Sun, Md., Jan. 1, 1893, for balance to date, with note about this being independent of other note; on printed billhead

 

Folder 4:          .56       trade card for Centennial Baptist Church, corner of 23d and Oxford Sts., no city, Rev. I. D. King, pastor

 

                        .57       blank envelope

 

                        .58       writing exercises, on one side: Pursue useful       and profitable studies.  Also some rough sketches of horses and other designs.

                                    On other side: Obey thy parents [illegible]

 

                        .59       note: 8/12, Jonas Preston stored 12.43 bus. Wheat.  Th.(?) H. Walter

 

                        .60       note: Dear Girl, [partially illegible and therefore makes no sense]

 

                        .61a     part of letter, mentions Ephraim sold his house and they are now living next door; mentions other family members

 

                        .61b     torn note, with figures on back side

 

                        .62       scrap of paper with figures on it

 

                        .63       printed envelope, addressed to Gassin & Co., Chemists and Druggists, New York, with address on back: William McCleaver(?), Risen [i.e. Rising] Sun, Cecil County, Md.           

 

                        .64       poem, entitled “Garfield,” commemorating President James A. Garfield, who died in 1881

           

                        [no number]      1880 census listings of Slack and Dennison families