The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: Tucker family

Title: Papers

Dates: 1882-1915

Call No.: Col. 36

Acc. No.: 80x260

Quantity: 1 box

Location: 9 A 4

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

The Tucker family resided in Odessa, Delaware. Most of the items are addressed to William E., Harry, or Henry Tucker.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

These papers consist almost entirely of receipts for goods and services purchased in Odessa around the turn of the century. The few other pieces originated in nearby Middletown, and from St. George's Hundred, New Castle County, or Wilmington, Delaware. The recipts record purchases of food, supplies, dry goods, a stove, medical care, insurance; and payments for freight charges, taxes, and rent. Documenting life in rural, turn-of-the-century-Delaware, these receipts complement the library's other Odessa-related collections.

ORGANIZATION

The receipts were arranged in alphabetical order by previous processors. This arrangement has been retained even though it divides some of the tax receipts from the rest. County and poor tax receipts are found under both "New Castle County" and under "St. George's Hundred." School tax receipts are found under both "New Castle County" and "Odessa". Receipts for dog taxes are found under both "Odessa" and "St. George's Hundred." The relatively small size of the collection (less than 400 items) should mean that this poses no problem for researchers.

PROVENANCE

Gift of James V. R. Taylor, Wilmington, Delaware.

ACCESS POINTS

Topics:

Rural conditions.

Odessa (Del.) - History.

Odessa (Del.) - Economic conditions.

Receipts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 9 A 4

Folder 1: Armstrong, J. G.; dry goods, groceries; 1882-1886

Folder 2: Armstrong, Jos. M.; carriages, farm implements; 1907-12

Folder 3: Avril, L. V.; weighmaster; 1907-1911

Folder 4: Baker's Pharmacy; 1884

Cantwell Mutual Insurance Company; 1897-1915

Folder 5: Carrow, J., Doctor; 1895-1898

Dixon, W. E.; hauling; 1910-1911

Enos, T. T.; stove; 1883

Folder 6: Freeman & Weber, other publications; papers; 188- --1910

Folder 7: Home Life Insurance Company of America; 1902

Hukill, G. E.; lumber, bricks, paint; 1883-1911

Imp. Order of Red Men; dues; n.d.

Isaac Jones & Co.; grain, flour, feed, seeds, coal; 1885

Kennedy, W. F.; n.d.

Lord & Polk; fertilizers, weighmasters; 1882-1885

Folder 8: Middletown Hardware House; stoves, repairs; 1898

National Bank of Smyrna; 188-

Folder 9: New Castle County; county, poor, school tax; 188- --1909

Folder 10: New Castle County National Bank of Odessa; 1894-1909

Folder 11: Odessa, DE; school, town, dog tax; 1888-1914

Folder 12: People's National Bank of Middletown; 1906

Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad; freight; 1886, 1902

Philadelphia Car Service; 1906

Polk, Geo. W.; rent; 1898

Reynolds, Fred A.; groceries, meats, provisions; 1911

Folder 13: St. George's Hundred; county, poor, road, capitation, dog taxes, overdue notices, receipts; 1898-1911

Folder 14: Stafford, James E.; horse; 1903

Tucker, Wm.; coal; 1882

Vandegrift, W. M.; groceries and provisions; 1882-1886

Folder 15: Warren, S. R.; rent, bond payment; 1886, 1889

Watkins, dry goods, groceries; 1890, 1904, 1907

Woods, W. V., Doctor; 1885, 1886, 1911