The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: Eben. M . Tibbetts

Title: Papers

Dates: 1865-1889

Call No.: Col. 42

Acc. No.: 85x87

Quantity: 7 boxes

Location: 15 B 1-2

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Eben[ezer] M. Tibbetts (also spelled Tebbetts) was a furniture manufacturer and dealer in Dexter, Maine, ca. 1865-1888. He operated a shop in partnership with John Pennington under the name Pennington & Tibbetts up to about 1873. After that, he worked under his own name. Tibbetts also worked as an undertaker. Furthermore, he seems to have been a local agent for the Eastern Express Company and in 1885-1886, he was one of Dexter's selectmen (as he may have been before and after this time, but this collection only documents those years mentioned).

Billheads in the collection from the years of his partnership with Pennington list their areas of interest. They proclaim themselves to be "manufacturers of and dealers in furniture of all descriptions, looking glasses, spring beds, mattresses, ready-made coffins, &c." (1868). A few years later, the heading reads "manufacturers of and dealers in furniture, feathers, looking glasses, carpetings, spring beds, mattresses, ready-made coffins, caskets, &c." (1872).

When Tibbetts ventured out on his own (this collection does not indicate why the partnership dissolved), his billheads read "manufacturer and dealer in furniture, feathers, looking glasses, oil cloths, spring beds, mattresses, ready-made coffins, caskets, children's carriages, &c." (1874). An 1878 billhead adds “agent for National Wire Mattress.” From 1880-1886, Tibbetts' billheads read “manufacturer of and dealer in furniture, caskets, robes.”

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The collection, which documents this relatively stable business in some detail, consists almost exclusively of receipts and bills for items purchased by Tibbetts or by the partnership of Pennington & Tibbetts. A few stray pieces of correspondence are also included as is an indenture leasing a barn to Pennington & Tibbetts; the Report of the Trustees of the Town Library, 1886; other papers reflecting town business, 1885-1886; a printed booklet of “Instructions for Using the Oliver No. 9 Typewriter”; a small number of telegrams; and attendance rosters for the Methodist Sunday School of which Tibbetts was apparently superintendent, 1877-1881.

These papers give detailed documentation of the breadth of furnishing types and styles available in central Maine during the third quarter of the 19th century. A wide variety of items came to Dexter from suppliers all over New England, as well as from New York City. With freight receipts in the collection, one might develop a detailed picture of trade patterns, supply routes, interstate commerce, and outside influences on style and taste in rural Maine. Receipts from Tibbetts' undertaking business may reveal trends in mourning practice, as well as establish a variant of the known cabinetmaker-undertaker pattern: the furniture dealer-undertaker.

Included in the collection are nine photocopies of illustrated billheads, the originals of which were removed from this collection and sold to Maine Architectural Preservation Commission.

ORGANIZATION

Most of the receipts are arranged alphabetically by firm name and are in Boxes 1-6. The firms are listed for each box, and the list includes a note about the goods purchased from each firm.

The rest of Box 6 consists of miscellaneous files. Box 7 contains unsorted transportation receipts and Sunday School roll books.

PROVENANCE

Purchased from W. M. Schwind, Jr., of Yarmouth, Maine.

ACCESS POINTS

People:

Pennington, John.

Topics:

Pennington & Tibbets.

Eastern Express Company.

Furniture industry and trade - Maine - Dexter.

Furniture industry and trade - New England.

Sunday schools - Records - Maine - Dexter.

Undertakers and undertaking - Maine - Dexter.

Public libraries - Maine - Dexter.

Dexter (Me.) - History.

Receipts.

Bills (financial).

Letters.

Telegrams.

Reports.

Rolls.

Instructions.

Retailers.

Manufacturers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 15 B 1-2

The list of receipts includes the firm name, the products purchased, the location (city only), and the file number.

Box 1: Receipts: Abbot-- Chase. (files A-1 to C-1)

Abbott, Amos cassimeres, flannels Dexter A-1

Abbott, J. & G.A. lumber Dexter A-2

Abbott, M.L. milk Dexter A-2

Abbott, W.H. flour, grain Dexter A-2

Ambrose, E.F. [none listed] Revere, Malden A-2

Amer. Ottoman & Hassock ottomans, hassocks New York A-2

American Shade Roller shades Boston A-3

Ames, Chase & Bates grocers Portland A-4

Arnold, J.F. furniture Foxcroft, ME A-4

Arthur & Bonnell account books New York A-4

Augusta Furniture Mfg. tables Augusta A-5

Ayer, E.A. dry goods Dexter A-6

Ayer, H.A. hardware Dexter A-7

[see also Johnson & Ayer]

Babb & Cowee tables Portland B-1

Bachelder, J. chairs West Waterville, ME B-1

Bailey, Elmer D. ash chamber sets Foxcroft, ME B-2

[Bailey, E.W. & F.E.]

Bailey, F.O. auctioneers Portland B-3

Bailey, James carriage trimmings Portland B-3

Bardwell, Anderson & Co. tables Boston B-4

Barrows, J.H. Shaker chairs W. Paris, ME B-5

[Barrows & Brown]

Bartlett & Longfellow boots Harmony B-6

Batchelor, E.A. fancy groceries Dover, ME B-6

Bay State Casket caskets Boston B-6

Beal & Hooper furniture Boston B-6

Beals, Thomas P. mattresses, beds Portland B-7

Bent, G.W. beds Boston B-8

Bigelow, J.F. livery stable Dexter B-8

Bodwell & Wilson upholsterers Augusta B-8

Boston Chair Co. chairs Boston B-8

Boyd, James furniture Boston B-8

Bradbury, James Otis attorney Hartland B-8

Bragg, Conant & Co. looking glasses Boston B-9

Bragg, H.H. looking glasses Boston B-10

Bragg, N.H., & Sons coal Bangor B-8

Braman, Shaw & Co. furniture Boston B-11

Bray, Benjamin furniture designer Boston B-12

Brennan & Hooper furniture Portland B-12

Bridgham & Son drugs Dexter B-12

Bridgman & Peabody wooden ware Boston B-13

Brown, John H. house painter Dexter B-14

Brown, Luke & F.H. bedsteads N.Bridgton B-15

Bucknam & Colley lounge chairs Portland B-16

Burgess, Fobes & Co. drugs, paints Portland B-17

Butler & Haynes hardware Bangor B-18

Cain, M.W. furniture Boston C-1

Callender, Benjamin hardware Boston C-1

Carr, W.H. hardware Dexter C-1

Chase [& Bragg] clothing Bangor C-1

Chase, E.H. groceries Dexter? C-1

Box 2: Receipts: Chipman -- Eastern State Publishing Co. (files C-2 to E-2)

Chipman, George W. carpets Boston C-2

Cilley, J.A. pine furniture Fairfield C-3

Clarke, Bros. fancy cabinetware New York C-4

Clayton, William Z. coffins Bangor C-4

Cochran, McLean mirror frames Boston C-4

Codman, C.H. photographic materials Boston C-4

Colburn, G.W. furniture Gardiner, ME C-4

[Colburn & Weymouth]

Colley, James A. easy chairs Portland C-5

[Deane & Colley]

Conant, A. looking glasses Boston C-6

Conner, George T. furniture Boston C-6

Copeland, O. milk Dexter C-6

Corey, Walter furniture Portland C-7

Covel, Samuel furniture Dexter C-8

Crockett, Dana stoves, tinware Monson C-8

Crockett, Daniel stoves, tinware Dexter C-8

Cummings, T. & J.B. lumber Portland C-8

Curtis & Billings hardware Dexter C-8

Cushing & Bliss carriage goods Boston C-9

Cushman Bros. window shades Boston C-10

Cutler, A.L. paints Boston C-11

Daniels & Co. furniture Boston D-1

Daniels, Badger furniture Boston D-2

Deane & Colley furniture Portland D-2

Deane Bros. & Sanborn furniture Portland D-2

Derby, Philander & Co. chairs Boston D-2

Derry, H.F. fabrics Dexter? D-3

Dexter Clothing clothing Dexter D-3

Dexter Electric Light electric lights Dexter D-4

Dexter Gazette newspaper & printing Dexter D-5

Dole Bros. furniture Bangor D-6

Dorntee Casket funeral supplies Boston D-7

Dow, William H. pine furniture stock Waterville D-8

Drew, Jackson & Co. tables Boston D-9

Dunning, R.B. agricultural implements Bangor D-9

Durgin & Fossett blacksmith Dexter D-9

Dustin, N. hardware Dexter D-10

Dutton, Andrew upholstered goods Boston D-11

East India Bedding bedding Boston E-1

Eastern State Pub./Steam Print printing Dexter E-2

Box 3: Receipts. Eaton—I. (files E-3 to I-1)

Eaton, W.D. corn, flour Dexter E-3

[Eaton & Sawyer]

Eldridge Bros. sashes & doors Dexter E-4

Ellingwood, O.P.[& G.E.] basket chairs W. Paris E-5

Ellis & Milner painted furniture Boston E-5

Emery, S.B. mill remnants Sanford E-6

Emery, Waterhouse & Co. hardware Portland E-7

Estey Organ organs Boston E-8

Fairfield Furniture pine furniture Fairfield F-1

Fassett, A.G. photographer Dexter F-2

Fawsett, C.A. caskets Garland F-3

Fifield, E.B. painting Dexter F-3

Flanders, E.A. lumber Dexter F-3

Flanders, Reuben drawer bottoms Dexter? F-3

Fletcher, Webster furniture Nashua F-3

Flynt & Macomber groceries Dexter F-4

Fogg, F.J. groceries Dexter F-4

Fogler, P.M. beds, tables W. Gardiner F-4

Folsom, J.B. floor cloths Dover, NH F-4

Fort Wayne Organ organs Ft. Wayne F-5

Foss, Cyrus tinware Dexter F-5

[Foss & Crockett]

Foster, O.S. beds Utica F-5

French, Benj. & Co. photographic goods Boston F-5

Fuller, Aug. P. varnishes Portland F-5

Gallison & Robbins advertising Dexter G-1

Gerrish & O'Brien parlor suits Boston G-1

Gilman, Townsend & Co. furniture Bangor G-1

[J.T. Gilman & W.S. Townsend]

Glidden & Joy varnishes Boston G-1

Glover & Willcomb curled hair Boston G-2

Goff, Geo. W. coal Dexter G-3

Golder & Goodwin excelsior Belgrade Mills, ME G-3

[Golder & Co.]

Gould & Co. paints Boston G-4

Gould, J.H. meat Dexter G-4

Graves, Samuel & Son sofas, lounge chairs Boston G-5

Gridley Bros. chairs Boston G-5

Haines & Smith hardware Portland H-1

Hall, Frank A. bedding New York H-1

Hapgood, E. wool mattresses Lowell H-1

Harris, Charles P. cane chairs Rutland H-1

Harris, Chipman & Co. carpets Boston H-1

Haskell & Oak caskets Garland H-2

Haskell, A.B. funeral goods Bangor H-3

Herring, M.F. advertising Dexter H-3

Heywood Bros. furniture Boston H-4

Heywood, Walter chairs Boston H-5

Hill, N.T. extension tables, small stands Portland H-6

Hills, Turner & Co. plate glass Boston H-7

Hincks & Nealley chandlery Bangor H-8

Holman, John mattresses/hair Boston H-8

Holmes, F.M. black walnut furniture Boston H-8

Homan, C.N. music stools Boston H-8

Hooper, J.H. upholsterer Portland H-9

Howes, Hilton & Harris flour Portland H-10

Hunt Bros. Estey organs Boston H-10

Hunt, Abel coffins Bangor H-11

Ireland, S.S. fancy goods Dexter I-1

Box 4: Receipts. Jenkins & Hill -- Miller Bros. & Co. (files J-1 to M-8b)

Jenkins & Hill groceries, crockery Dexter J-1

Jenkins Bros. caskets Boston J-1

Johns, H.W. asbestos New York J-2

Johnson & Ayer hardware Dexter J-2

[see also Ayer, H.A.]

Johnson & Shaw manuf. chemists Boston J-2

Johnson, Theo. carver, cabinetmaker Portland J-2

Jones & Brewster meat Dexter J-3

Jordan Marsh retail Boston J-3

Keene Chair Co. chairs Keene K-1

Kennebec Furniture chamber sets Boston K-1

Kilborn, W.T. carpets, mattresses Portland K-2

King, E. & F. paints Boston K-3

Knight, A.H. boots, rubber Dexter K-3

Knowlton, A. & H.C. chairs Gardner, MA K-4

Ladd, Hermon spring beds Boston L-1

Lancaster, S.R. cane seat chairs New Sharon L-2

Leighton & Haines groceries, crockery Dexter L-3

Leighton, J.W. groceries Dexter L-3

Lockey, J.P. piano cases, stools Leominster L-3

Lockhardt, William L. caskets, undertaking supplies E. Cambridge L-4

Lord, Enoch upholstered furniture Portland L-5

Lowell, P.L. clothing Dexter L-6

Lyman, C.W. furniture Boston L-7

Mahoney, E.H. patent chairs Boston M-1

Maine Manufacturing Co. furniture Fairfield M-1

Manning, Glover & Co. curled hair New York M-2

Marrett, Bailey & Co. carpets Portland M-3

May, Nash & Winslow paints Boston M-3

Mayall, A.P. spring beds Portland M-3

Mayer & Loewenstein varnishes New York M-4

McArthur & Brown parlor suits Boston M-4

McCrillis & Kendall feathers Boston M-4

McCrillis, C.P. flour Dexter M-5

McCully, N. furniture Boston M-5

McLean R. & Co. looking glasses Boston M-5

McLean, Dickerman & Co. cane seat chairs Boston M-5

Merrill, G.W. furniture, upholstery Bangor M-6

Messer, George E. walnut/holly fancy work Boston M-7

Meyer, Charles looking glasses Boston M-7

Miller Bros. caskets Boston M-8

[Miller & Lent]

Box 5: Receipts. Miller Bros. & Lent -- Stein Manufacturing Co. (files M-9 to S-4)

Miller Bros. & Lent undertakers hardware Boston M-9

Minett & Co. varnishes New York M-10

Mores & Bridges marble, granite Dexter M-10

Morse, L. & Sons patent furniture Athol, MA M-10

Morton, W.E. florist Portland M-10

Muzzy Iron iron Bangor M-10