The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum

5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware 19735

Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: MacDonald, E. H. (Eliza Harris Miller), 1814-1890

Title: Bills

Dates: 1854-1875

Call No.: Col. 476

Acc. No.: 66x55

Quantity: 35 items (1 folder)

Location: 34 J 3

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Mrs. E. H. McDonald (also spelled MacDonald) lived in Flushing, Long Island, New York, in the 1860s-1870s. Evidence points to her being Eliza Harris Miller MacDonald (1814-1890), the widow of Dr. James MacDonald (1803-1849). She raised their children: Flora, Margaret, James A., Eliza (Bessie), John Archibald, and Anna. Her parents were Sylvanus Miller (1772-1861) and Margaret Titus Ackerly (1781-1822).

SCOPE AND CONTENT

This collection contains bills addressed to Mrs. E. H. MacDonald between 1864-1875, with one bill addressed to the Flushing Church, dated 1854. Most document the purchase of household items and their repair. Numerous pieces of furniture are referred to, including a marble-topped French bureau, an enclosed washstand, an elliptical table, a serpentine bedstead with rounded corners, a nurse rocker, a towel stand, rival chairs, a tea table, and a high back chair. Among the textiles mentioned are lace curtains, curtains with fringe, ingrain carpets, gimp, and pillow cases. Other household goods were coffee cups, tumblers, a bowl, dishes, shades, shade rings, pulleys, and satin wallpaper. Repairs were made to furniture, a French clock, plumbing, and furnace castings.

ORGANIZATION

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 N. D. Scotti.

ACCESS POINTS

Topics:

Furniture - Prices - 19th century.

Pottery - Prices - 19th century.

Finance, Personal.

Dwellings - Maintenance and repair.

House furnishings - New York (State)

Textile fabrics - Prices - 19th century.

Floor coverings - Prices - 19th century.

Widows - Finance, Personal.

Bills (financial).

Invoices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 34 J 3

Folder 1 of 1:

All accession numbers begin with 66x55.

.9 receipted bill: Flushing Church bought of Alex. T. Steward & Co. Upholstery Department, New York, May 27, 1854: cloth, tassels, fringe, lace, and charge for making a table cover.

Printed billhead.: with addresses.

.14 receipted bill: Mrs. Dr. McDonald paid G. Collamore & Co., New York, Dec. 2, 1864: for coffers, tumblers, bowl, dishes, basket.

Printed billhead: importers of china, glass, earthenware, silver-plated ware, cutlery, &c.

.4 receipted bill: Mrs. McDonald paid J.W. Fisher & Co., New York, March 2, 1865: for enameled tea [illegible], dressing French bureau with marble top, enclosed washstand with marble top, eliptic table, serpentine round cornered bedstead, nurse rocker, towel stand, rival chairs.

Printed billhead: manufacturers of enameled, grained and solid oak and walnut chamber furniture, mattresses, spring beds, &c.

.10 receipted bill: E.H. McDonald, Flushing, paid Alex. T. Steward & Co. Carpet and Upholstery Department, New York, Sept. 13, 1865: for ingrain carpet.

Printed billhead: with address. With internal revenue stamp.

.2 receipted bill: Mrs. McDonald paid Baker & Helmkamp, Flushing, Jan. 20, 1866: for hanging shades and fixtures, cord, slats, brackets, rings, gimp, and other things needed for roller shades, plus for fixing a sofa.

Printed billhead: manufacturers and dealers in furniture and general upholsterers, also looking glasses, &c.

.12 receipted bills: Mrs. McDonald paid W. & J. Sloane, New York, Feb. 9, 1866: for ingrain carpet.

Printed billhead: carpet and floor cloth warehouse

.7 receipted bill: Mrs. Dr. McDonald paid Z. Parish Wheeler, New York, April 8, 1867: for satin paper and border.

Printed billhead: dealer in paper hangings, paints, oils, glass, etc. With internal revenue stamp.

.11 receipted bill: E.H. McDonald, Flushing, paid Alex. T. Steward & Co. Carpet and Upholstery Department, New York, May 9, 1867: for 7 yards of drugget[?]

Printed billhead: with address.

.3 receipted bill: Mrs. McDonald paid Helmkamp, Flushing, July 13, 1867: for laying carpet and matting, altering hair mattress, tacks, pillow cases, bolster, repairing w. desk [writing desk?], a lounge, making slip covers and pillows.

Printed billhead: manufacturers and dealers in furniture and general upholsterers, also looking glasses, &c. This is recycled from Baker & Helmkamp, with Baker’s name crossed out. Has internal revenue stamp.

.13 receipted bills: Mrs. McDonald paid W. & J. Sloane, New York, Sept. 27[?], 1867: for Brussels carpeting, and stair carpeting.

Printed billhead: carpet and floor cloth warehouse

.5 receipted bill: Miss McDonald paid John Meeks, Jr., New York, Oct. 5, 1867: for high back oriental chair.

Printed billhead: cabinet furniture & upholstery, established 1797.

.8 receipted bill: Mrs. McDonald, Flushing, paid Taylor, McGibbon & Co., New York, Nov. 20, 1867: for cornices, cord, hooks.

Printed billhead: dealers in curtain materials, furniture coverings, linens, blankets, quilts, &c.

.15 receipted bill: Mrs. McDonald paid Henry Carpenter, Flushing, Jan. 6, 1868: for repairing pins, a French clock, an ink stand.

Printed billhead: watch maker and jeweler, plated ware, musical instruments, agent for S.D. & H.W. Smith’s American organs, rental of organs and melodeons.

.23 receipted bill: Mrs. Dr. E.H. McDonald, Flushing, paid Arnold, Constable & Co. Carpet and Upholstery Department, New York, March 21, 1871: for ingrain carpet.

Printed billhead: with address

.35 receipted bill: Mrs. E.H. McDonald paid Alex. T. Steward & Co. Carpet and Upholstery Department, New York, May 2, 1871: for matting

Printed billhead: with address.

.40 receipted bill: Mrs. MacDonald paid Thomas Elliott, Flushing, Dec. 18, 1871, for oval pans, etc.

Printed billhead: plumber, gas fitter, slate & metal roofer; manufacturer of japanned, planished & plain tin wares; dealer in hardware, house furnishing goods, &c.

.18 receipted bill: Mrs. E.H. McDonald, Flushing, paid Bruner & Moore, New York, Jan. 6, 1872: for walnut bedstead, bureau with glass, washstand, bracket table, bent back chairs, sewing chair, Spanish rocker.

Printed billhead: furniture warehouse and manufactory.

.36 receipted bill: Mrs. McDonald paid Henry Carpenter, Flushing, Jan. 8, 1872: for repairing pin and clock.

Printed billhead: watch maker and jeweler, plated ware, &c.

.34 receipted bills: Dr. E.H. McDonald paid W. & J. Sloane, New York, Jan. 20, 1872: for ingrain carpet.

Printed billhead: carpet and floor cloth warehouse

.37 receipted bill: Mr. J.A. McDonald paid Starr & Marcus, New York, Feb. 1, 1872, for repairing pitcher.

Printed billhead: sterling silverware, diamonds, pearls, stone cameos, watches.

.39 receipted bill: Mrs. MacDonald paid Thomas Elliott, Flushing, March 14, 1872, for clothes hooks, screws, latch, milk pans, repairing teapot.

Printed billhead: plumber, gas fitter, slate & metal roofer; manufacturer of japanned, planished & plain tin wares; dealer in hardware, house furnishing goods, &c.

.32 receipted bill: Mrs. MacDonald paid Richard Sanders, Flushing, March 30, 1872, for lettering.

Printed billhead: house, sign & ornamental painter and paper hanger, dealer in paints, oils, varnishes, brushes, curtain fixtures, window shades, &c.

.29 receipted bill: Mrs. E.H. McDonald, Flushing, paid McGibbon & Co., New York, April 1, 1872: for bands, nails, fringe, Nottingham curtains, satin, terrycloth.

Printed billhead: dealers in curtain materials, furniture coverings, linens, blankets, quilts, &c.

.31 receipted bill: Mrs. MacDonald paid Richard Sanders, Flushing, June 1, 1872, for painting.

Printed billhead: house, sign & ornamental painter and paper hanger, dealer in paints, oils, varnishes, brushes, curtain fixtures, window shades, &c.

.27 receipted bill: Dr. E.H. McDonald, Flushing, paid McGibbon & Co., New York, Sept. 2, 1872: for Nottingham lace curtains, bands, hooks, sateen.

Printed billhead: dealers in curtain materials, furniture coverings, linens, blankets, quilts, &c.

.28 receipted bill: Mrs. Dr. McDonald, Flushing, paid McGibbon & Co., New York, Sept. 1872: for hose and handkerchiefs.

Printed billhead: dealers in curtain materials, furniture coverings, linens, blankets, quilts, &c.

.19 receipted bill: Mrs. MacDonald paid S.J. Hallett, Flushing, Oct. 31, 1872, for reupholstering lounge, shades, repairs to oriental chair and carpet.

Printed billhead: cabinet maker and upholsterer, dealer in mattresses, feathers, bedding, window shades, cornices, etc.

.41 receipted bill: Mrs. MacDonald paid Thomas Elliott, Flushing, Nov. 1, 1872, for repairing lamp and pump[?], chain, pipes, iron ashpan, etc.

Printed billhead: plumber, gas fitter, slate & metal roofer; manufacturer of japanned, planished & plain tin wares; dealer in hardware, house furnishing goods, &c.

.38a receipted bill: Mrs. MacDonald paid Thomas Elliott, Flushing, Dec. 10, 1872, for repairing range [?], milk strainer, and other items; pump, lead pipe, damper, and other items, services of a plumber.

Printed billhead: plumber, gas fitter, slate & metal roofer; manufacturer of japanned, planished & plain tin wares; dealer in hardware, house furnishing goods, &c.

.22 receipted bill: Mrs. MacDonald paid S.J. Hallett, Flushing, Oct. 31, 1872, for reupholstering lounge, and rental of chairs.

Printed billhead: cabinet maker and upholsterer, dealer in mattresses, feathers, bedding, window shades, cornices, etc.

.33 receipted bill: Mrs. MacDonald paid Richard Sanders, Flushing, March 6, 1875, for picture glass and wire cord.

Printed billhead: house, sign & ornamental painter and paper hanger, dealer in paints, oils, varnishes, brushes, curtain fixtures, window shades, &c.

.42 receipted bill: Mrs. E.H. MacDonald, Flushing, paid Janes & Kirtland, New York, Sept. 11, 1875, for furnace castings, pot castings.

Printed billhead: manufacturers of ornamental iron goods, hot air furnaces, and Beebe’s kitchen ranges.

.21 receipted bill: Mrs. McDonald paid S.J. Hallett, Flushing, Oct. 1, 1875, for making over mattress, laying carpets.

Printed billhead: cabinet maker and upholsterer, dealer in mattresses, feathers, bedding, window shades, cornices, etc.

.20 receipted bill: Mrs. McDonald paid S.J. Hallett, Flushing, Nov. 30, 1875, for laying carpets and repairing chair.

Printed billhead: cabinet maker and upholsterer, dealer in mattresses, feathers, bedding, window shades, cornices, etc.

.38b receipted bill: Mrs. MacDonald paid G.N, Seif[?], Flushing, Dec. 8, 1875, for repairing shoes. [not on printed form]