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: Swank, Josiah.

Title: Account book

Dates: 1850-1853

Call No.: Doc. 555

Acc. No.: 74x108

Quantity: 1 volume

Location: 31 E

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Josiah Swank was a potter in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. It is unclear whether he or Samuel Swank kept this volume as both names appear on the front page; however, there are surviving stoneware objects stamped J. Swank & Co., Johnstown, Pa.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

Contains information about clientele, shop production, and pricing for a pottery owned by the Swank family. Sales were to both private individuals and retailers. Orders from individuals were recorded in the front of the volume, while orders from retailers were begun on the last page and work towards the front of the book. Items made included: jugs, crocks, jars, dishes, bowls, chamber pots, night pans, cuspidors, pitchers, lamps, flower pots, smoking pipes, and pieces of stove pipe. The most common were jugs, crocks, and jars. Each came in a variety of sizes which were reflected in the prices charged. The majority of Swank's customers paid cash, although some paid in a combination of cash and products and services. The shop received loads of clay from George Mowrey and glaze from Samuel Himmel.

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

The materials are in English.

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

A photocopy of this document is available, and researchers must use the photocopoy before being granted access to the original. Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.

PROVENANCE

Purchased from Edgar Sittig.

ACCESS POINTS

People:

Swank, Samuel.

Topics:

Pottery industry - Pennsylvania - Somerset County.

Pottery - Prices.

Stoneware.

Wholesale trade - History - 19th century.

Business records - Pennsylvania - Somerset County.

Account books.

Potters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 31 E

Index to Doc. 555 (acc. 74x108); page numbers 1a through 11a denote pages at the end of the volume.

Bebus 47

Berkey, Daniel 2a

Berkeybile, Jacob 25

Berkeybile, Levi 26

Blaugh, Jacob 19

Blough, Jonathan 53

Blough, Jonas 45

Blough, Peter 28, 32

Blough, Samuel 55

Blough, Tobias 29

Bowman, Benjamin 54

Bowman, Jacob 39

Bowman, Peter 20

Boyer, Peter 50

Brubaker, Abraham 18

Caufman, Jonas 10

Clark, George A. 7a

Clark, John 1

Crissy, David 23

Denges, Harrison 5

Fry, John C. 49

Gartner, George 14

Gisel, Henry 42

Hart, Frederick 8

Hiple, Perry 8a

Hoover, David 33

Hoover, John 34

Hoover, Jonas 2

Hoover, Stall 36

Hovestetler, Henry 22

Kiernan, Edmund 4a

Kimel, Samuel 5a

Kuntz, Catharine 27

Lohr, David

Lore, Georg[e] 15

Lore, John 48

Lore, Samuel 41

Lore, Valentine

Machen, Thomas 35

Menges, Jacob 40

Merley, John 44

Miller, David 17

Miller, George 13

Miller, John 12

Miller, Peter 37

Miller, Ruben 30

Miller, Yost 24

Morgan, Oven 3

Mowery, George 9

Numan, Abraham 31

Peaple, Meaicheal 21

Peply, George 52

Peply - old 56

Peterson, William 43

Powell, Jacob 4

Powell, John 16

Reichard, Isaac 23

Reyney la

Snyder, John 9a

Spangler, Michael 3a, 11a

Specht, George 6a

Stawl, John 51

Swank, Jacob (loose page)

Swank, Josia (loose page)

Wigle, John 11

Wolfhard, Daniel 46

Wolfhard, Michael 7

Zimerman, Josiah 10a