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: Branson, Benjamin William.

Title: Account book and inventory

Dates: 1831-1835

Call No.: Doc. 1035

Acc. No.: 54x106.6

Quantity: 1 volume (14 leaves)

Location: 31 H

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Benjamin William Branson was a chairmaker working in New York City during the first half of the 19th century. His shop was located at 240 Hudson St., and his home was at 71 Vandam St.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

This account book and inventory was compiled by New York chairmaker B. William Branson between 1831-1835. Also included are two bills, one to J. Vanderbilt for miscellaneous work, dated January 28, 1835, and another from B.S.E. Farrington for chair legs, dated August 29, 1835. The 1835 inventory of Branson's workshop at 240 Hudson St. reveals the type of tools he owned, the hardware, gilding supplies, and varnishes he kept in stock, and projects he was working on, including a high post bed and a mahogany cradle.

Branson apparently built furniture in production-like fashion, since he retained 66 sets of table legs and 284 chair seats in stock. The account book notes that he primarily made and repaired various types of chairs: "fancy," Windsor, sewing, writing, rocking, and caned and rush-bottomed. He also produced numerous tables, washstands, and occasionally a bed or a looking glass. Apparently, he bought varnish by bulk and resold it in smaller quantities.

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

The materials are in English.

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

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

PROVENANCE

Purchased from John S. Walton.

ACCESS POINTS

Topics:

Furniture - Prices - 19th century.

Chairs - Prices.

Beds - Prices.

Business records - New York (State) - 19th century.

Varnish and varnishing.

Tools.

Inventories.

Account books.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 31 H

Names found in account book:

Anderson, William

Barnard

Blakely

Boyd, John

Branson, B.W.

Branson, Benjamin

Brown, Gilbert

Brush

Bunnel (of Tweed & Bunnel)

Camfield

Chapman, Doctor

Circo, W. F.

Cleveland, N.

Collard, Edward

Cook

Curtis?

David

David, W.

Deffenbo, Doctor

Demarest, Peter

Dexterwell? James

Durten, J. D.

Farrington, B. & E.

Goodspeed

Halsey, Richard

Hammond, J.

Hatt, John P.

Jacobus (of Rome & Jacobus)

Kent

King, J.

Lefettra, Tile

Lee, Daniel

McKnell Dunkin

McLain, Edward

Martine?, Archer

Martine, T.

Meeks & Sons

Milich

Morton, H.

Nappe

Nicolls, C.

Parker, Doctor

Porter

Porter, John

Potter, John

Price

Pullis? John

Rome & Jacobus

Scoton, W.

Sholer

Sweet, Doctor P. F.

Tucker, Abner

Tweed & Bunnel

Vancoot, C.

Vanderbelt, J.

Vanderbelt, James

Vanderburt

VanNote, Clementine

Wilder, C. R.

Wilson? C.

Witney

Winters, Lewis

Woolcut, Henry W.